Staying safe and secure while travelling for work

Travelling can sometimes come with its fair share of risks, and being prepared can make all the difference. The University offers two workshops designed to help colleagues identify and manage these potential hazards.

These workshops are important resources for anyone seeking to enhance their safety and security while travelling as part of their job at the University. They include an ‘essentials’ module designed for all staff including professional services, academic staff and all PGRs who travel as part of their role in the University. The ‘advanced’ module is recommended for all staff including professional services, academic staff and all PGRs who have plans to travel to higher risk destinations overseas.

This course equips travellers with skills to identify risks, enhance situational awareness, and assess journeys effectively. Key topics include:

• Staying secure without standing out
• Hotel and accommodation vulnerabilities
• Building support networks and digital safety groups
• Emergency preparedness and influencing others in crises
• Heightened awareness at conferences
• Managing your business profile
• Identifying travel security gaps
• Protecting devices and sensitive information

Delivered in-person on campus by Dougie Wright, a security expert with extensive military and training experience, who has advised UK government departments, the Royal Household, and others on mitigating risks through proactive planning.

This course focuses on physical and digital security for travellers, covering how to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in higher-risk environments. Key topics include:

• Personal security in hotels, accommodation, urban and rural areas
• Safety when travelling by road or public transport
• Developing personal resilience while travelling
• Digital security: protecting devices, managing your business profile, and avoiding risky situations

Higher-risk environments include:

• Countries with low tolerance for overseas visitors
• High-crime urban areas with inconsistent law enforcement
• Regions with political instability or frequent protests
• Areas vulnerable to or recovering from natural disasters
• Post-conflict zones with fragile security
• Border regions prone to smuggling and illegal activities

Delivered in-person on campus by Dougie Wright, a security expert with extensive military and training experience, who has advised UK government departments, the Royal Household, and others on planning and mitigating risks effectively.