The Construction Project That Gives Back To Veterans

The RBVE launches its latest builds. 

The RBVE, or the Royal British Veterans Enterprise, is a national charity that primarily supports Armed Forces veterans. Founded in 1919, its core mission is to create jobs, build communities and provide homes to those veterans who need them. 

The RBVE’s latest projects are some of its most ambitious yet and will help the organisation meet all three of its aims. With a multi-year plan in place, Fix Radio spoke with the charity about its next steps.

The Veteran’s Village 

The RBVE has a veterans village in Kent, where over 300 veterans and their families live. This is a community space, with more than just homes. It features gyms, cafes and a community centre. There’s even an IT learning suite and employment opportunities built in. 

The Centenary Village, which was opened by Her Majesty the Queen, is set to expand by 100 homes intended for further veterans. The final phase of the project is intended to be completed by February 2027. But the village expansion is also going to serve another important purpose. 

Factory Reset

Across the RBVE’s three factories, more than 70% of the team are veterans and/or have a disability. These factories, located in Kent, Surrey and Glasgow, make around 250,000 signs per year. These include road signs, those used on construction sites, and those built for clients like Network Rail and National Rail. The team believes 1 in 5 road signs in the UK was developed by their factories.  

However, the RBVE is now breaking ground on a new BREEAM-Excellent factory, to replace the current one in Kent. Costing around £15 million, construction will be completed by Magrock, with occupation and operation commencing in October 2027. RBVE intends for the project to be completed in its entirety by March 2028. 

The new factory, located in the village, will create hundreds of new learning and employment opportunities for veterans and those with disabilities. Its Training Academy will also offer routes to accredited qualifications with local colleges and will forge paths to further employment, utilising the group’s national program. In total, the charity is putting £45 million into construction projects that both create jobs and homes for veterans. 

You can learn more about the RBVE on their official website.