Strategy Launch

The clock is ticking and we are all making those frantic last minute decisions in preparation for the RBLI Strategy launch on Wednesday 13^th July.

We have invited over 400 people and have over 300 confirmed guests.  With an evening of live entertainment, a drinks reception and some interesting guest speakers we are all really excited about the evening.

Everyone involved has been working really hard on this and I am sure the evening will be a great success.

Office Visits

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of visiting our Work Programme Offices in Crawley, Chichester and Brighton.  RBLI, working in partnership with G4S, now has over 800 clients referred to us in the first 4 weeks of the programme. 

I joined in our of the induction courses for 8 new clients in one office where I was impressed by the enthusiasm and motivation of staff and customers alike.  The induction sessions include an in depth one to one between the client and their consultant and this session sets the scene for designing a bespoke package of support for each individual.  One client said “It is nice to be treated like an adult”.

The offices are equipped with job search computers for clients to use at anytime and a full programme of courses to help individuals prepare themselves for employment is on offer.

More work for RBLI Signs

I am absolutely delighted to hear that we have been selected as a key supplier to Balfour Beatty, who are the Highways Agency current sign contractor.    From now on, when you’re driving on the motorways in the South East, those familiar blue signs you’ll see will be made here in Aylesford by RBLI.

This is a fantastic opportunity and is the culmination of a great deal of hard work from Jonathan Shaw and the whole of the Social Enterprise team.

Medway Office Opening

Now that the Work Programme is upon us, we are getting on with the job at hand – helping people find new jobs and build new futures.  In Chatham I was delighted to welcome our local MP, Tracey Crouch, to perform the opening ceremony of our new Medway office located in the Pentagon Shopping Centre.  Tracey met with our customers and staff and said how impressed she was with the work we do and our professional yet caring approach.

A big thank you to Tracey for taking the time and to everyone involved in the delivery of the Work Programme.

Bishop of Rochester

The day ended with a wonderfully warm and encouraging visit by the Bishop of Rochester, James Langstaff and Reverend Jim Brown.  This was very much a familiarisation visit and the staff and residents in Gavin Astor House, our high dependency care home and Mountbatten Pavilion, our sheltered accommodation, were pleased to have the opportunity to chat with the Bishop.  The Bishop was pleased with the wide range and high quality of care and welfare services provided by RBLI.

Land Rover

Thursday started with a Kent Messenger photo shoot of myself and the RBLI Property Services team on and around a refurbished 1982 Land Rover.  The Land Rover was about to be scrapped last year when the local Territorial Army Field Ambulance Unit came to the rescue.  No it was not the doctors but rather their Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) detachment who saved the day.  They needed some training for their vehicle mechanics and the Land Rover was just the project to provide realism.

Work Programme

Well the Eagle has finally landed and Work Programme is now upon us.  After months of hard work for everyone we are now helping our first customers.  This new programme concentrates on achieving sustainable employment and we have a range of new initiatives to help individuals.  At a time when unemployment remains high, it is going to be a big test for all providers but I am very confident that we have an outstanding team who are more than a match and will rise to the challenge.