Bringing Thetford’s Train Planter to Life

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At Warren, it’s great to be part of projects that contribute meaningfully to the communities around us. We are delighted to have played a key role in the creation of Thetford’s striking new train-themed planter – an installation that celebrates 200 years of railway heritage.

Commissioned by Thetford Town Council, the train planter is a centrepiece of the town’s entry into Anglia in Bloom 2025. Located outside Thetford’s Carnegie building and complementing the newly created Boudicca Pocket Park, this imaginative installation has been designed to brighten the town centre and provide a lasting feature for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The concept originated with Thetford Town Council, who envisioned a standout tribute to the region’s railway history as part of this year’s Anglia in Bloom campaign. The Council approached Warren to transform this idea into reality – and we were delighted to help.

Working from designs developed in partnership with talented students from Thetford Academy’s Gardening Club and refined by local designer David Bradley using detailed CAD drawings, our team fabricated and manufactured the planter here at Warren.

Once fabrication was complete, local volunteer El’s Painting & Decorating joined forces with Town Council members to hand-paint the planter. The project came full circle when the students from the Gardening Club returned to work alongside the Town Team to plant a colourful display, supported by flowers purchased through the Thetford in Bloom fund.

The train as a ‘work in progress’ on site here at Warren

Councillor Leuan Evans, Chair of Thetford Town Council’s Community and Environmental Services Committee, captured the spirit of the project perfectly:

“By partnering with local manufacturers, school children, and volunteers from the community, we have created something that not only brightens our town but also reflects the pride we share in our community. As part of our entry for Anglia in Bloom 2025, this project showcases our collective commitment to supporting the town, highlighting local talent, and highlighting the civic pride that exists within the Town. We are aiming for nothing less than gold at this year’s awards. Everyone involved in the project has worked hard together to make this happen, and the result is a testament to this.”

We look forward to seeing the train planter become a much-loved fixture in Thetford for many years to come.

Celebrating 10 years of Dmitrijs Ahundovs at Warren

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This month we’re proud to celebrate 10 years of hard work, dedication and growth from one of our valued team members, Dmitrijs Ahundovs.

Dmitrijs first joined Warren through an employment agency, working the night shift with very little prior engineering experience. He later moved over to the twilight shift, and it didn’t take long before we recognised his potential and offered him a permanent position.

From day one, Dmitrijs showed a willingness to learn and a natural ability to pick things up quickly. He settled in brilliantly and has made an impression on everyone with his focus, precision and positive attitude.

Danny Goodman, who was running the shift at the time, played a key role in training Dmitrijs during those early months. But it wasn’t long before Dmitrijs took ownership of his development. Originally brought in as an operator, he has steadily built his skills – and today, he is confidently programming his own work and using all of the measuring equipment with ease.

His attention to detail, tidiness and consistently high quality of work make him a standout team member and a great example of what can be achieved with the right mindset and support.

Thank you, Dmitrijs, for 10 fantastic years.

Connecting through innovation: Space East networking event

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Earlier this month, Sophie Hall, our Business Development Manager attended the Space East Networking Event, hosted by Roland Plastics.

The event brought together manufacturers, engineers and innovators from across the East of England, all with a shared interest in the future of the space sector. Sophie had a brilliant morning making new connections and gaining insights into the exciting developments and challenges facing our industry.

The agenda featured thought-provoking presentations from SuperSharp, Made Smarter UK, and Minima – each offering a unique perspective on technology, growth and the evolving demands of space sector manufacturing.

A highlight of the event was a fascinating tour of Roland Plastics’ facilities. Like Warren, Roland provides a diverse range of products and services to several sectors, including Space, Defence and Flooring. It was great to see their setup and learn more about how other companies in our region are innovating and adapting.

Thank you to Roland Plastics and Space East for organising such a valuable event – it’s great to be part of a region so committed to collaboration, innovation and progress.

Easter raffle raises £500 for local NHS charity

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We were delighted to receive a thank you letter and certificate from the team at My WiSH Charity, who recently received a £500 donation from Warren – raised through our Easter raffle.

The funds have been directed towards the WiSH Upon A Star Appeal, which supports the care of young patients across the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Whether children are being treated in hospital, at home or at a child development centre, this appeal ensures they receive the support they need.

Sally Daniels, Fundraising Manager at My WiSH Charity, wrote:

“Thank you so much to everyone at Warren Services for donating £500 for our WiSH Upon A Star Appeal. This appeal allows us to enhance the care of young patients.”

We’re incredibly proud to support such a meaningful cause, and it’s a great reminder of the impact we can make when we come together as a team – even through something as simple as a raffle.

A big thank you to everyone who bought tickets, donated prizes, and helped organise the event. Your generosity has helped to brighten the lives of children and families in our local community.

Celebrating 20 years of dedication – Fraser Craigen

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This year marks a major milestone for one of our longest-serving team members – Fraser Craigen, who is celebrating 20 years with Warren Services.

Fraser’s journey into the world of manufacturing began in an unexpected way. Originally a Game Keeper, Fraser made a career change due to health reasons. Through word of mouth and a family connection (his brother Darren was our very first apprentice), Fraser was offered a role with us and the rest as they say, is history.

Starting out briefly at our Feltwell factory, Fraser has been with us through decades of growth and change, from our expansion to two factories and the development of the Kilverstone site. A true constant throughout it all, Fraser has taken every challenge in his stride, always willing to go the extra mile.

As one of the first employees at our Fison Way site, Fraser was instrumental in shaping and managing our Goods In & Out processes, as well as coordinating transport across all sites. His work ensures finished goods are correctly booked out, securely packaged, and delivered to customers across the country — no small task when you’re dealing with large and complex items like balconies, which require careful coordination between our Brickfields and Kilverstone locations.

