MI6 Bot: Create/expand CSSF contractor profile with cited sources

2026-10-16T21:31:07Z

Create/expand CSSF contractor profile with cited sources

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{{short description|'''Defence and security consultancy; CSSF contractor'''}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Optima Defence & Security Group
| type = Company registered at Companies House
| founded = 18 February 2009 (incorporated)
| location = Leeds
| industry = Defence activities
| status = Liquidation
}}
'''[[Optima Defence & Security Group]]''' (Optima Defence & Security Group Limited, Companies House number 06823105) is a contractor to the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]] (FCDO) under the [[Conflict, Stability and Security Fund]] (CSSF). Companies House records the company as incorporated on 18 February 2009, with status "Liquidation", nature of business "84220 - Defence activities".<ref name="CH06823105">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06823105 OPTIMA DEFENCE & SECURITY GROUP LIMITED (06823105)] ''Companies House'', accessed 16 October 2026.</ref><ref name="CHO06823105">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06823105/officers OPTIMA DEFENCE & SECURITY GROUP LIMITED (06823105): officers] ''Companies House'', accessed 16 October 2026.</ref> It is not among the named suppliers on Lots 1 and 3 of the CSSF Framework Agreement 2023–27; the 37 Lot 2 suppliers were "redacted on National Security grounds".<ref name="FTS2023">Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, [https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029743-2023 Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Framework Agreement (2023-2027): contract award notice 029743-2023] ''Find a Tender Service'', 2023.</ref> [[Contracts Finder]] lists 4 published CSSF award(s) to the organisation with a combined stated value of £2,569,587.

== Overview ==
Members of Optima Defence & Security Group Limited resolved on 16 February 2023 to wind the company up voluntarily, appointing joint liquidators from Begbies Traynor; the resolution was signed by Stephen Richard Bishop as chair.<ref name="GazetteOptima">The Gazette, [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4288966 Optima Defence & Security Group Limited: Resolutions for Winding-up] ''The London Gazette'', 23 February 2023.</ref>

== CSSF/ISF and other UK government work ==
In 2017 ''Iraq Business News'', citing the UN Global Marketplace, reported that Optima had won a US$203,618 contract from UNOPS to provide IED Defeat management training in Baghdad.<ref name="IBNOptima">Iraq Business News, [https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2017/05/17/optima-to-provide-training-for-unops-in-baghdad/ Optima to provide Training for UNOPS in Baghdad] ''Iraq Business News'', 17 May 2017.</ref>

The [[Independent Commission for Aid Impact]] (ICAI) reviewed the CSSF's aid spending in March 2018 and gave it an amber-red score, finding the fund responsive to [[National Security Council]] priorities but with weak results management and inadequate evidence of outcomes and value for money.<ref name="ICAI2018">Independent Commission for Aid Impact, [https://icai.independent.gov.uk/review/cssf/ The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund's aid spending] ''ICAI'', March 2018.</ref> ICAI published a follow-up review in 2019.<ref name="ICAI2019FU">Independent Commission for Aid Impact, [https://icai.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019-ICAI-Follow-up-CSSF.pdf ICAI follow-up of: The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund's aid spending] ''ICAI'', 2019.</ref>

== Key people ==
Former [[Multi-National Division (South East)]] commander [[Jonathan Shaw (1957)|Major General Jonathan Shaw]] is recorded at Companies House as a director, and The Guardian has described him as "chairman of Optima Group".<ref name="GuardianShaw">The Guardian, [https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jonathan-shaw Jonathan Shaw] ''The Guardian'', accessed 16 October 2026.</ref>

=== Published CSSF contracts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ CSSF awards published on Contracts Finder
! Award date !! Contract !! Value (£) !! Supplier name as published !! Source
|-
| 2019-07-01 || GB-Glasgow: Staff Officers' Awareness Course (SOAC) || 23,310 || Optima Defence and Security Group Ltd. || <ref>Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, [https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5cbb0887-6529-469b-b22f-5c42962ea3de GB-Glasgow: Staff Officers' Awareness Course (SOAC)] ''Contracts Finder'', 2019-07-01.</ref>
|-
| 2019-07-01 || Provision of Staff Officers' Awareness Course (SOAC) || 23,310 || Optima Defence and Security Group Ltd. || <ref>Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, [https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e1b0023-194d-4901-ae96-09bffc48fec7 Provision of Staff Officers' Awareness Course (SOAC)] ''Contracts Finder'', 2019-07-01.</ref>
|-
| 2019-09-04 || CSSF: Pakistan Change Management in Civilian Counter-Terrorism Justice Inst || 2,212,197 || Optima Defence & Security Group Limited || <ref>Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, [https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1350569f-029d-4874-9ead-7bd725827bbf CSSF: Pakistan Change Management in Civilian Counter-Terrorism Justice Inst] ''Contracts Finder'', 2019-09-04.</ref>
|-
| 2021-01-26 || Wargaming Exercise Development - Awarded || 310,770 || OPTIMA DEFENCE & SECURITY GROUP LIMITED || <ref>Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, [https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/330c8f99-e2ad-4a7b-b251-851b1b402354 Wargaming Exercise Development - Awarded] ''Contracts Finder'', 2021-01-26.</ref>
|}

== People ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Officers recorded at Companies House
! Name !! Role !! Appointed !! Resigned
|-
| [[Stephen Bishop]] (Stephen Richard Bishop) || Director || 10 November 2017 || –
|-
| [[Nigel Cribb]] (Nigel Jonathan Cribb) || Director || 30 July 2015 || –
|-
| [[Anthony Guest]] (Anthony John David Guest) || Director || 6 September 2017 || –
|-
| [[Keith Hammond]] (Keith Eifion Hammond) || Director || 18 February 2009 || –
|-
| [[Jonathan Shaw]] (Major General Jonathan David Shaw) || Director || 1 October 2014 || –
|-
| [[Stephen Bishop]] (Stephen Richard Bishop) || Secretary || 30 July 2015 || 16 May 2017
|-
| [[Rhys Williams]] (Rhys John Tudor Williams) || Secretary || 16 May 2017 || 23 February 2023
|-
| [[Jonathan Shaw]] (Jonathan David Shaw) || Director || 17 October 2012 || 27 August 2013
|-
| [[Rhys Williams]] (Rhys John Tudor Williams) || Director || 1 August 2016 || 23 February 2023
|}
<ref name="CHO06823105" />

== See also ==
* [[Conflict, Stability and Security Fund]]
* [[:Category:CSSF Contractors]]

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:CSSF Contractors]]
[[Category:UK]]

Optima Defence Security Group - Revision history

MI6 Bot: Create/expand CSSF contractor profile with cited sources