K’nex Big Build Unveiled:

This week our latest K’NEX big build project was finally unveiled.   After 1,000 hours of work and 6 weeks of trans atlantic travel,  the life size Grave Digger monster truck arrived in San Antonio to start its tour of America.

Grave Digger was built to commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the American Monster Truck and 20th anniversary of construction toy company K'NEX.   Working in partnership with K’NEX and Feld Entertainment, the life size truck was built by the Assembly team here at RBLI using no less than 226,000 pieces of K’NEX.

The monster truck had become a familiar site in our factory at Aylesford as staff and visitors watched it progress from a very large pile of K'NEX pieces into a resplendent copy of the original Grave Digger truck.   It had become so much a part of RBLI, that we were sorry to see it loaded into its container in late November to begin its 5,000 mile journey.    It will now tour the Monster Jam festivals across America before reaching its final resting place – Digger's Dungeon in North Carolina.

This has been another great K’NEX build project for the RBLI Assembly Team and we await with anticipation details of the next one! Watch this space for videos of the construction process!

Lord Lieutenant of Kent Visit

RBLI’s new President is The Viscount De L’Isle,  Lord- Lieutenant of Kent.  Royal British Legion Industries was honoured to welcome The Lord- Lieutenant and The Viscountess De L’Isle to Aylesford on Wednesday 23^rd November.  The Lord -Lieutenant spoke with staff in the Social Enterprise Signs Department and produced his own sign.

As a former officer in the Grenadier Guards, Lord De L’Isle was particularly interested in meeting the staff and students on the LifeWorks course.  This course provides vocational assessment, information and advice to Veterans with disabilities or health conditions.

The final part of the tour was a visit to RBLI’s high dependency care home, Gavin Astor House and the assisted living home, Queen Elizabeth Court.  Linda Alder, Head of Healthcare and Welfare hosted this visit which included a satisfactory ‘room inspection’ of former Chief Accountant of TRBL, John Riggs.

Free Recruitment Service – KENT & SUSSEX

The Not So Good News

"Mass public sector redundancies and recent fears about a slide back into recession have pushed UK unemployment to its highest for 17 years."

The total out of work rose to 2.57 million, whilst unemployment amongst under 25’s has hit a record high of 991,000.  There have been deep cuts in state spending, which have been keenly felt by us all at RBLI, which will lead to the loss of more than 300,000 public sector jobs, adding more pressure to the slowing economy.

For businesses operating in this contracting economy, the landscape is particularly challenging.  Slowing sales and rising costs make the environment a particularly difficult one to operate in.

Good News!

It is therefore important in this environment for businesses to have a clear approach to their recruitment needs and work with organisations that can support them with filling vacancies and sourcing well qualified, motivated candidates.  


This is where RBLI can help: We are able to work with businesses on a day to day basis and use our skills and expertise to analyse recruitment needs, source candidates, ensure that they have the requisite skills and experience, provide training and support them into the workplace.  We can even work with them once they are in work to ensure that they settle into the role and are a good match for the business.  And the greatest thing about this tailored service?  It’s entirely free to businesses.  Our specialist teams are currently working across Kent and Sussex, led by David Jessop, supporting local and national businesses with their recruitment needs. 

"I believe that this vital service will provide valuable support to businesses throughout the region and will ensure that we remain at the heart of the economic recovery. " 

For more information on how we can support your business with your recruitment needs, contact Claire Bonthrone who will be delighted to help.

High Sheriff Visit

On Thursday 6^th October our Chairman, Edwin Boorman and I had the privilege of meeting the High Sheriff of Kent, Mrs Georgie Warner and her husband Charles Warner.  During an informal tour of the RBLI Social Enterprise and Care Homes here in Aylesford. 

Mrs Warner was extremely impressed with our range of services and met with many of our beneficiaries.  She even got hands on with some of the assembly and fulfilment projects that we deliver for many blue chip organisations across the UK.

'Mrs Warner was extremely impressed with our range of services and met with many of our beneficiaries'

Mrs Warner expressed her surprise at the sheer number of services we provide for the disabled and vulnerable, saying that she would certainly spread word of our work on her travels throughout Kent.