Optimal Performance wins Queen's Award
OPL, established in 1996, provides research and consultancy services in the human factors domain to improve the health and performance of personnel in physically demanding occupations, especially in the Armed Forces and emergency services.
The Bristol, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE-based company has had success in winning international contracts in defence and security in the USA, Australia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In 2008 OPL supported the opening of a Health and Sports Medicine Centre at a Military High School in the UAE, providing the health specialists to lead the multi-disciplinary teams. A team of 25 Emirati and international staff now work together to improve the health, fitness, physical performance and wellbeing of students through education and consultancy in the areas of physical training, nutrition and dietetics, health, and sports medicine.
A global approach to health has been taken at the Military High School, with staff using education and best practice to reinforce a healthy behaviour change model. Although improving physical fitness is of paramount importance in preparing the cadets for the next stage of military training, knowledge of proper nutrition, hydration, lifestyle and injury prevention are also given equal footing. If cadets succumb to injury during the physical component of the school’s programme, the centre’s Rehabilitation Unit aims to return them to training in the shortest time possible. The unit is based on the British Army’s physical therapy set-up, allowing the cadets access to a sports medicine consultant, physiotherapist and two exercise therapists.
The initial contract with the Emirati Armed Forces was for two years and, following the success of the centre, OPL received an extension to continue their work until 2012.
OPL won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade for its achievement in growing its overseas sales over nine-fold in three years.
Dr Mark Rayson, OPL’s managing director, receiving the award from Her Majesty the Queen earlier this year.
