Coventry company which is helping to fight global gun crime set to grow

A Coventry company, which helps clients around the world to solve gun crimes, is set to double in size after being held up as a shining example to other firms on exporting.

Arquebus Solutions is based on the Coventry University Technology Park and works with a range of organisations across the globe in identifying the guns used in criminal activity.

The company, which employs six people, uses specialist computer-based modelling equipment to spot marks on the ballistic material that act like finger prints which help to identify the gun they were fired from.

Arquebus now exports those services – as well as training, forensic hardware and consultancy work – all around the world, including southern Europe, northern Africa and the Caribbean. The UN is counted as one of its clients.

The company, which has now worked in 40 countries, has been assisted in its exporting by the international trade adviser Parminder Hayer who is part of the Department of International Trade team at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Hub.

That assistance could lead to new opportunities in more markets and the company is planning to double in size over the next 12 months to meet demand.

Arquebus has also recently been selected as an Export Champion by the Department of International Trade to help inspire other businesses in the region to find out more about the opportunities of selling overseas.

Directors Matt Lewis and Paul James founded the company six-years ago having worked to establish the National Ballistic Intelligence Service in the UK.

Matt said: “From a commercial point of view, there isn’t really anyone else in the world doing what we do.

“The technology we use is the best on the market, but it is all about applying that technology and the skills and experience we have developed to enable our clients to tackle their criminal use of firearms challenges.

“That is why we are seeing growth in the training and consultancy work we undertake around the world.

“We have had incredible support from the Chamber’s International Trade Team and can’t recommend the work they do highly enough.

“Thanks to exporting, we are now planning to invest in more equipment and more people in order to offer more services and tap into new markets around the world.

“We have seen the benefits and opportunities that exporting has brought Arquebus and that is why we were delighted to be selected as Export Champions to hopefully inspire other companies to do the same.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said Arquebus was a fascinating example of the global work being undertaken in the region.

She said: “Arquebus is an incredible SME based here on our patch and is doing some amazing work in a whole range of locations around the world.

“Our International Trade Hub works with businesses of all sizes and sectors on exporting opportunities and help to make this area one of the most active when it comes to overseas sales.

“Arquebus are a great example of that and despite the very high-tech nature of what they do, their success abroad has been about getting the fundamentals right which the team at the Chamber has supported.”