Ella takes the next step in her career

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This week we were delighted to congratulate Ella on successfully completing her Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship.

Working within Warren’s Quality team, Ella has spent the past few years developing her knowledge and skills while gaining valuable experience in a busy manufacturing environment. Balancing work responsibilities with studying is never easy, but Ella has shown dedication and determination throughout her apprenticeship journey.

Achieving a qualification is always an important milestone, but for Ella it is also the beginning of the next chapter. Rather than stopping at Level 3, she has already committed to continuing her professional development and will begin a Level 4 Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship in September.

This next qualification will allow Ella to build on the experience she has already gained within the Quality team and further develop the specialist skills that are so important within modern manufacturing.

One of the great strengths of apprenticeships is that they provide a pathway for continuous learning and career progression. Ella’s journey is a great example of how apprentices can develop their knowledge, gain recognised qualifications and continue advancing their careers within the business.

We are proud to support Ella as she continues her development and look forward to seeing what she achieves next.

Congratulations, Ella, on completing your Level 3 qualification, and best of luck as you begin your Level 4 apprenticeship later this year.

Discussing opportunities for young people with Baroness Stedman-Scott

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Warren recently welcomed an important visit focused on one of the key challenges facing communities across the UK – helping young people move into education, employment and training.

The visit brought together our Managing Director, Will Bridgman, and our Founder Owner Richard Bridgman with Baroness Debbie Stedman-Scott and Julia Nix, Head of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for Norfolk and Suffolk.

Julia organised the visit, bringing Baroness Stedman-Scott to Norfolk to meet with organisations including Warren, Netmatters and Open Road in Thetford. Each organisation plays a role in supporting, training and developing young people, including those who may have faced challenges during their education.

A major topic of discussion was the growing number of young people aged 16 to 24 who are not currently in education, employment or training, often referred to as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training). This remains a significant challenge across the country and one that requires collaboration between businesses, education providers and government organisations.

Richard commented that Baroness Stedman-Scott was a breath of fresh air, bringing a wealth of experience and practical ideas to the discussion. She was instrumental in introducing the highly successful Kickstart scheme and continues to champion innovative approaches to helping young people develop skills, gain confidence and access meaningful employment opportunities.

The visit generated valuable conversations and new ideas that could help address the challenges facing young people today. Several of these ideas have already been shared with others involved in training and workforce development.

At Warren, we remain committed to supporting apprenticeships, work experience placements and opportunities that help young people take their first steps into rewarding careers.

Watch this space as these discussions continue to develop.

Congratulations to Natalia on completing her apprenticeship

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Congratulations to Natalia on successfully completing her Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship.

This week, we had the opportunity to personally congratulate Natalia on achieving this important milestone and officially becoming a qualified Business Administrator.

At Warren, apprentice success is always something worth celebrating. This can involve apprentices developing practical engineering skills on the shop floor, or building their careers within our office teams. We are committed to supporting them as they learn, grow and progress.

Throughout her apprenticeship, Natalia has balanced her studies alongside her role within the Enquiries team, demonstrating dedication, commitment and a strong willingness to learn. Completing an apprenticeship requires both hard work and perseverance, and Natalia should be extremely proud of what she has achieved.

Apprenticeships continue to play an important role in developing talent across Warren, helping individuals gain valuable qualifications while building real-world experience within the business.

Well done, Natalia, on this fantastic achievement. We look forward to seeing your continued success and celebrating many more apprentice accomplishments in the future.

Apprentices share their experiences

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To mark the end of National Apprenticeship Week 2026, we invited some of our current and former apprentices to share their experiences of the apprenticeship route and how it has shaped their careers at Warren.

Their stories highlight the wide range of opportunities apprenticeships provide – from hands-on technical roles to business and administrative careers within the company.

Adam Wheatley – Production Director

“My first apprenticeship was with a different company where I gained a Level 3 in Automotive Repair and Diagnostics. I then joined Warren, completing a three-year General Engineering apprenticeship, followed by a Level 3 Installation Technician qualification and the 2391 Test and Inspection qualification.

“I wanted to learn whilst also having a job, so I would recommend the apprenticeship route as it gives a good mix of hands-on skills whilst gaining knowledge from people who have a wealth of experience.”

Estee Ross – HR Director

“I studied my apprenticeship in 2020 in Human Resource Management. The flexibility of an apprenticeship made it easier for me to study around my day-to-day role.

“I was already working in HR so I found the reports and projects easier to write because I had plenty of current examples that I could use as evidence. Study and work can be challenging at times but also very rewarding. Overall it was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to most.”

Jake Williams – Engineer

“I became an apprentice in 2011 after deciding that university wasn’t for me. I studied Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations and then Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering.

“During my apprenticeship my role was as a CNC machinist. I started by operating machines, then learned how to set them and eventually moved into programming. After completing my apprenticeship I progressed to become a Nightshift Supervisor, before moving back onto days where I now programme the majority of new work that comes in.”

Lud Vasiljeva – Administrative Assistant

“I’m currently an apprentice at Warren Services, completing a Business Administration Level 3 qualification within the Purchasing department.

“I get to study while also learning about engineering and earning a living. Warren provides good support for apprentices, which has made my experience very positive. I would recommend an apprenticeship because it helps you become more independent, build confidence and learn how a professional workplace operates.”

Apprenticeships continue to play an important role at Warren, helping us develop the next generation of skilled engineers and business professionals. By combining practical experience with formal learning, apprentices gain valuable knowledge while contributing to the success of the business.

Recognition at the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2026

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We are delighted to share that our Managing Director, Will Bridgman was recently recognised at the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2026 as a runner-up in the Mentor or Manager of the Year category.

