Invitation to prestigious conference for Teesside company

An innovative company which utilises Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) techniques for training and education purposes in both businesses and schools has taken part in a prestigious Commonwealth Games Business Conference.

CSI Training and Events, which is being supported by Teesside University, was specially invited to the conference in Glasgow which was held to coincide with the start of the Commonwealth Games.

The invitation to the conference comes on top of a busy few months for CSI Training and Events which have seen the company take on new staff and explore new business opportunities.

At the conference, the founders of CSI Training and Events, Teesside graduates Angela Davies and Dionne Wightman, met leading business and government figures from across the Commonwealth and heard from a range of influential speakers including Prime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England.

Angela and Dionne are both former Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs) who founded CSI Training and Events in 2012 after being made redundant from their jobs with Northumbria Police because of cutbacks in the force.

The pair deliver crime scene and forensic investigation training and events including; a consultancy service to provide professional training to both private and public sector organisations in order to proactively tackle crime; educational sessions for schools, colleges and universities as well as corporate team building and fun-filled themed events.

Their business is based in the Victoria Building on the University’s campus in Middlesbrough.

Their work has taken them as far afield as Libya, and after several market visits, in May this year they delivered their first exported team event to a training company in Tripoli.

Their work in Libya has been massively supported by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

As a result, UKTI put forward their names to attend the conference in Glasgow and they were sent a personal invitation from Lord Livingston of Parkhead, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, and John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth.

At the conference, Angela and Dionne met with several key business figures and also spoke with Prince Edward, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP and the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

Dionne said: “It was an absolutely amazing experience. We were possibly the smallest business to be invited, so it was a real honour.

“The conference has given us some great contacts with some possible business opportunities to explore.

“Just being in the room with all those people and getting to hear from leading business figures was incredibly useful to a young business like ours.”

Over the past few months, Angela and Dionne have been exploring new ways to expand the business.

As well as their work in Libya, they have been investigating other business opportunities in the Middle East and are in talks with a local police force to assist with a security managers’ training course.

The business has recently expanded as Angela and Dionne have taken on a third person to help with office administration.

In addition, Brian Rankin, the Head of Teesside University’s Centre for Forensic Investigation has joined the company as a non-executive director.

Before joining the University, Brian had an illustrious career as a forensic scientist with the Forensic Science Service, recently granted a Royal Charter and called the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

He also works closely with the Forensic Science Regulator on Quality Standards and chairs the Technology Strategy Board Special Interest Group for Forensic Science Innovation.

Angela said: “We had been looking for a non-executive director and Brian was perfect for the role because of his vast experience and specialist knowledge in the forensic arena, as well as personal qualities which are invaluable to us.

“We are very happy that he agreed to come on board and he is helping us greatly with growing our business and focusing its strategic direction.

“In addition, Brian brings objectivity and an impartial view of the business away from its day to day running.”

Brian said “I was delighted to be asked and only too willing to help such a company with great potential. Angela and Dionne are really developing as young entrepreneurs.”

Laura Woods, Director of Academic Enterprise at Teesside University, said: “It is fantastic that CSI Training and Events were specially invited to attend such a high-profile business conference.

“Angela and Dionne are really going places with their company, and we’re delighted to be supporting them.”

For more information on CSI Training and Events visit www.csitrainingandevents.com