Issuu

A truly unique organisation.

We make a difference.

Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC) refers to RBVE’s Social Enterprise factory in Aylesford, providing signs for road and rail, and fulfilment services, as well as our print, mail and fulfilment centre in Leatherhead. This includes our retail operations selling Tommy figures and developing our Tommy range.

Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC) is RBVE’s factory in Renfrewshire, Scotland predominantly focusing on signage manufacturing and precision engineering. The award-winning factory boasts state-of-the art technology and provides jobs and support to those adjusting to life outside the military.

OUR TEAM

Veterans, those with disabilities, or both.

YOUR MONEY

Supports veterans into employment.

QUALITY & SERVICE

High quality and competitively priced products.

105 people are employed across our social enterprise; more than 70% of whom are disabled military veterans or civilians, whether facing daily challenges due to physical disability, such as amputation, or hidden disability such as post-traumatic stress disorder or learning difficulties. Those working at RBVE’s social enterprise are given the tools to change their own lives.

The employment we provide gives them the necessary skills and support they need to regain their independence. Their skills and work ethic means we can manufacture highquality signs as well as deliver print, mail and fulfilment services, all to an exceptionally high standard.

NEW FACTORY

We are fundraising for a new BREEAM excellent rated Social Enterprise factory at Aylesford that will enable BBMC to create 30 more jobs, and additional space to maximise production.

As the training programme at SBMC has proved so successful, we will launch a new training academy at BBMC, with over 100 placements annually to ensure veterans gain essential qualifications.

The new factory will also enable us to introduce environmental and sustainability innovations and ensure that veterans are at the forefront of UK manufacturing. We have ambitious plans to grow our Social Enterprise – an outstanding example of disability employment and social value impact.

What is a social enterprise?

Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social purpose that reinvest or donate over half their profits to further their social or environmental mission.

Social enterprises are an increasingly important part of the UK economy contributing £60 billion and employing nearly 2 million people, with over 100,000 Social enterprises in the UK alone!

If there is surplus generated from our commercial activity, it always goes back to support those who need it; whether it is in the factory or supporting veterans across the UK with their journey back into employment, finding suitable accommodation or welfare support.

When you buy from a social enterprise you invest in people, not profit.

Our credentials.

We believe every company has a vital role in protecting the environment for both current and future generations. We recognise our responsibility to actively reduce our environmental impact and to promote sustainability.

ZERO WASTE

At our Scottish social enterprise, SBMC, we manufacture signs and provide a wide range of fulfilment services for customers across Scotland. We recycle excess and waste materials wherever possible. When recycling isn’t feasible, we ensure waste is shredded, baled, and used to generate low-carbon electricity.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

At our print and mail facility in Leatherhead, we are trialling new methods to improve the recycling of materials used in our products. Our approach goes beyond standard recycling we have successfully introduced a circular system for banner stands, reusing existing stands or repurposing them for other projects. As part of our commitment to sustainable production, we focus on reducing waste at every stage and extending the life cycle of materials wherever possible.

CARBON REDUCTION PLAN

Environmental awareness means understanding the impact your organisation has on the planet and taking deliberate steps to minimise or eliminate it. We continually review our carbon footprint with the goal of achieving significant reductions. Where it is not reasonably possible to reach zero emissions, we offset our remaining carbon output through various initiatives, aiming to become a fully carbonneutral organisation.

ISO ACCREDITATION

We have achieved several ISO certifications, including ISO 27001 and ISO 9001, as part of our commitment to maintaining our industry-leading reputation. We are also proud that we have been awarded ISO 14001 - a framework designed to protect the environment while responding to evolving environmental challenges in balance with socio-economic needs. This achievement has been met with excellent feedback both internally and externally, and we are extremely proud to have reached this important milestone.

CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE

We want our customers to feel confident that purchasing from RBVE supports not only our social enterprise but also the environment. Our commitment to understanding and reducing our environmental impact has led us to launch a range of initiatives, with each of our locations taking the lead in different areas of sustainability.

