Royal British Legion Industries: a five-year strategy for success

We recently sat down with our client RBLI as they shared their vision and strategic plans for the coming five years.

Charities now more than ever need to be bold and forward thinking to survive, thrive and deliver their mission in an engaging and sustainable way and an excellent example of this are the plans unveiled by Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI).

Earlier this year, RBLI the national charity supporting armed forces veterans and people with disabilities set out ambitious plans which will see a new factory opened here in Kent by the end of 2027.

The charity is currently fundraising £12.5m for the project, to replace its existing and outdated factory and home to the operations of Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMV). BBMV employs veterans overcoming life changing injuries and its award-winning Lifeworks team, helps get veterans back into employment across the UK.

The new factory will mean the creation of 80 new jobs and importantly the investment in the purpose-built site will save the charity money. It would have cost an estimated £15m to bring the existing buildings up to modern environmental standards, risking the loss of major contracts during this disruption.

Quite simply, investing in a new factory and offices is the most cost-effective option and it’s this level of foresight and planning that’s enabling the charity to plan ahead with confidence for the future.

RBLI recently unveiled their plans for the Aylesford site as part of their ambitious five-year strategy of sustainable expansion nationally. The new factory will help it to grow its UK-wide signs business into a £9m enterprise.

Other core activities for the charity include the annual fundraising event The Great Tommy Sleep Out, the recent opening of 40 new homes at the Centenary Village which helps to transform the lives of many veterans and the ongoing STEP-IN programme which provides comprehensive support and guidance to help reintegrate into civilian life.

RBLI will also play an important role in helping to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in June and there will be an unmissable and poignant sand installation of 80 ‘Tommies’ at Stone Bay in Broadstairs.

Chief Executive of RBLI Lisa Farmer explains: “This is all achievable due to our volunteers, supporters and staff and our partnerships with key stakeholders and because we have a sustainable mission with long term goals. Choosing operational efficiencies means we can continue to serve the nation’s most vulnerable veterans whilst providing invaluable work and training for others. This new strategy is ambitious, but our model shows we can transform lives, and it demonstrates the invaluable contribution which can be made by veterans and people with disabilities.”

RBLI is a charity whose strategy has evolved overtime whilst staying true to its mission. It was established to support wounded, injured or sick Armed Forces veterans so they could receive care and gain family homes and work opportunities to enable them to build a new life and provide for their family and this mission remains the same today.

RBLI has five key divisions:

Homes and care, which includes 340 family homes and Move On apartments in a thriving community for veterans of all ages. The Centenary Village which is home to its Community Centre, IT learning centre and a home of multiple occupancy for female veterans.

Social Enterprise, which includes BBMC in Aylesford Kent providing road and rail signs, wooden products and fulfilment services alongside its print, mail and fulfilment centre in Leatherhead, Surrey. This also houses their retail operations which sell the Tommy figures and are developing the Tommy range.

Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company is their award-winning factory in Renfrewshire, Scotland which mainly focuses on signage manufacturing and precision engineering.

Welfare, including the STEP-IN welfare model providing veterans and their families with structured, holistic support tailored to their individual needs.

Emergency support is available at Mountbatten Pavillion, their home of multiple occupancy for armed forces veterans who need stepping stone accommodation in a crisis.

Lifeworks, the UK wide, award-winning employment support programme that equips veterans with the tools needed to find meaningful employment outside of the Armed Forces. It also works alongside the MoD on transition advice to those leaving the military on medical grounds.

Fundraising, which is the lifeblood of all charities, and their fundraising and marketing division drives awareness and creates partnerships to fund their vital services and to deliver the ambitious growth strategy.

Lisa Farmer concludes: “We’ve accomplished a lot but there is still a huge amount for us to do. Like all charities we’ve been through challenges in recent years, but we are now looking to optimise all our resources and have streamlined our processes to allow us to continue to deliver exceptional service. Our commitment to those we support has not wavered and our new, five-year strategy will propel us to greater innovation and impact.”

We provide a wide range of support to a broad spectrum of charities and not for profits. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, please contact us today.