Investigating Companies Summer School 2020

Learn how to investigate a company with Corporate Watch and the University of Liverpool.

29th June - 2nd July

VENUE: Lift (45 White Lion St, The Angel, London N1 9PW)

Corporations wield a huge amount of power over our lives. But we’re not taught how to find out how they work, who’s behind them or how to follow the money.

After last year’s sell out, we are running this course again for campaigners, trade unionists and researchers. Hear from last year’s participants.

The 4-day course will give you the tools and understanding you need to expose and challenge corporate power and corporate corruption.

  • identify key sources of information and data on corporations
  • identify the people behind a company
  • dissect company accounts
  • track where the money goes
  • develop your investigation and research skills
  • think strategically about how you can challenge corporate abuse

Delegate fees

Larger organisations: £500

Individual/smaller organisations: £300

Low/unwaged/students: free

Discounts available for organisations booking multiple tickets.

Register here.

 

How to Apply

We are offering a limited number of free places. The deadline for applications is 24th April. 

This event is supported by engage@liverpool

To apply, please email slsjmret@liverpool.ac.uk with the following information:

  • Please tell us briefly why you need support to attend this course.
  • Please tell us briefly why this course will be useful to you.

We will let you know if you have a free space by 8th May 2020.

 

Additional Information

The course has a limited number of places, and those places were snapped up quickly last year, so we encourage you to register early.

The course will be participatory and practical. Throughout, participants will be shown how to plan and conduct an in-depth investigation of a company of their choice.

Much of the taught part of the course will use UK companies as examples, but the skills taught will be relevant to non-UK companies.

No experience is needed: we’ll start from the basics and give you all the skills you need.

Topics we will cover include:

  • Investigating and profiling companies; exposing abuse and thinking strategically, identifying ‘weak points’.
  • Understanding the corporation: history of the corporate structure; the limits of the law, regulation and corporate social responsibility.
  • People behind the corporation: tracking and mapping directors, shareholders and different types of corporate forms; mapping the corporate structure.
  • Following the money: reading company accounts and other documents; who’s making money and where it’s going; how the company is performing financially.
  • Using the state: obtaining information on tax, regulatory and legal processes; and conducting freedom of information requests.