Emergency services vehicle builder secures £19m of orders under new MD brought in to save the business

Emergency services vehicle builder O&H Vehicle Technology has secured an “unprecedented level” of orders within the first quarter of 2019 – just four months after a new MD was brought in to save the business.

The turnaround has seen O&H bring in £19m of orders – the equivalent of a years’ worth – within three months, solidifying the firm’s future and filling the order book for 12 months.

The contracts will see O&H build 350 patient transport vehicles for Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) over the next two to three years; as well as 119 units for The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS).

Orders have also been secured with Epsom & St Helier and G4S.

Oliver North, the firm’s MD, said that the contracts will reinforce O&H’s medium-term objective of “re-establishing themselves as a UK market leader within the emergency services sector”.

The Goole-based business is owned by private equity house Endless.

At the start of 2019, the investment firm drafted North in, who has been in the emergency services sector for 15 years.

Within four months, North has orchestrated a rebrand and improved the perception of O&H within the industry.

He said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have had an exceptional first quarter of 2019. It represents the wholehearted desire of our reinvigorated team here at O&H. At the start of 2019, we recognised all which needed improving at the organisation as we ‘pressed the button’ on making it happen. All aspects of O&H needed improvement but luckily, we have the experience and pedigree to have made the changes as quickly as possible.

“We will strive for continual improvement of our company to put us back to where we used to be: as UK market leaders.”