Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC), RBVE’s award‑winning Scottish social enterprise, welcomed new Veterans Minister Jamie Hepburn to its Renfrewshire factory during a milestone moment for the organisation: the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding with West College Scotland.
The visit showcased SBMC’s unique model of combining high‑quality commercial manufacturing with life‑changing employment, skills, and training opportunities for veterans and people with disabilities.
Since launching in 2018, SBMC has supported more than 100 veterans through employment, volunteering, training and development, with 80% of its manufacturing team made up of veterans or people with disabilities.
The Minister met employees, toured the factory floor and heard first‑hand how SBMC’s investment in technology, accredited training and wraparound support is transforming lives and strengthening Scotland’s veteran community. The visit also highlighted RBVE’s wider national work, including Lifeworks, its award‑winning employability programme that supports veterans into sustainable work, training or volunteering.
A new partnership strengthening opportunity across Scotland
The signing of the MOU between RBVE’s Accredited Training Centre and West College Scotland marks a major step forward in expanding access to qualifications, vocational training and personalised support for veterans and military families. Enabled by the Scottish Veterans Fund, the partnership will enhance assessment capacity, broaden qualification pathways and ensure continuity of delivery across Scotland.
It builds on the success of RBVE’s previous Scottish Veterans Fund project, which supported disadvantaged veterans into Real Living Wage employment, strengthened employer partnerships and created new progression routes with organisations such as Thales and Ramudden Global.
Robert Lappin, Assistant Director of SBMC and former Royal Engineer, said:
“When RBVE set up Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company the intention was always to do more than just create jobs in Scotland. It was always about creating wider opportunity and pushing the boundaries of what a new social enterprise could deliver. Our new partnership with West College Scotland, enabled by the generous support of the Scottish Veterans Fund, builds on our achievements to date and offers even more opportunity to veterans and others with disability while they are working here. It was therefore hugely appropriate that the new veterans minister was here on the day that we signed the MOU.”
Demonstrating Scotland’s leadership in social value
SBMC’s responsible manufacturing model – zero landfill, ISO‑certified operations and a commitment to recycling and low‑carbon energy – continues to set a benchmark for how public and private‑sector procurement can deliver both commercial excellence and measurable social impact.
With growing partnerships, expanding training provision and national recognition including the King’s Award for Enterprise, SBMC is demonstrating what is possible when industry, education and social purpose work hand in hand.