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FUND BACKS PIONEERING EDUCATION SUPPORT BUSINESS

Award-winning CSI Workshops supported with PIF Micro Loan

Partnership Investment Finance (PIF) - a £37m investment fund aimed at supporting growing businesses in the region – has backed an award-winning education support business with a £15,000 micro loan.

CSI Workshops, of Whitby, North Yorkshire, involves pupils in mock crime scene investigation workshops which are designed to raise their enthusiasm about science and increase their awareness of enterprise.

The business was launched in 2005 by former forensic scientist Tina Ffrench, 37, who runs the company with her husband, Steve. CSI Workshops grew faster than anticipated and now runs workshops for 200 pupils a day at schools around the UK.

The CSI programmes are delivered as part of the Government’s Enterprise Education Initiative that requires secondary school pupils to receive five days of enterprise-related classes each year.

Said Tina Ffrench: “Students use finger-printing, fibre analysis and blood-spattering techniques to solve a fictional crime in a day. They have fun in applying science and learning about as aspect of life beyond school.”

Such is the demand for its courses from schools and local Business Education Partnerships that CSI Workshops has already exceeded its original five year business plan and now employs three qualified staff.

CSI, which recently won a North East business innovation award, is looking to expand further by offering corporate clients creative and team-building workshops using forensic science techniques.  

The PIF loan has been used to acquire specialist equipment such as a finger printing comparator, from the United States.

Said Tina: “I heard about PIF through Forward Ladies, the regional business women’s networking group of which I am a member. As a result I applied for a micro loan and PIF has been brilliant in supporting us and helping us to move the business forward in order to meet growing demand.”

Julia Chapman, PIF Aftercare Co-ordinator, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to support CSI Workshops which is an innovative business that is carving out a successful niche in the field of education and enterprise awareness.”