ORNSKOLD Limited (formerly OVIK Holdings Limited) followed on in OVIK's footsteps after OVIK faltered and ceased to trade due to the COVID-19 pandemic.ORNSKOLD is licensed to produce the full range of products previously licensed to OVIK. From CROSSWAY Armoured Vehicles to armed response vehicles designs, mobile armouries, cell vans and specialist weapons storage systems etc - Ornskold will continue to support former OVIK customers whilst forging onwards to develop new business in the police, security and defence sectors.

Operational Lead for all Thames river mooring activities and associated engineering and support workInfrastructure maintenance and development leadThames river engineering project managementBusiness development

OVIK Group was committed to the development, production and sales of the Group's core products: - The CROSSWAY & TALISMAN vehicles and CENTAUR chassis whilst simultaneously developing new product, principally in the electric hybrid and Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle arenas. OVIK specialised in vehicle armouring, specialist vehicle design and manufacture and coachbuilding.OVIK was a lead player in the design and development of Police Armed Response Vehicles with over thirty UK Police forces now employing OVIK's AR-Vault weapons and equipment storage solution exclusively in all their ARV vehicles. OVIK was expert at designing and developing highly specialist, bespoke, low volume vehicle solutions, from armed response to mobile armouries, dive support vehicles, command and control platforms and K9 / Dog unit vehicles (to name but a few). From a basic blue light and livery conversion to a fully integrated mobile command platform.Over twelve years OVIK was involved in a number of high profile vehicle programmes including the BAE Systems BvS10 Programme, the ST Kinetics WARTHOG programme and the design, production and delivery of 193 OVIK PANGOLIN armoured public order vehicles to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.OVIK entered administration and then voluntary liquidation in April 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of various government schemes designed to help small, specialist manufacturing businesses, ultimately pressure from creditors forced the company into an insolvent position from which there was no recovery. Designs and IP for which OVIK owned licenses were licensed to OVIK's successor (and former sister company) ORNSKOLD.

Director / Board Member - Jim Cronin Memorial Fund for Conservation (JCMF). A non profit / charitable organisation established in the wake of the death of internationally renowned conservationist, animal welfare campaigner and entrepreneur Jim Cronin MBE. The JCMF exists to raise capital for re-investment into matters relating to conservation; with a heavy bias towards international primate (great apes, monkeys, simians and prosimians) conservation and welfare. The JCMF now owns Hethfelton House in South Dorset UK; a 200 acre estate which is currently being transformed into an international centre for education in conservation and animal welfare.

The Ape Rescue Centre is the world's largest primate sanctuary. Specialising in the rescue and rehabilitation of apes and monkeys and campaigning in the fight against the illegal trade in primates and endangered species.

During the final 7 years of his military career Jez led the Royal Marines All Terrain Vehicle (Protected) ATV(P) - BvS10 VIKING programme, responsible for taking the new amphibious, all terrain, armoured VIKING vehicle through trials and development and bringing it in to service. Jez was instrumental in establishing the Royal Marines Armoured Support Specialisation and was the lead on the design and delivery of BvS10 individual and collective training for vehicle crews and the units of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines as they converted to the new capability. During this period Hermer worked within the UK MOD DE&S structure, within FLEET Headquarters as an SO2 level project officer and extensively within the industrial environment.The culmination of this significant project saw the vehicle rolled into operational service for the very first time in Afghanistan, with Major Hermer commanding the force Armoured Support Capability.Awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for 'Services to the design and development of armoured vehicles'

During a second tour of Sierra Leone, Hermer was appointed to the United Nations as a Military Observer. Taking responsibility for establishing a new Observer station in the enclave of DARU - Hermer operated alongside The Indian 5th / 8th Gurkha Rifles (INDBATT) and the Ghanaian Battalion (GHANBAT) during a period of intense civil war. Hermer's duties included observing and reporting on the conflict along with playing a pro-active role in the Demobilisation, Disarmament and Rehabilitation (DDR) programme; a complex process for demobilisation of the various rebel factions (principally the RUF) within the combat arena.

Working to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office via the UK High Commission in Freetown - Commanded the British Military Training and Advisory Team - Sierra Leone. Led a team of 10 High ranking UK SNCOs, WOs and Officers to train and advise the embryonic Sierra Leone Army (SLA) during a period of intense civil war; taking students from civilian status to front-line readiness.

Responsible to the 1/2 star Commander for all matters relating to unit discipline, security, personnel administration, welfare and PR. Personal Staff Officer to Commandant of key strategic and high security UK military establishment.

Attended Command and Staff College. Studied defence science and technology, military vehicle design technology and operations and logistics management.

Chief Instructor of the Jungle Warfare School - Brunei. Responsible for design, management and standards of a number of highly specialist courses relating to jungle warfare and jungle survival.Jungle Warfare Instructors' CourseJungle Warfare Tracking Instructors' CourseJungle Warfare Section Commanders' CourseJungle Warfare Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol CourseAircrew Jungle Survival Course

Responsible to the Commanding Officer for delivery of all military skills training at Unit level

Military Observer - United Nations in Former Yugoslavia during a period of intense civil war.Responsible for observing and reporting on the war in and around the city of Sarajevo. Elevated to Sector Operations Officer responsible for the minute by minute management of operations involving 26 x UNMO Teams comprising 124 officers from 38 nations.Experiences during this period have resulted in three appearances to give evidence in high profile trials at the International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague.

Commanded a troop of 31 x Royal Marine Commandos on operations and training exercises across the arctic, temperate, desert and jungle environments in support of 3 Commando Brigade and wider coalition forces. Completed an operational tour of Belize in 1993.

Royal Marines Young Officer Commando training.

REME Apprentice 1986 - 1988All Arms Commando Course 1988Aircraft Technician - Rotary Wing (Lynx, Gazelle, Scout) - 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron 1988 - 1990