Unassailable Fit & Forget Pressure Moulded Cable Systems for Hostile Environments

SMI Finalist in 2023 British HR Awards

We are thrilled to announce that we’ve been named a Finalist in the British HR Awards 2023.

With a range of categories, the British HR Awards 2023 sets out to discover and celebrate the organisations and individuals that are truly passionate about delivering a world-class people experience. This year, over 220 entries were received from organisations across the UK, and so competition to be named a Finalist proved to be especially tough.

The British HR Awards 2023 Judges include leading lights in People & Culture from across industry.

Headquartered in Andover, UK, SMI  has operations in Canada, USA, Australia and France. It has been working to be Employer of Choice for its 60 employees with a range of benefits, support and development programmes.

The company which designs and manufactures cable systems for hostile applications across defence, aerospace and energy sectors delivered an 80% increase in turnover in 2022 and added 20 new jobs locally.

Chief Executive Officer, Jenny Shaw, expressed her delight at SMI being named a finalist, “This recognition comes after a challenging period of tremendous growth, post-Brexit and throughout the pandemic. It is testimony to the transformation in our HR practices and the development of our team by Catherine Jennings, our People & Culture Director. Since joining in 2019, Catherine has provided leadership, and expertise to the Board, in support of the business growth while keeping the agenda centred on the people. As a significant change agent, she is a champion for engagement and wellbeing and has introduced a range of industry leading schemes to improve the employee experience, evidenced by the 93% positive rating from 90% employee feedback in our most recent engagement survey.

We’ll find out if we’ve won at an awards ceremony in Central London on the 22nd March 2023.

Nate Harwood, Founder of New Possible and British HR Awards judge said: “This year saw 125% more entries submitted making judging a real challenge but also a great privilege. Congratulations to all the Finalists who are flying the flag for the HR profession and having a positive impact on the working lives of so many people.”

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SMI is at DPRTE, FYI

There is a selection of annual events that we at SMI look forward to year in year out. A particular one that always gets us going is DPRTE – the event that brings together defence suppliers, defence procurement, and those wanting to become defence suppliers. We have held an MOD certification as approval for the past 27 years continuously – the only organisation in the UK and the globe to do so – so we know a bit about being a defence supplier.
This doesn’t, however, keep us from getting excited about going to DPRTE. This year, as with many others, it is being held in Farnborough, and our Operations Director, Carl Evans, along with our buyer Marcus Rossi, are attending and leading the SMI cohort to promote our work, discuss innovation, and network with colleagues old and new.
It’s a great opportunity for us to discuss what we have done to maintain that certification for the past 27 years, but also to discuss with potential new partners what it takes to even enter the defence procurement ecosystem in the first place. We’re all about forming connections, and the opportunity to connect with likeminded and aspirational organisations in the defence sector is second to none at DPRTE.
So, with that in mind – if you’re interested in making new connections, learning more about being a part of the MoD defence procurement ecosystem, or just looking to chat about engineering, cables, and connectors, then let us know. We’d be delighted to chew the cud over a coffee, a tea, or other beverage on offer!

An Historic Milestone: Celebrating 30 Continuous Years of UK Ministry of Defence Capability Approval

Scientific Management International (SMI) proudly commemorates an historic achievement as it celebrates 30 years of Ministry of Defence Capability Approval for the production of submarine pressure hull glands and polyethylene cable systems. This unprecedented milestone marks three decades of unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and service to the defence sector.


Since its inception over 30 years ago, SMI has remained at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge solutions and technologies to meet the evolving needs of the defence industry. The Ministry of Defence Capability Approval, a certification granted exclusively to SMI for its fittings and cabling, underscores the company’s unrivalled expertise, reliability, and dedication to the highest standards of quality and performance.


“It’s been 30 years in the making, but 20,000 installations with no leaks is quite the achievement – our fit and forget ethos is everywhere in the business.” said Glen Richardson, Director of Engineering at SMI. “Receiving Ministry of Defence Capability Approval for an unbroken 30 years is a real recognition of the hard work, dedication, and ingenuity of our team. We are the only organisation worldwide to have achieved this, so it really does reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering excellence in everything we do and reaffirms our position as a trusted and preferred partner to the Royal Navy and other organisations worldwide.”


The Ministry of Defence Capability Approval is an accreditation that recognises SMI’s ability to meet and exceed the stringent requirements and standards set forth by the Ministry of Defence when it comes to submarine glands and cable systems. It signifies the company’s proven track record of delivering and developing reliable, high-quality products and services that enhance national security and defence capabilities.


“Over the past three decades, SMI has continually demonstrated its ability to innovate, adapt, and deliver solutions that address the complex challenges facing the defence industry,” continued Richardson. “We remain fully dedicated to supporting the Ministry of Defence in its mission to safeguard our nation’s security, as well as seeing the benefits of our technology in other areas such as subsea power, transport, and infrastructure.”