The awards took place during National Apprenticeship Week 2026 and celebrate the achievements of apprentices, employers, mentors and advocates who help shape the future workforce across the county.

Reflecting on the nomination, Will said:
“I am grateful to have been named as one of the runners up in ‘Mentor or Manager of the Year’ at the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2026. Despite not being able to attend the event, my father Richard Bridgman received the award on my behalf.”

Now in their fourth year, the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards continue to highlight the inspiring stories of individuals and organisations who are committed to developing skills and supporting apprenticeships across the region. The event was once again sponsored by the East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and featured 12 categories recognising outstanding contributions across the apprenticeship community.

This year’s nominations showcased some truly inspiring achievements from businesses, mentors and apprentices throughout Norfolk.

At Warren, apprenticeships are an important part of how we build the future of our workforce. Supporting and mentoring the next generation of engineers and skilled professionals is something we are incredibly passionate about, and we are delighted to see this recognised.

Level 2 apprentices achieve qualification success

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Congratulations to Alfie and Reino on successfully completing their Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship.

This is a fantastic achievement and a proud milestone in their careers. Completing a Level 2 apprenticeship takes commitment, practical skill and a willingness to learn – qualities both Alfie and Reino have consistently demonstrated throughout their time with us.

We’re also delighted to confirm that both have been offered permanent roles within specific teams across the business. Their hard work has paid off and we’re pleased to see them continuing their journey at Warren.

Apprenticeships are an important part of how we develop talent and strengthen our workforce for the future. Supporting young engineers as they build their skills and confidence remains a key priority for us.

Well done lads! We look forward to seeing you continue to grow and succeed in your new roles.

Apprentice journey – learning across Warren

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We were pleased to welcome three new apprentices from a local high school to Warren Services in September. Kelci, Danny and Cody have begun their Level 2 apprenticeship studies with West Suffolk College, alongside hands-on department rotations across our Brickfields and Fison sites.

Before Christmas, Cody spent time working in the Sapphire department at Brickfields. Sapphire Balconies is a leading provider of balconies for modern, high-spec apartment developments, and we’ve worked with them for over ten years. During his placement, Cody enjoyed being part of the team and gaining insight into the production process, noting how many of the manufacturing stages are recurrent and precision-led.

Cody has since moved into the Paint area at Brickfields, where he is already proving to be a great addition to the department. We’re looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop, alongside Kelci and Danny, as they progress through their rotations and build their skills within the business.

Supporting apprentices as they learn, grow and gain real-world experience remains an important part of life at Warren, and we’re excited to watch all three continue to excel.

Steph on Skills – powered by Enginuity

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Recently, Will and Richard Bridgman were invited by Enginuity to take part in a podcast for the Steph on Skills series, sharing Warren Services’ journey with apprenticeships.

They were interviewed by Steph McGovern, who many people will recognise from television. Richard had met Steph previously at Make UK events and he said she is exactly as you’d expect – straight-talking, knowledgeable and passionate about the manufacturing sector.

Championing apprenticeships in manufacturing

Steph has an engineering background and has done a huge amount to promote manufacturing careers, particularly encouraging young people to consider apprenticeships. She is also a strong advocate for increasing female representation in engineering and technical roles, which made the conversation especially relevant and engaging.

They met at a studio in the heart of London for what turned into a very early start. Steph had an exceptionally busy morning, recording three separate interviews for the series and despite a delayed arrival, once they were set up everything flowed naturally.

A great conversation and positive feedback

Richard said: “But I must say Will is far more eloquent and at ease with speaking than me. Since the Podcast as gone out we have had a lot of positive feedback.”

The episode offers a genuine insight into Warren’s approach, the challenges we’ve faced and why investing in apprenticeships continues to be such an important part of our business.

The podcast video is available to watch below:

Welcoming our new apprentices

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We’re pleased to welcome Danny, Kelci and Cody, who have recently joined Warren Services to begin their Level 2 apprenticeships with West Suffolk College.

All three have started their process rotations, giving them the chance to spend time in different areas of the business and build a solid understanding of how each part of our operation works. These early rotations are an important step in helping new apprentices find their strengths, develop new skills and gain confidence in a real engineering environment.

As they settle in, they will as always, receive guidance and support from colleagues across the company.

We are proud to continue investing in the next generation of engineers and look forward to seeing how Danny, Kelci and Cody progress over the months ahead.

Welcome to the team!

Richard Appears on ITV News

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Warren’s Founder Owner, Richard Bridgman recently found himself in front of the cameras, for an interview with ITV News.

The opportunity came about when Richard’s friend, Gina Long MBE was approached by ITV to be filmed at her home for a feature on the Honours List. As there wasn’t enough airtime available for both of them, Gina kindly suggested Richard, and the filming took place at her house.

Richard admits the process was quite daunting:

“It’s a strange experience having a camera right in your face. The filming takes a long time, but so much gets cut down – so it can end up as just a few minutes on screen.”

The feature reflected on the significance of receiving an Honour. Richard was awarded his OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of his work over many years to support apprenticeships both locally and nationally. Today, the tradition continues under King Charles.

Richard says he was humbled to be recognised:

“When I received the letter from the Queen, I felt that I knew others who were far more deserving than me. I feel many get an Honour just for doing their job, and this needs to change. Let’s hope that more recognition is given to people who have dedicated their lives to something they’re passionate about. I must admit though, it was one of the proudest days of my life.”

Richard was accompanied to Buckingham Palace by his wife Sharon and their children, where his medal was presented by Prince William. After the ceremony, the celebrations continued with a lunch surrounded by 16 family members and friends.

📺 You can watch Richard’s ITV News appearance  below (skip to just after 6 minutes in).