“They have consistently delivered products of the highest quality, on time and to budget. It is also great to know that by working with the RBVE, you are supporting a fantastic charity which inspires and helps so many deserving individuals to find work and lead independent lives.”

Caroline Williams Pub Marketing Manager Shepherd Neame

Our partners.

We are proud to work with fantastic companies helping to support veterans and people with disabilities through our social enterprise.

Signs

We have been making signs for half a century, using technologically-advanced equipment and methods to provide high quality, competitively priced products; from road and rail signs to commercial signage, on various substrates including both reflective and non-reflective vinyls.

250K

The volume of road and rail signs produced and supplied by us each year

70+

The number of veterans and people with disabilities we employ in our factory

ROAD SIGNS

We have a reputation for creating high-quality, DFTcompliant signs for councils and organisations across the country. We offer these in a range of materials such as aluminium, aluminium composite and Foamex.

400K

The length of vinyl used for our signage; enough to stretch from Aylesford to the Normandy beaches…and back again 900

The combined weight of all signs we produce annually in tons – the same as three Boeing 747s

RAIL SIGNS

We are one of the leading suppliers of signs across the UK rail network. Our team manufactures a full scope of durable rail signs in aluminium, aluminium composite and plastic.

COMMERCIAL SIGNS

We can make various internal and external signage for everything from brand implementation to wayfinding solutions, utilising a broad spectrum of materials and styles to fit your requirements.

PERMANENT SIGNS

From stop signs to speed signs, we offer a full range of generic road signs.

Road signs.

We have a reputation for creating high quality, DFT compliant signs for councils and organisations across the country. We offer these in a range of materials such as aluminium, aluminium composite and Foamex.

TEMPORARY SIGNS

We are able to design and produce directional signs for usae across all of the UK Road network.

GATEWAY SIGNS

We are one of the only sign manufacturers that are able to offer these high quality photographic signs.

HOW WE MAKE OUR SIGNS

We have decades of experience manufacturing signage and continue to invest in the latest printing and graphic technology to ensure that our signs are the highest quality on the market and that we have the ability to make them using an extensive range of materials.

TRACKSIDE SIGNS

From speed limits to warnings – our signs direct the way for train drivers across the country.

Rail signs.

We are one of the leading suppliers of signs across the UK rail network. Our team manufactures a full scope of durable rail signs in aluminium, aluminium composite and plastic.

SAFETY SIGNS

Our safety signs help to keep people safe when around railway lines and tracks.

GENERIC SIGNS

We are able to provide such a wide range of signs that we will try and help with any request!

HOW WE MAKE OUR SIGNS

EXTERNAL SIGNAGE

From advertising boards and hoardings to general signage, we can supply a range of signs to be placed outside.

Commercial signs.

We can make various internal and external signage for everything from brand implementation to wayfinding solutions, utilising a broad spectrum of materials and styles to fit your requirements.

INTERNAL SIGNAGE

We supply a range of internal signs and graphics for brand implementation, general use and much more.

SITE SIGNAGE

We can supply all signage required for sites including branded, health and saftey, generic and wayfinding.

HOW WE MAKE OUR SIGNS

Making an impact.

Neil’s story.

Neil left the Scots Guards in 1986. His service in the military led to social drinking on weekends and evenings, and ultimately a heavy alcohol dependence which resulted in the breakup of his marriage. In his 30s, Neil moved out of the family home, away from his two beloved sons and his life began to spiral downwards. Neil explains; “I was very good at getting through the day without a drink, then drinking after work. But when I left home, I just drank more and more until I was a full-blown alcoholic. It got to a point where there wasn’t night and day; there were periods of sobriety, semi-sobriety, and periods of darkness. It became a living hell.”