As SMI celebrates 30 years of Ministry of Defence Capability Approval, it looks forward to continuing its legacy of excellence and innovation in the defence sector. With a steadfast commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions and unparalleled customer service, SMI remains poised to lead the way in shaping the future of defence technology for the next 30 years and beyond.

Subsea Expo was, Once Again, Anything but Subpar

Another year, and another Subsea Expo been and gone! The show didn’t disappoint, as usual. Our CEO Jenny Shaw was incredibly pleased to be a part of the Plenary, discussing how organisations in the industry can best navigate the deep blue, and push new frontiers forwards.
The discussions that we sat in on and were a part of, showed us that the subsea industry is here for good, and has the opportunity to be a real mover on a global scale. The expected growth in value of the subsea industry demonstrates this, and the variation of the technologies and areas for exploration in the industry shows the logic behind it. Diversification is the name of the game, and those in the subsea industry are in a prime position to do this – whether that is to go into defence, aerospace, or anywhere else – the skillsets are needed, and they are all interchangeable.
Simply put, it has been a conference that has inspired us. We also hope inspired the attendees from industry and government to put some hard work and dedication to the industry, to show that the UK has some of the greatest minds and ideas for the future of the subsea area.
But that isn’t all.
We were especially excited to see Jenny being interviewed by STV, discussing what we find to be one of the most important areas of our work – inspiring, welcoming, and training the next generation into the technology industry. Investing in the future is a core pillar of our business, in our people just as much as our technology – and spreading that message is extremely important to us.

SMI’s training programmes are just one of the ways that we work to secure the future of the industry. Our apprenticeships across Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing are available to not only our current colleagues to develop their skills, but also for school leavers. We also support careers fairs, work experience placements, and regularly put on activities for students in KS3 and 4, to bring our technology to life – which always goes down well.
The last day of the conference is dedicated to these next generations – and we are happy to report that the future of the industry is in good hands. For an industry that is looking to grow an incredible amount and an area of the earth that is ripe for the exploration of the unknown – inspiration, imagination, and excitement are critical, and it was there in oceanic proportions.
You can take a look at the report below, and if you’d like to discuss the future of the subsea industry with us, and perhaps how we can help you – contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

Source: STV News at Six

SMI Cable Harness Delivers in World Record Breaking Project

Reliability and safety are two of the key reasons why our customers turn to us for cable harness solutions that deliver performance in the most hostile and challenging application spaces across marine, aerospace and energy. Our track record of over 20,000 installations with zero leaks demonstrates the ongoing durability of our technology and is one of the reasons EFT Mobility turned to us when developing a powertrain for the Griff G60 Tether, a Heavy Lift UAV which has now set a world record for the heaviest lift using a tether UAV.  

The powertrain was developed by EFT Mobility in a collaboration with Griff Aviation, with input and support from a number of other partners including SMI. The G60 Tether possesses an incredible MTOW (maximum take-off weight) of 150kg, a payload capacity of 60kg and an altitude capability of 100m, and as the platform is attached to a cable that allows the required power to be supplied from the ground, unlimited flight time is theoretically possible. The need for robust, reliable and durable components is therefore essential for the platform which offers a unique advantage in scenarios where a bird’s-eye perspective is essential for comprehensive data collection and analysis, such as surveillance, search and rescue missions, communication relay and environmental monitoring. With safety and reliability also a top priority, the G60 Tether is equipped with back-up batteries. In the event of a power failure, these ensure a controlled and safe landing, minimising the risk of damage to the UAV and the surrounding environment.

SMI’s cable harness design SMI 4744 was the perfect solution for such an application, offering unrivalled durability and reliability. The SMI team worked closely with EFT Mobility during development to ensure the design met the performance objectives set including a fully sealed thermoplastic Polyurethane overmould for maximum flexibilty and durability, an intergrated strength termination to cope with the demands of the payload, and hybrid connections for optical data and power.

Commenting on the successful outcome of the project, SMI International Sales Manager Michel Renard said “Congratulations to EFT Mobility and the other partners on the project for achieving a record-breaking outcome. We were proud to be involved and, once again, see our solutions help push technological boundaries. We look forward to taking the success to even greater heights in the future!”

Image credit: EFT Mobility

Subsea Expo is on the Horizon, and We’re Diving Back in

Last year, we had the honour and privilege of being chosen as the Subsea Expo Company of the Year. This year, we will relinquish the title, and hand it over to another incredibly worthy company that is representing the UK Subsea industry in the best way possible. We couldn’t be happier; we know that the industry is on the march forwards and will help represent the UK’s pedigree when it comes to innovation, industry, and renewable energy.

