Cumbria police officers work with FBI for staff wellbeing
Zoe Billings from York and Mark Pannone from North Cumbria, founders of the consultancy firm Adapt and Evolve, are using their police training and skills to drive better performance within organisations.
They first crossed paths when Mr Pannone was an assistant chief constable for North Yorkshire Police and Ms Billings was his staff officer.
Their combined experience at tactical, strategic, and executive levels in the police force led to the formation of Adapt and Evolve, a company designed to address performance gaps within organisations.
Mr Pannone said: "We formed Adapt and Evolve out of a shared vision to address performance gaps within organisations by looking at well-being through a unique lens.
"We provide training that focuses on the biology of stress, psychological safety, resilience, teamwork, leadership, decision making and crisis management."
Their approach is notable for being both scientific and evidence-based, and it is influenced by their past police experience.
Ms Billings added: "Mark and I worked together, and we both saw a real gap in how organisations understand and improve performance.
"We combine training with support, either embedded within organisations or through bespoke workshops.
"We are constantly developing new workshops and products tailored to our client needs and are committed to help organisations adapt and evolve, supporting them to be the best in their field."
Their reputation precedes them, which led to their consultancy with the FBI in the USA.
The duo recently returned from the FBI's Clarksburg Campus in West Virginia, USA, where they delivered specialised courses to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division.
This significant project highlights their global reach and effectiveness in high-stress environments.
Mr Pannone explained: "Our police background always draws interest, but more importantly, it provides us with more than 50 years combined experience in managing crises and making defensible decisions.
"We help organisations develop a pragmatic leadership mindset that enhances performance and well-being.
"It was a privilege to help one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world look more closely at their staff's well-being and performance."
Apart from working with the FBI, their consultancy operates across a variety of sectors such as the UK police services, legal firms, charities, the NHS, finance, engineering and educational establishments.
Notably, their training has resulted in significant lifestyle changes among participants, with high satisfaction rates.