Neil lost his job and for the next 10 years attempted to quit alcohol by attending AA meetings, a place where he met his wife, Linda. “We had a great life together, but when she hit the bottle again, so did I. We weren’t drunk all the time – it was binge drinking.” One morning, Neil woke up to discover that Linda had died in the night as a direct result of her alcohol abuse. Neil admits “I was in total hell after that, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. I didn’t care whether I lived or died.”

Fortunately, one of Neil’s old friends, Liz, heard about his circumstances, regularly phoning Neil to check on his wellbeing. “She kept phoning me and kept an eye on me”, says Neil. One day, Liz realised that Neil had taken an overdose, and called the police. Eventually, Liz and Neil’s friendship turned into romance, and he started going to a drug and alcohol unit at Dykebar Hospital, commencing his road to recovery.

As Neil’s recovery progressed, he noticed an advertisement for a General Factory Operator at Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company. “I went for an interview. They gave me a chance. I probably wouldn’t be sober now if they hadn’t. This place has changed my life totally. I’ve now got a purpose and my confidence back.” Our social enterprise factories employ men and women adjusting to life outside the Armed Forces as well as those living with disabilities, offering individual working contracts for 18 months in order to support them back into employment.

Neil said: “I can’t explain how much it’s given me, for somebody to take a chance on me – that’s never happened before. I’m still with Liz, and my sons have stuck with me through thick and thin. We have plans to move to Spain when my contract ends in the summer. I can do things like that now. Working gets your confidence back. I feel like I’m finally able to deal with life.”

“This place has changed my life totally”

Neil Sign Maker

Print & mail.

We provide high quality print, direct mail and fulfilment services for a range of commercial, charitable and public sector organisations. Our highly-skilled team is able to fulfil both large and small orders while providing great quality at a competitive price.

DIRECT MAIL

We are able to offer a range of bespoke mailing services, whether you are looking for a distribution service for your next marketing campaign or full mailing service.

PRINTING

From business cards to banners, we offer a wide range of high quality and competitively priced printed material, including mono and full colour output for all forms of marketing communications.

WIDE FORMAT PRINT

Our extensive wide format print capability enables us to print on a range of materials and to almost any size, whether you are looking for promotional material or external signage to the task.

BESPOKE MAILING

From document personalisation to envelope insertions, we can fulfil a wide range of requirements.

Direct mail.

We are able to offer a range of bespoke mailing services, whether you are looking for a distribution service for your next marketing campaign or full mailing service.

LARGE & SMALL MAILING

From a few hundred leaflets to hundreds of thousands, we have the capacity to take on small and large tasks.

DISTRIBUTION

We work with a range of delivery providers to maximise your savings while offering quick turnaround times.

HOW WE FULFIL OUR PRINT ORDERS

We use the latest technology to ensure that our products are of consistently high quality, whilst being able to offer a wide range of different printed material. This also means that we have the capacity to take on both small and large jobs for our customers.

BUSINESS CARDS

We can make business cards with a range of finishes customised to fit your requirements.

From business cards to banners, we offer a wide range of high quality and competitively priced printed material, including mono and full colour output for all forms of marketing communications.

LEAFLETS

Our print capability means that we provide high quality leaflets in a range of shapes and sizes.

BANNERS

From pop-ups to advertising hoardings, we print banners to promote your organisation.

HOW WE FULFIL OUR PRINT ORDERS

BOARDS

We can provide a range of large or small boards with high quality printed graphics..

Wide format printing.

Our extensive wide format print capability enables us to print on a range of materials and to almost any size, whether you are looking for promotional material or external signage.

HOARDINGS

We produce hoardings with high quality colour graphics that capture your attention

MARKETING

If you’re planning your next marketing campaign we can provide a full range of marketing services.

HOW WE FULFIL OUR PRINT ORDERS

“BBMC gave me a second chance at life”

Tirtha Sign Maker

Making an impact.

story.

following in his father’s British Army. His ambitions 2005, he had the honour of Rifles, beating thousands in what was his final attempt.

him undertake two tours second, in 2010, when an alleyway, that he was his left leg above the knee.

leaving the forces traumatic, first time in his life. But soon Manufacturing Company gave second chance.

alongside five other Gurkhas – all experiences of military service manufacturing department. Since become a highly-skilled cycled from RBVE’s Aylesford Menin Gate war memorial charity.

