RBLI Unveils Plans For A New Kent Factory
Royal British Legion Industries, the national charity supporting Armed Forces veterans and people with disabilities, has unveiled ambitious plans for a new factory at Aylesford in Kent.
The charity is looking to raise a total of £12.5m to replace its current outdated factory, home to one of its social enterprise locations, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC), which employs veterans overcoming life-changing injuries, and its award-winning Lifeworks team, which helps get veterans back into employment UK wide.
In addition to the factory, the proposals would build a training and conference centre, a hands-on skills academy for veterans, and replace the charity’s existing 1970s offices.
If approved, the new buildings could enable RBLI to recruit a further 80 people, adding to the 158 already employed at Aylesford. The new buildings would be developed on land owned by RBLI next to the M20, adjacent to the current factory and head office.
Lisa Farmer OBE, RBLI’s Chief Executive, said: “To date we’ve successfully secured more than £6 million, nearly half the total towards the project. We are confident the local community and businesses will want to see RBLI continue the nationally important employability work we do to support veterans across the country from here in Kent.
“The current factory, hot in the summer and cold in the winter, is not an ideal working environment for veterans with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. It has a limited lifespan and is very expensive to maintain.
“Bringing the existing buildings up to modern manufacturing environmental standards would cost more than the new building and risk losing major contracts due to the disruption to the current factory. As a result, investing in the new factory and offices is the most cost-effective option.”
The proposed 68,000ft2 purpose-built facility would replace the current 1970s buildings, including the factory, warehousing and office space. The factory would continue to produce road and track side signs for the road and rail industry, as well as high quality commercial and point of sale signage for retail, and carrying out engineering, assembly, printing, mailing and distribution.
Lisa Farmer added: “These latest proposals would increase the impact of what we do and build on the success of the £28m Centenary Village which provides vital homes for disadvantaged veterans. It is now time to focus on the needs of our great workforce.”
The proposed new energy-efficient factory would improve productivity and provide the prospect of BBMC securing larger contracts from companies demanding higher environmental credentials.
The project team, including architects, project managers, planning advisers and transport consultants, will be on hand to answer questions between 2pm and 7pm on Tuesday, 21 January, at the Capel Morris Centre on RBLI’s village in Aylesford.
The proposals will form the basis of a planning application to be considered by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. Further information can be found at www.rbli.co.uk/factory
