RBLI Chief Executive honoured by King Charles

The chief executive of Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), the national charity supporting Armed Forces veterans and people with disabilities, has been awarded the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in King Charles’ New Year’s Honours List.

Recognised for her services to the Armed Forces community, Lisa Farmer has worked for RBLI for a decade and has successfully fronted the charity since 2022. The charity currently employs more than 200 people, of whom 158 work in Aylesford, with the rest across Leatherhead in Surrey and Bishopton in Scotland. At the charity’s social enterprise operations 70% of the workforce are overcoming disabilities, health and mental health conditions.

Commenting on the appointment, Lisa Farmer, said: “It’s an honour to be recognised by His Majesty, and a privilege to lead the charity and its social enterprise activity while building a sustainable future for RBLI. I feel this award can be shared with every one of our 200-plus strong team in recognition of the life-changing impact they are having on thousands of veterans and people with disabilities every year.”

During her time at RBLI, Lisa has been the driving force behind its fundraising, and more recently led on the delivery of the £28m Centenary Village, the charity’s most ambitious project in its 105-year history. The Centenary Village, which was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in 2023, currently includes 36 one- and two-bedroom adapted apartments for veterans; 4 family homes; and a 24 -bed assisted living scheme. Further development, including a gym and community centre as well as more homes and apartments, will be opening in early 2025.

RBLI was named one of the first recipients of The King’s Award for Enterprise, for its commitment to social enterprise north of the border, through Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, and efforts to promote disability employment nationwide. The military charity was one of only nine organisations to be recognised for promoting opportunity in the first year of The King’s Award for Enterprise.

RBLI’s award-winning Lifeworks programme which reaches over 1,000 unemployed Forces veterans UK-wide every year is achieving exceptional results with 80% of programme participants securing work or work placements within 12 months. 64% of participants are overcoming mental health challenges. Lisa Farmer comments “My motivation is that every single person with a disability – whether that’s a visible or an invisible disability – deserves work opportunities and veterans who have served and sacrificed for their country more than most.”