A £350,000 modernisation of a high-tech road and rail signs factory was unveiled with a visit from the Transport Secretary.

Patrick McLoughlin was the guest of honour as Royal British Legion Industries revealed the first phase of its new printing and graphics facility in Aylesford.

The charity showed the minister how new tourism and heritage signs are made, replacing traditional brown signs with ones using iconic images associated with an area.

The RBLI is one of only four organisations in the country with technology able to produce the new style of sign.

Mr McLoughlin unveiled a plaque last week marking the factory’s modernisation in front of guests including Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch and representatives from clients including Network Rail, Amey, Traffic Management Products (TMP), Rennicks and Kent Highways.

The sign factory is one of RBLI’s social enterprises which produces income for the charity and provides employment to ex-Forces personnel and disabled people. More than a third of RBLI’s employees are former members of the Armed Forces.

Mr McLoughlin said: “If you’re going to compete as a social enterprise you have to invest. Also, the way in which you’re working with big businesses is good for developing a reputation.

“In the future, people will come to you not because you’re a social enterprise but because you have built a reputation for providing first-class products and services to the market.”

In the last year, RBLI has seen a 35% increase in orders and recruited an extra member of staff.

RBLI’s chief executive Steve Sherry said: “This modernisation programme has put us in a better position to provide our public sector and company clients with a competitive social value partner.

"It’s a privilege to show Mr McLoughlin that our investment is already paying dividends, with improved quality, greater efficiencies and faster production.”

Kent County Council cabinet member for environment & transport David Brazier said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Royal British Legion Industries.

“This is a positive social enterprise that brings benefits to many people.

“The RBLI staff of ex-Service Personnel manufacture a wide range of signs for us, and when drivers in Kent see a new road sign, it will be one produced by the team at the RBLI design shop and manufacturing premises in Aylesford.”