With all this said, not unlike the winner of those awards, industry does continue to move on. So, it stands to reason that this year’s iteration of Subsea Expo has got us quite excited. This year our CEO, Jenny Shaw, is speaking on the Plenary Panel on Tuesday at 10:00am, looking at the topic of Navigating the Blue Frontier. It’s an incredible opportunity for leading businesses in various parts of the industry to explore and discuss what opportunities lie ahead for this amazing sector – as well as how to take advantage of them.

SMI has a huge amount of experience in the subsea sector, with over 30-year heritage in the space, 27 of those holding a certification of capability from the Ministry of Defence – the longest continuous certification of any company in the UK. Our ethos of fit and forget, sustainability in our products, and material innovation has set us in good stead in an industry where a failure – no matter how small – can be catastrophic.

We are delighted and excited to be sharing the plenary session with other innovative organisations in the subsea sector such as DEEP, CCU International, and XLCC. It’s a discussion we are really looking forward to, and one that we’re sure will give not only food for thought, but hopefully some inspiration too.
SMI will also have a team at the conference, and if you’d like to meet with us, we would love to meet with you! Let us know if you’d like to speak and catch up on all the wonderful things in the Subsea sector, learn more about how SMI can help you on your subsea journey, or even just to discuss on the state of the union.

We’re looking forward to catching up with colleagues and customers alike – let’s connect! Email info@smi.group to arrange a meeting.

SMI Addresses Maritime Engineering Challenges at the RCNC Annual Conference

Every year, the team at SMI look forwards to the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors’ Annual Maritime Engineering Conference. This year, the theme is the “Challenges Facing Today’s Maritime Engineers”. It’s particularly poignant, in a world where data and digital is all-consuming, with AI tools and software churning out analyses and possible solutions in a matter of minutes, rather than teams of humans taking longer – and crucially being able to do more with less.
However, at SMI we see, along with this challenge, the future for maritime engineers being a bright one. Our people are our greatest asset, and for many organisations this is the same. We also recognise that people are the ones who have that spark of creativity to solve pressing problems, with ideas that quite often software can’t comprehend.
Luckily for us, we have a strong pedigree of doing this, and we continue this with the team that we have today. We’re incredibly lucky that our Engineering Director, Glen Richardson (pictured), has been invited to talk at the RCNC Conference this year, on a challenge that is something all constructors face – managing customer expectations, but also shifting them to what can be possible during the design and engineering decision making process.
In a world where value and doing more with less is expected as a minimum, the discussion Glen will be leading looks specifically at how submarine cabling and the materials used, can shift expectations of product, along with improving platform capability and availability. With discussions focusing around choice of materials, density of service, assurance, test & inspection, along with an examination of SMI’s choice of working exclusively with our dual-sealing PlastEthUrm.
It’s a holy grail for many navies, that balance between capability, availability, and through-life cost. But at SMI we firmly believe in our 10-year warranty, our choice of materials for our connectors, and our ongoing research makes those balances effective for our customers. With 10000 fit-and-forget installations, no leaks, and a 27-year continuation of our MoD capability approval certification – we’re quite confident in it.
Glen will be discussing this and more at the Conference, if you’re there – it’s definitely one to not miss!

SMI’s Charity of the Year 2024 – Mind Andover

Over the past few years, we have had enormous success in selecting incredibly worthy causes to be the SMI Group Charity of the Year. We’re in a wonderful and privileged position to be able to donate our time and support to these charities, and we take great pride in the small contributions that we are able to make on behalf of those who cannot.

Naomi House & Jack’s Place


Last year, SMI chose an amazing charity to support: Naomi House & Jack’s Place. This charity does an incredible job at a very sensitive time, providing expert hospice care to life-limited and life-threatened children across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire, West Sussex, surrey, and the Isle of Wight. They also look after young people and their extended families who are going through these difficult times. SMI are incredibly proud to have supported them in our own way this past year.


In total, we raised a whopping £1770 for the charity with our amazing colleagues taking on a number of challenges and events: selling books, running the London Marathon, streaming a mammoth 12-hour gaming session, and even shaving a beard off (thank you Shaun!). The team also took a day out to help the charity with their own site clearance, gardening, and maintenance. We all enjoy helping where we can, and Naomi House & Jack’s Place is incredibly deserving of it.


Mind Andover


This year, SMI is going even more local by choosing Mind Andover as its Charity of the Year 2024.
For a lot of us at SMI, mental health is incredibly close to our hearts, and once again we are looking forward to rolling our sleeves up, getting our hands dirty, and maybe shaving another beard (Shaun?) to raise money for a cause that helps young and old in times of need and in times of crisis – leading the charge to find for better mental health.
That said, if you would like to know more about our charity of the year last year, you can find out more here, and if you’d like to know more about Mind Andover you can find out more here.