CSI Workshops History
CSI Workshops are an innovative independent educational
support business. We use the captivating medium of forensic
science and crime scene scenarios as a way of engaging students
(Year 7 upwards) in science. The students also get to see how
science is used in real life applications. The business can be
used in many ways but its main traits being:
- A Science Initiative
- An Enterprise Initiative
- A Higher Education Initiative
- A Crime Preventative
Right from the start of the business CSI Workshops main ethos
was and still is to make Science...
REAL, FUN
and EXCITING
Background
 I'm
Tina Ffrench, 37 years old and a professional businesswoman as
well as a wife and mother of 4. I decided to go to university
later on in life in order to care for my family during their
early years. In 1999 I saw the University of Teeside offered a
Degree in Crime Scene Science. I enrolled onto the course and
began my dream of achieving my aspirations within the subject
matter I was really interested in.
University life was not easy trying to juggle a home life as
well as project deadlines. I organised myself as well as I could
without any depreciation to my family way of life. I travelled
sixty miles a day come rain or snow in order to achieve my
goals. Two years into my degree I found my children having an
increased interest in what I was doing. They realised that
science is not as boring or uninteresting as they first thought.
I set about trying to develop some kind of programme that I
could offer children. The research and development started early
on bits of scrap paper when I had the time. I have always had a
great rapport with children so I knew my communication skills
could be put to great use combined with my knowledge. I also
knew that if I could enthuse one child's opinion and encourage
them I had done a good job.
The Early Days
On graduation I was lucky to find employment as a FORENSIC
SCIENTIST. This was my way of gaining valuable work experience
in my field, while still working on my business idea. In 2004 I
decided that this was it and needed to take my idea further. I
went to see Jan Harris at The Department of Academic Enterprise
at Teesside University. She was very supportive and even on our
first meeting said that I would be an ideal candidate for The
North East Woman Entrepreneur of the year. This took me aback as
this was the first person I had shared my business idea with in
a professional capacity. She was of great encouragement which
gave me more determination to get the business off the ground.
She also gave me an opportunity to talk at an enterprise event,
which was very daunting but I did it.
I then went home and created my business plan, which on
reflection was the best thing I could have done. I could see the
reasoning behind my idea and clear objectives in the stance of
five years of targets and goals.
I then set about thinking how I was going to deliver
workshops/events, what would be interesting and how I was going
to engage the students, number of students, staff etc., Was it
to include The National Curriculum Criteria etc. This again took
months and months in the planning. Suppliers had to be contacted
etc. I had to also think of how I was going to market the idea,
who were my target customers etc. The logistics of the LEA are
confusing at the best of times without offering them something
different!!! I also discussed the idea with my former tutor Mr
Ian Pepper who was also valuable with his support and still is.
Taking The Idea And Forming It Into A Business (Start and
Current)
After discussions with suppliers, who were also of great
support I did my first pilot workshop. I utilised what I had
around me. I therefore did an event with the local Girl Guides
and Brownies. This was of great success and even the adults
joined in and had a great time. I was lucky enough also to know
a governor at a local school. He managed to organise a meeting
with myself and the Head of Science. I discussed what I was
offering, HE BOOKED. My first booking, which took me to the
realms of pride and happiness, I had achieved my dream.
I delivered my first Workshop without any hiccups or
problems, but it did identify that alone it was not enough to
deliver to 30 students. My husband then left his job to join the
business. I then set about trying to develop and design a flyer
for the business. We went to a local designer who designed and
printed the business some flyers.
As time went by I increasingly learnt more about schools, how
they work with the curriculum. I decided to contact the Local
Education Business Partnerships. I did think though, I didn't
want anyone to pinch my idea as it had taken me so long to
achieve. I decided to be big, you have to think big, I therefore
contacted all the EBP's in the UK. On request I sent my flyer.
Through one of the EBP's we were contacted by a school and asked
to provide an enterprise event for 200 student. We said yes, we
developed a way of including all the students and the event was
very successful. This now is our main event and has included a
whole schools involvement in Essex. This coincides with the
current enterprise initiative for year 10 students. This was
also fabulous and included on Specialist Schools Trust website
as a case study. We also involve special needs children in all
our events. We engaged students that do not always show up at
school, these students were there the whole week and showed a
major interest in the Workshop. We have found that all the
events we have done so far the children are really attentive.
They love going into the scenes with their Crime Suits on and
retrieving and analysing evidence they have created. They learn
science without realising! The engagement and communication of
science at its best!!!
We then had a press release prepared and included in the
local newspaper. Within days we were contacted by a film
producer, magazines, newspapers etc. We took part in an
interview with The Mail On Sunday and then were contacted by the
producers of the
Richard & Judy
Show for Channel 4. They
subsequently came to Whitby to film one of our Workshops. This
was a fantastic if not sensational piece of television and aired
all over the UK. We also had a direct link provided for us on
the Channel 4 website. Our own website is taking shape which
will provide lots of interesting information as well as an
online shop for the budding Forensic Scientist to purchase their
essential investigative equipment which we are being asked for
by students all he time.
I have a great rapport with all my contacts and have been to
various meetings from London to Cumbria which has shown an
increased demand for our Workshops. The Royal Society Of
Chemistry are interested in our business as well as The Crown
Prosecution Service including me on their road show delivering
to adults, another area for CSI to explore as there are 42 CPS
areas.
We have now got bookings and contacts all around the UK with
interest coming in from the USA. I am extremely proud of what we
have achieved and continue to enjoy delivering our Workshops
throughout the country. We now employ 4 full time members of
staff and various part-time staff across the country. Our future
developments and prospects are excellent with many avenues to
explore. I have been asked by The National Academy for Gifted
and Talented Youth to provide some Outreach Proposals. These
were accepted and they are using the first UK Forensic
Residential Crime Scene Camp I have developed. This also helps
our local community as I will need to employ local staff to be
able to deliver to 50 students over a week.
New Development: Sister Company “Forensically Challenged”
launches in London
More recently due to the success of CSI Workshops and based
on several corporate enquiries, Tina Ffrench decided to launch
Forensically Challenged Limited which was launch in London in
March this year. The exhibition was extremely successful and the
stand received several hundred enquiries which are now being
developed into tailor-made Corporate Team Building Days – for
further information on our Corporate CSI Workshops visit:
www.forensicallychallenged.com or email:
tina@forensicallychallenged.com
THE
FUTURE IS VERY PROMISING
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