CNX Therapeutics, a speciality pharmaceutical company and the first UK-headquartered pharma company to achieve B Corp status, has announced an expansion of its partnership with us, introducing mentoring opportunities alongside work placement programmes.
The 2026 programme will offer six work placements alongside a newly introduced mentoring programme, providing multiple entry points into the pharmaceutical sector for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants will gain hands-on experience across CNX's diverse functions - from Quality and Commercial to Legal, Data and People teams - whilst receiving structured mentoring and professional development support.
Jessica Dall, Sustainability Manager at CNX Therapeutics, said: "Last year's programme showed us that when you give talented young people the opportunity they deserve, the impact is transformative - for them and for us. Introducing mentoring alongside work placements is the natural evolution. We're not just talking about diversity and inclusion, we're actively creating sustained career pathways that align with our values and B Corp commitments."
Nikolina Zawistowska, who participated in the 2025 internship programme and is now Quality Assistant at CNX, said: "Before CNX, I thought pharmaceutical careers required networks and backgrounds I didn't have. The internship opened that door for me. Now, with mentoring being added, CNX is opening it wider for more people. Different entry points matter because not everyone's path looks the same. Mine started with a placement, someone else's might benefit from ongoing mentoring support.”
Gemma Antenbring, Partnerships Manager at the Social Mobility Foundation said: "We're proud to partner with employers like CNX who understand that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. Breaking down barriers in the workplace isn't a tick-box exercise that can be solved with one-off initiatives. That's why we're working with CNX to introduce internship and work experience pathways that will provide genuine career development for young people whose socioeconomic background limits their access to such opportunities. We're excited that CNX has been recognised with awards for their work with us and look forward to changing more lives together in 2026.”
As the first UK-headquartered pharma company to achieve B Corp certification, CNX Therapeutics has embedded social responsibility into its business model through commitments including 1% of net profit, employee time and products donated to good causes.
The CNX / SMF partnership won three major industry awards in 2025: CSR Programme of the Year at both CPHI and the Pharma Industry Awards, plus an award at the Global Generics and Biosimilars Awards - recognition of CNX's commitment to creating career pathways for talented young people who might otherwise be locked out of pharmaceutical careers. Applications for the 2026 work placements and mentoring programme open in February via the Social Mobility Foundation.
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