We’re Finalists in the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2025!

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We’re thrilled to announce that we are finalists in the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2025!

Apprenticeships Norfolk plays a vital role in supporting both individuals seeking apprenticeships and employers aiming to provide them. Their free advice and step-by-step guidance ensure that the apprenticeship journey is a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

The Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards is a fantastic platform to shine a spotlight on the dedication and talent of Norfolk apprentices and employers. We’re proud to be part of an initiative that celebrates the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses, and the wider community.

The awards are sponsored by the East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), a passionate group of around 860 employers and 340 current or former apprentices. Their work inspires and promotes the value of apprenticeships across the region.

We can’t wait to join fellow finalists at the awards ceremony in February and celebrate the achievements of apprenticeships in Norfolk. A huge thank you to our brilliant team and apprentices for their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication, which have made this recognition possible!

Giving away an Amada Co2 4-kilowatt laser machine – a rare opportunity!

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At Warren, we’re always focused on innovation and efficiency. As part of our commitment to optimising our manufacturing processes, we’ve upgraded our laser cutting capabilities to accommodate thicker aluminium materials. This means we now have a fantastic opportunity for someone to take ownership of an excellent piece of machinery – completely free of charge!

We’re giving away an Amada Co2 4-kilowatt LASER machine, purchased new in November 2009. This machine has been an integral part of our operations, delivering precision cuts and reliable performance. While we’d love to keep it, we need the floor space for our new equipment. Here’s everything you need to know about this offer:

  • This machine cuts steel effortlessly, with a maximum capacity of up to 20mm thick.
  • The 3m x 1.5m bed size is ideal for a variety of applications.
  • It has been meticulously maintained, with all servicing up to date and carried out by Amada engineers.
  • The Amada Co2 LASER is a trusted choice in engineering and manufacturing sectors worldwide.

This machine has served us incredibly well, and we are confident it can deliver the same results for its next owner.

What’s the catch?

The machine itself is free. The only costs involved are related to removal and transport, which will need to be covered by the recipient.

This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses or educational institutions looking to expand their laser cutting capabilities without the upfront cost of purchasing new equipment.

Machine specifications

For more info and the technical details, you can view the full machine brochure here:
LC-F1 Brochure

Get in touch

If you’re interested or know someone who could benefit from this opportunity, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact Richard Bridgman at:

Spreading Christmas Cheer with the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal 2024

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This year at Warren, our annual Christmas raffle was about more than just festive fun, it was about giving back to our community. We were proud to support the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal 2024, a local initiative dedicated to spreading holiday cheer to families in need across Norfolk.

About the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal

For many families, the holiday season brings added pressures, and the need for support is greater than ever. Nourishing Norfolk’s food hubs play a crucial role in providing affordable food and essentials to thousands of people throughout our community. This year, they asked businesses like ours to help stock Christmas crates full of holiday treats and essentials, ensuring that every family could enjoy a festive meal, regardless of their circumstances.

A stocked Christmas crate costs less than £5 per family and includes items like gravy, stuffing, and mince pies – simple treats that can make a world of difference. With a total goal of £1,500, the appeal aimed to provide over 300 families with a little extra joy this Christmas season.

How we supported the cause

At Warren, we rallied behind this wonderful initiative through our Christmas raffle, with all proceeds going directly to the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal. As always, we included supplier gifts in the raffle, and we encouraged everyone to buy tickets to help us raise as much as possible for this fantastic cause.

A warm meal, a festive treat, and the knowledge that their community cares – these are gifts that can transform the Christmas for families facing challenges. Every donation, big or small, had a real and lasting impact. Thank you for your generosity, and for making a meaningful difference this festive season.

Building Connections and Insights: Make UK Derby Defence Event

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This month, we had the opportunity to attend the Make UK Defence event in Derby, an invaluable two-day gathering for learning about the defence sector and networking with industry professionals. Held at the Derby Football Club, the event provided a unique platform to explore opportunities and challenges within this dynamic industry.

Day one: navigating snow and making connections

The event coincided with an unexpected snowstorm, which made the journey an adventure in itself! Once settled, the day offered a mix of keynote speakers from across the defence sector and valuable networking sessions. These conversations provided a chance to engage with potential customers and learn more about their needs and expectations.

Day two: meet the buyer

The highlight of day two was the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, where we had the chance to pitch to industry buyers. Sophie Hall, our Business Development Manager had requested eight meetings and was fortunate to secure four, although her first meeting didn’t go as planned due to a no-show. Despite that hiccup, the remaining three meetings were productive and offered valuable insights into what buyers in this sector are seeking.

Key takeaways from the event

The event was as much a learning experience as it was a networking opportunity. Here are the main insights Sophie took away from the two days:

  1. Quality is non-negotiable
    Success in the defence sector depends on a relentless focus on quality. It’s not just about meeting standards, it’s about embedding quality as a core value within your business culture.
  2. Qualifications open doors
    Having the necessary certifications and qualifications is crucial. This sector requires adherence to strict regulations, and businesses must demonstrate their ability to meet these consistently.
  3. Longevity is the reward
    Once established in the defence industry, the potential for long-term, repeat business is significant. However, getting to that point requires patience, persistence, and a commitment to building trust with clients.
  4. It takes time to establish credibility
    Breaking into the defence sector isn’t quick or easy. Building the right connections, earning trust, and proving your capabilities can take years, but the rewards are worth the effort.