In more recent years, Fraser has also taken on the growing challenge of recycling management, working closely with Sackers to ensure our waste and scrap processes are efficient, compliant, and environmentally responsible.

What’s written here only scratches the surface of the contribution Fraser has made over two decades. He carries enormous responsibility and his knowledge, reliability and calm approach are appreciated by everyone who works with him.

From all of us at Warren, thank you Fraser for your 20 years of service, dedication and hard work. We look forward to the years to come and the continued success we’ll share together.

Easter raffle raises £500 for children’s charity

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We’re delighted to share the final update from our Easter raffle – and we’re proud to announce that we raised £500 in support of West Suffolk Hospital’s WiSH Upon a Star Children’s Appeal.

This important charity works to enhance the care that young people receive across the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, both in hospital and in the wider community. The Trust supports a population of around 280,000 people – with more than 160,000 of those aged 18 or under, so the impact of this appeal reaches far and wide.

The Warren team came together to deliver another fantastic fundraising effort for a truly worthy cause. A huge thank you goes to Becky and Christine for all their hard work in organising the raffle, selling tickets and collecting donations – your dedication makes events like this possible.

Thank you also to everyone who donated prizes and to those who bought tickets so generously. Your support means a lot and helps us continue to give back to our community in meaningful ways.

Well done, team Warren – and happy (belated) Easter to all!

A royal honour: Visit from Lady Dannatt, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk

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On Thursday 10th April, we had the privilege of welcoming a very special guest to Warren Services – Lady Dannatt, the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.

As His Majesty’s representative in the county, the Lord-Lieutenant plays a unique and important role in promoting goodwill, supporting community initiatives, and recognising excellence across Norfolk. Lady Dannatt, who holds this position, is deeply committed to strengthening local communities and takes a keen interest in businesses, voluntary organisations and education.

Her visit to Warren Services focused on our work with young people, particularly in the areas of skills development, apprenticeships and engagement with local schools and colleges. We were proud to share how we support learners, help bridge the skills gap in engineering and manufacturing, and encourage others in the sector to follow suit.

The tour went smoothly and the discussions that followed were both meaningful and encouraging. We were honoured to learn that Lady Dannatt plans to write to His Majesty The King to share details about our company and the positive impact we are making.

In a further mark of recognition, we were delighted to receive an invitation to attend The King’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 14th May – a true honour and a testament to the dedication of our team in promoting education and opportunity within our industry.

More news and photos from this exciting occasion will be shared soon.

Will Bridgman announced as Chair of EEIN

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We’re proud to share some fantastic news from the Warren Services team – our Managing Director, Will Bridgman, has been appointed as Chair of the EAL Engineering Industry Network (EEIN).

Will’s appointment is a reflection of his longstanding commitment to training, apprenticeships and education in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. His passion for developing the next generation of talent is well known across Norfolk, and he has been a driving force behind many local initiatives to support learners and close skills gaps.

As Chair of EEIN, Will will continue to strengthen partnerships between industry and education. He actively collaborates with schools and colleges to help shape learning experiences that are meaningful, relevant, and aligned with real-world needs. Whether it’s inviting students into our facilities to see engineering in action, or helping shape sector-wide qualifications, Will is focused on making a difference.

His mission is clear: to ensure qualifications are not only fit for purpose but also empower learners to succeed in their chosen career paths.

Congratulations, Will. We know you’ll bring your energy, insight and leadership to the role, and we’re excited to see the positive impact this will bring to our industry and community.

Lighting the Warren Beacon in tribute

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At 9:30pm on Thursday 8th May, we gathered at the Fison Way roundabout to take part in a nationwide moment of reflection. The Warren Beacon was lit as part of a coordinated tribute across the UK, joining hundreds of other beacons shining brightly in towns and communities across the country.

It was a fantastic fire – a striking and symbolic display, and our thanks go to Scott Fraser for organising the event and lighting the beacon on the night.

These commemorative moments are always moving, and this one was no different. As the beacon burned, we stood alongside others from our local area, quietly taking a moment to reflect on times passed and the significance of the occasion.

Thank you to everyone who came along and made the evening so memorable. It was a simple yet powerful reminder of the strength we find in coming together – something that holds true both in our community and in our company.

Warren hosts Make UK East of England Advisory Board meeting

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In March, Warren was proud to host the latest meeting of the Make UK East of England Advisory Board – bringing together representatives from manufacturing and engineering companies across the region.

The event was well attended, with businesses of all sizes joining us at our premises for an afternoon of discussion, collaboration and knowledge sharing. As long-standing members of Make UK – dating back to our days in Feltwell when it was known as the EEF, we value the opportunity to stay connected with the wider industry and help shape its future.

These advisory board meetings take place several times a year and serve as a forum for member companies to discuss a broad range of industry matters. Topics on the agenda typically include current business challenges, investment plans, wages, training, health and safety and available grants.

It’s a valuable opportunity to share insights, learn from each other’s experiences and explore how regional and national trends are affecting businesses across the sector.

As is tradition at these meetings, the host company gives a short presentation to introduce their business to the group. We were pleased to share our story with fellow members – from our early beginnings to our growth, our commitment to apprenticeships and training and our ongoing investment in people and technology.

Following the meeting, attendees were invited on a guided tour of our facilities to get a closer look at how we work and see our operations in action.

We’re always glad to play an active role in the regional manufacturing community, and hosting the Make UK Advisory Board meeting was a great opportunity to strengthen those ties. Our thanks to all who attended and contributed to the discussion – we look forward to seeing everyone again at the next meeting.