Talk:Edinburgh International

I rewrote the article to remove a lot of the "marketing speak" and material that was not referenced. The key bits of material deleted are as follows:

• "providing ‘high end’ security to corporate and NGO clients supporting the reconstruction effort." The few clients listed don't include NGOs.

this wasn't supported by the reference.

• "They quietly built a reputation for straight dealing & integrity with their clients by employing, at that time uncommon, practices - such as giving rebates for any operator days they hadn’t actually provided. They were also notable for being amongst the first to operate ‘low profile’ security teams that meant they had a very low incident rate."

this may all be true but it wasn't supported by the reference and reads like a promo piece.

• Lebanon, UAE, UK, US & Pakistan was largely organic growth with existing clients.

actually the contacts page don't list Pakistan and Lebanon at all. These may well be more recent additions that donlt appear on the company's website. The contacts pages also distinguishes between its own offices, affiliate offices and representative offices (though it doesn't spell out what the difference between the latter two are);

• "However, they also started working with media organisations and more NGOs as their services diversified to include life support, logistics, security consultancy, due diligence and training. They also provide services for the UK Foreign Office.

again, maybe they do but there is not supporting reference

• "According to their website, Edinburgh International are now a ‘full service’ security company who provide a one-stop-shop of outsourced services to organisations operating in challenging environments.[1]:

marketing jargon

• Their permanent locations are UK, US, UAE, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Lebanon, Turkey, Nepal, Australia and Jordan.

see above re offices

• "as part of a corporate identity change brought about by increased involvement in International Development and support services beyond pure security provision."

doesn't really mean much.

--Bob Burton 18:10, 11 March 2007 (EDT)

unreferenced text

Moving the following unreferenced text here. Please add references -- see SourceWatch:References for how -- before putting it back on the article page.

thanks,

Diane Farsetta 11:44, 1 May 2009 (EDT)

---

Specific areas of expertise include: a. Planning, conduct of current operations and contingency planning and management b. Protective Security Details (PSDs) and armed escort services using expatriate, Third Country Nationals and/or Host Country Nationals c. Provision of static site (point) security using expatriate, Third Country Nationals and/or Host Country Nationals d. Convoy operations, support and protection e. Cash in Transit and high value, low volume courier service f. Training services g. Consultancy and introduction to local business partners/networks as part of a complete business facilitation package h. Integrated logistics and security and ‘stand alone’ logistics planning and management i. Analytical product and services to inform organisational decision-making

In 2008, Edinburgh International moved inside the Cohort Group with four principal GeoMarkets: Iraq, UK/Europe, Africa, Middle East & Asia (AMEA); and The Americas. CG also maintains a Training Division and Retail and Manufacturing (R&M) Division.

The largest markets since the inception of the Company remain Iraq and AMEA. The latter including Edinburgh International's Afghanistan operations which at January 2009 had outstripped all other markets in terms of revenue.

Afghanistan Operations

EI has been licensed, registered and operating in Afghanistan since March 2005 and operate across seven of the regional centres. EI continues to provide robust, scaleable and cost effective services under subscription to a variety of clients in Afghanistan. EI maintain a strong record in the delivery of static/ mobile guarding and protective security detail (PSD)solutions in Afghanistan as well as maintaining a 24/7 Operations and Tracking Centre out of Kabul.

Growth in the Afghanistan operations had been significant since December 2006, with Edinburgh International seemingly remaining in the top tier of security companies providing service in Afghanistan with a powerful stable of clients. According to sources in the PSC Association of Afghanistan (PSCAA) the Company's growth can be attributed to carefully selected and highly professional project mangers who are well resourced and working under a strong leadership and management group. Edinburgh International's Vice President for AMEA is Tim Curtis, an ex SAS Officer with postgraduate business qualifications, who has been recognized in David Horner's 'Phantoms of War' and, more recently with a chapter, in Ian McPhedran's, 'Soldiers Without Borders'. Much of the growth is attributed to Curtis's personal energy coupled with his networks in Afghanistan. Edinburgh International has successfully been able to convert this into increased revenue against its Afghanistan operation.

Name Change

In April Edinburgh Risk and Security Management (ERSM) became Edinburgh International (EI), though this was announced in June 2006. Edinburgh International is 100% owned by its employees. It is understood that the majority shareholder remains the lower profile and somewhat reclusive, CEO, Simon Crane who founded the Company out of Baghdad in 2003/4.