Ahead of Remembrance Day, Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill visited Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC) in Renfrewshire to meet veterans and hear about their transition into civilian employment.
The Bishopton-based enterprise, run by Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), employs veterans and people with disabilities in the production of road, rail and commercial signage. Profits are reinvested into RBLI’s wider network of housing, employment and mental health services for ex-service personnel.
McNeill said it had been “a privilege to visit Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company to meet veterans working there and hear about their successful military to civilian career transitions at this King’s Award-winning social enterprise.” She added that “veterans truly enrich our economy and our communities, and our support is vital when they leave service.”
Founded in 2018, SBMC was established in response to research highlighting social and economic challenges faced by Scottish veterans. It now supplies signage to clients including Bear Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland, and major contractors such as Amey and Balfour Beatty.
Robert Lappin, Assistant Director of SBMC and a veteran himself, said the visit recognised the value of veteran-led employment. “It was a valuable opportunity to highlight how our work supports both individuals and communities across Scotland. As we approached Remembrance, appreciation of that work felt especially meaningful,” he said.
Among those McNeill met was Anton Docherty, a Royal Artillery veteran from Paisley who joined SBMC through its traineeship programme. “It’s given me structure, purpose and the chance to be around people who understand,” he said.
The visit followed a Remembrance reception hosted by McNeill at the UK Government’s Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh, which brought together members of Scotland’s Armed Forces community, veterans’ organisations, cadets and parliamentarians.
