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Former surveillance and specialist operations cop launches Hartlepool training firm

A hotshot surveillance and specialist operations cop who started his career at Durham Constabulary in Peterlee has launched his own training company in Hartlepool.

Simon Corbett, who still resides in the North East, founded Orangebox Training Solutions Limited after leaving the profession earlier this year following two decades of service.

The 42-year-old, whose most recent roles were for the National Crime Agency, has been deployed on operations across the world, including Holland, Portugal and Kenya, and received recognition for his surveillance skills during dangerous covert operations.

Such were his talents, Simon trained to be a trainer whilst on the force to help pass on his skills to other officers, and it was from this experience that his new venture was born.

Orangebox, which is based at Queens Meadow Business Park, provides practical training for businesses looking to upskill their employees, in areas ranging from first aid to food hygiene and safeguarding.

Taking aim at what he considers to be tedious corporate training courses, Simon said: “A lot of employees will have been on courses where they’re almost falling asleep because they’re so bored, or they can’t connect with the trainer. The company which has paid that trainer has basically wasted its money.

“On average, a person will remember 50 per cent of a presentation, and that will reduce to 25 per cent the next day. A week later it’s down to 10 per cent.

“We have changed that, and people will be remembering 60 per cent of the course a week later, which is a massive difference.”

At the heart of this is Orangebox’s team of eight trainers, which includes three experienced female trainers, and four male trainers who all have emergency services backgrounds, whose real-life experiences Simon believes makes the firm’s training more engaging

He added: “They have been trained to the level I believe is needed for them to effectively engage with their audience – whether it be six people or 200 people – to maximum effect.

“My trainers, and myself with my background, have real-life stories and situations, as well as the best training, to grip our audiences to maximum effect.”

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