Science firm to create 80 jobs

A science firm which helps to tackle drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace aims to create 80 jobs in the region after generating £500,000 in new investment.

Having raised around £500,000 in private investment through its six directors and other undisclosed individuals, CSI Drug & Alcohol Ltd is now in the process of developing its new HQ at the NETPark science park in Sedgefield , County Durham.

The group, which was formed in 2011, is developing a 10,000 sq ft network of laboratories which will be used to operate a range of drug and alcohol-related services, including in-house and mobile testing, workplace investigations and training for employers.

The company is backed by House of Lords member and former president of the Police Superintendents Association, Lord Mackenzie, who serves as a non executive chairman to the firm.

The firm services demand from private and public sector employers for solutions to the problems caused by workplace drug and alcohol abuse and criminality.

Company founder Trevor Hall said: “CSI will be in a position to assist a variety of businesses and agencies to identify and manage those who are involved in drug dealing, abuse and workplace criminality within the UK.

“We will identify drugs, substances, and national hotspots of activity for specific substances, crimes and more. CSI is committed to the provision of effective drug and alcohol solutions for the benefit of the employer, the employee as well as the communities in which we all have a vested interest. CSI services will not only be provided to commerce and industry, in due course it will include support to the civil and criminal justice systems.”

Lord Mackenzie said: “As a former senior North East police officer and lifelong campaigner against drug misuse I am delighted to join the pioneering North East company CSI, led by its committed and dedicated founder Trevor Hall.

“It is only a few weeks ago that I welcomed in the House of Lords the coalition governments proposed legislation to introduce roadside drug testing measures to reduce death on our roads.”

CSI specialises in various fields of testing - including oral fluid analysis and urinalysis – and also plans to conduct research and development into drug related activity in the future.

As well as creating 80 new jobs at its new North East HQ, the company is expecting to create a further 240 positions elsewhere by providing work nationally for collection teams to visit client premises across the UK, Northern Ireland and Eire.

Hall said: “Investment in the company will grow annually and there is a desire to expand nationally and internationally. Our market is global and our R&D will be focused on global services of new and existing clients.

“The company is dedicated to being one of the UK’s premium service providers in workplace drug and alcohol services and anticipates expanding internationally within three years. Year one expects to see 100,000 tests per year rising to 500,000 tests per year by the end of year three in the UK.”

“There is massive business potential from overseas markets directly from CSI’s own resources as well as most offshore industries.”

By the end of next year CSI anticipates that it will be operating on a three-shift system at its County Durham base, working with an 80-strong workforce.

Alongside Hall, the remaining five directors of the firm have been drawn from a combination of industry specific experts and former senior managers at the Forensic Science Service.