Fulfilment.

We provide a range of services for our customers, from e-commerce fulfilment solutions to the general assembly of products. If you are a small company looking to outsource your fulfilment operation or a large business seeking a reliable and cost-effective solution, we are here to help.

PICK & PACK

We are able to provide a range of pick & pack services to our customers, from storing inventory to fulfilling customer orders.

ASSEMBLY

From large toy displays to small product assembly, our team is up to almost any challenge!

SPECIALIST SERVICES

We provide a range of specialist fulfilment services for our customers, whether you are a small company looking to outsource your fulfilment or a large business seeking a reliable and costeffective solution.

WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION

We can store inventory and distribute large orders to your wholesale customers.

Pick & pack.

We are able to provide a range of pick & pack services to our customers, from storing inventory to fulfilling customer orders.

E-COMMERCE SOLUTIONS

From processing the order to shipping it to your customers, we can provide an e-commerce fulfilment service.

DISTRIBUTION

We use a range of delivery providers to cost-effectively distribute products across the UK.

HOW WE RUN OUR FULFILMENT SERVICES

We have been providing fulfilment services to customers for decades, working with companies that sell everything from children’s toys to t-shirts and other general merchandise. If your business has got a requirement, our team is always up for the challenge!

ASSEMBLY

Our team cana help you assemble your final product or package it.

From large toy displays to small product assembly, our team is up to almost any challenge!

DISPLAYS

We’ve been making displays for years, with some of our work being showcased in the largest shops across the world.

FINISHING

We’re experienced in putting the finishing touches to a range of products.

HOW WE RUN OUR FULFILMENT SERVICES

LARGE

If you’re looking to have large products made for your business then we can take it on with no fuss.

Specialist services.

BESPOKE

Our fulfilment services can be adapted to your requirements, so that we can provide a bespoke solution for you.

CHALLENGE

Our team are world-record holders, having constructed the largest K’NEX structure ever made.

HOW WE RUN OUR FULFILMENT SERVICES

“Female veterans are invisible –people like me get overlooked.”

Vicky

Making an impact.

Vicky’s story.

Vicky served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a combat medic for 19 years. During this time, she saw conflict in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Her story was featured in the Daily Telegraph:

“Vicky was one of the first soldiers to get boots on the ground in Kabul in 2001. She was young, fit, and rising through the ranks. But even as she was achieving on a professional level, her mental health was deteriorating. She says:

‘I spent six months in combat on the frontline in foot patrols every day in Afghanistan. You go out of the gate for each patrol and you think “Am I coming back today?”.

One time, I was shot at about a foot away from my head. I could hear the rounds hit the tree behind me. My adrenaline was through the roof.’

Vicky was medically discharged from the Army in 2019. But she was left with little practical support. When she found RBVE, she says ‘I just broke down because I didn’t realise the help was there’.”

Vicky now lives on RBVE’s veteran village and acts as a Ambassador for the charity.

RBVE has recently opened the first new, purpose-built accommodation in the South East to support more female veterans like Vicky.

We make a difference.

Established in 1919, Royal British Veterans Enterprise is a national charity providing employment, welfare and accommodation support to military veterans, their families and dependants - as well as people with disabilities and those who have been long term unemployed.

The charity provides a home to more than 300 veterans and their families through their Aylesford village, including homeless veterans through their emergency accommodation. All veterans living on the village are provided with a tailored welfare support programme to help them regain their independence and overcome challenges caused by physical or mental disability, drug or alcohol dependency, and unemployment. RBVE is currently constructing the Centenary village, a £22m development which will see the charity support more of the country’s most vulnerable veterans every year.