Corporate Investigations & Interviewing Skills Workshop

Learn by investigating, not by listening

A two-day interactive case simulation covering the complete corporate investigation process, from initial report to remediation and closure.

What will you learn:

By the end of the workshop, participants should be able to:

• Assess allegations and clarify the issues requiring investigation.
• Establish an appropriate and proportionate investigation scope.
• Prepare a structured investigation plan.
• Develop an evidence-gathering strategy.
• Determine the appropriate order for witness and subject interviews.
• Review documents and test initial assumptions.
• Prepare for and conduct effective investigation interviews.
• Analyse evidence and identify gaps or unresolved issues.
• Recognise potential control and process weaknesses.
• Structure clear findings and recommended next steps.
• Brief management on the outcome of an investigation.
• Assign appropriate remedial actions and bring the case to a formal close.

Course programme:

Day one: Assess, plan and gather evidence.

Day one takes participants from the initial report through to preparation for a witness interview.

Investigation foundations.

Participants will be introduced to the key principles of corporate investigations, including:

• The investigation framework and six-step process.
• Effective note-taking.
• Relevant criminology principles.
• The role and evaluation of evidence.

Assess the case.

Participants will:

• Assess a realistic speak-up report and clarify the allegations.
• Relate the issues to the organisation’s code of conduct and relevant law.
• Agree the scope, key investigation questions and immediate priorities.

Plan the investigation.

Participants will:

• Prepare a proportionate investigation plan using the workshop template.
• Determine the evidence strategy and interview order.
• Identify and consider investigation risks.
• Compare their approach with a worked case example.

Gather and review evidence.

Participants will:

• Review case documents and test their initial assumptions.
• Reassess the investigation plan as new information emerges.
• Prepare for a witness interview as part of an investigation team.

End-of-day outcome: Participants will have developed a defensible investigation plan and prepared their team to conduct an interview.

Day two: Interview, analyse, report and close.

Day two concentrates on practical interviews, evidence analysis, reporting and case closure.

Conduct investigation interviews.

Participants will:

• Conduct a witness interview as part of their team.
• Review what changed during the interview and why.
• Prepare for and conduct a subject interview.
• Receive feedback on their interviewing approach.

Analyse the evidence.

Participants will:

• Test facts against their initial assumptions.
• Identify evidence gaps and unresolved issues.
• Recognise potential weaknesses in organisational controls or processes.

Report the findings.

Participants will:

• Structure clear investigation findings.
• Recommend appropriate next steps.
• Present a concise management briefing.
• Receive feedback on the clarity and judgement demonstrated in their findings.

Remediate and close the case.

Participants will:

• Agree appropriate actions, owners and timelines.
• Consider how investigation outcomes should be communicated.
• Complete the relevant case records.
• Track follow-up actions and confirm formal case closure.

End-of-course outcome: Participants will leave with practical interviewing experience, a reporting model and a structured approach to remediation and case closure.

Who should attend:

This workshop is suitable for professionals who conduct, commission, manage or oversee corporate investigations, including:

• Human resources and employee relations professionals.
• Ethics and compliance professionals.
• Legal and risk professionals.
• Internal audit professionals.
• Corporate investigators and case managers.
• Professionals handling concerns involving misconduct or suspected fraud.
• Managers and senior leaders who commission investigations or act on their findings.
• Organisations seeking to establish a more consistent and defensible investigation process.