Looking ahead

Attending the Make UK Defence event was a valuable step in our journey to explore opportunities in this sector. It reinforced the importance of continuous improvement in quality and qualifications while highlighting the long-term potential for businesses that persevere.

We’re excited to take what we’ve learned and apply it to our processes, ensuring we’re well-positioned to meet the demands of this challenging and rewarding industry. Thank you to Make UK for hosting such a fantastic event – we’re looking forward to the next one!

Building a skilled workforce: how Warren is supporting the next generation

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A skilled workforce is the cornerstone of every successful business. Yet, navigating how best to collaborate with education providers to develop future-ready skills can be a challenge. We’ve partnered with the University Technology College Norfolk (UTCN) and The Education Landscape to create a unique and impactful resource for 3D printing.

Innovation through collaboration
In collaboration with UTCN, we provided the college with a cutting-edge 3D printer to enhance their educational resources. We also worked alongside Andrew, a dedicated student at UTCN, to bring the college’s existing 3D printers back to full functionality. By ensuring these tools are operational, we’re enabling students to use them for future projects.

This collaboration is more than just about technology – it’s about building bridges between education and industry, ensuring students are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in their careers and tackle real-world challenges.

Why supporting education matters
For businesses like Warren, engaging with education isn’t just an investment in the future workforce – it’s a chance to inspire the next generation of thinkers, makers, and innovators. Supporting teachers and students with practical resources and mentorship helps to close the skills gap, keeping industries like ours at the forefront of technology and creativity.

Get involved: download the free guide
Feeling inspired to make a difference? Head to educationlandscape.org.uk to download the FREE Guide and Index.

Find out more here and in the video below.

 

Will Bridgman Visits East Anglia Air Ambulance for CEO Networking Event

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This week, our Managing Director, Will Bridgman, participated in an insightful event hosted by Turning Factor, a learning and development training provider, at East Anglia Air Ambulance. This gathering brought together CEOs and business leaders from across various sectors to share knowledge, experiences, and grow meaningful connections.

The event, organised by James Howells, Director of Turning Factor, aimed to create a supportive space for CEOs, offering them the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges and gain insights into each other’s fields. The highlight of the day included a presentation and a tour of East Anglia Air Ambulance, allowing attendees to see the impressive work and innovation behind the life-saving operations of the air ambulance team.

James Howells thanked Will Bridgman for his participation, saying, “I wanted to thank you for coming to yesterday’s event. Your presence and engagement were the beginning of what we hope to be a powerful forum. We hope you enjoyed the presentation and tour from East Anglia Air Ambulance and found it as interesting as we did.”

This event marks the beginning of a promising network where local business leaders can come together for mutual support and collaborative opportunities, driving growth not only within their companies but also across the community.

Warren Is Growing a MO for Movember!

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This year at Warren, we’re taking part in Movember and we’d love to see the men join in on this meaningful cause. Starting at the end of October, we’re encouraging everyone to begin the month clean-shaven, then grow out their moustaches throughout November. The moustache is more than just facial hair—it’s a powerful symbol that encourages life-saving conversations about men’s health.

Why Movember matters

Movember is the leading charity dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. The movement focuses on raising awareness and funds for critical issues such as mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. By growing a moustache, you’re helping to shine a spotlight on these important topics and encouraging others to engage in conversations that can make a difference.

How to get involved

It’s simple: at the end of October, go clean-shaven and then start growing your moustache on 1st November. Throughout the month, let your ‘Mo’ take centre stage and help spread the message of Movember’s mission. You can learn more about Movember’s work and how to get involved by visiting their website: Movember – Changing the Face of Men’s Health.

Let’s see those moustaches!

As we embark on this hairy journey together, we’d love to capture the moment! If you’re taking part, let’s get some photos of your ‘Mo’. Let’s see who can grow the most impressive moustache by the end of the month—‘tis the season to be hairy, after all!

Warren Welcomes Students from The Damara School for a Factory Tour

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At Warren, we believe in the power of inspiring the next generation and that’s why we continue to engage with local schools. On Wednesday 9th October, we were excited to welcome a group of students from The Damara School in Thetford to our facilities for a behind-the-scenes look at what we do.

Touring Fison Way and Brickfields Way

The visit started with a tour of our Fison Way site, led by Kieran, where the students had the opportunity to see some of the impressive manufacturing processes we use every day. Next, Adam took the group around our Brickfields Way site, showing them more of the equipment and technology that powers our operations. To conclude the tour, the students gathered in the meeting room for a talk from Will, who shared his experience in the world of engineering and manufacturing, as well as what a career in the industry can look like.

Encouraging young minds

The students seemed to thoroughly enjoy the tour, asking great questions and showing enthusiasm for the industry. At Warren, we’re committed to engaging with children at a young age to spark their interest in engineering and manufacturing. By providing these hands-on experiences, we hope to inspire future generations of engineers and innovators.

Thanks again to The Damara School for joining us. We hope to see more aspiring engineers visit Warren in the near future!

Celebrating National Manufacturing Day at Warren

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On Thursday 26th September, we proudly celebrated National Manufacturing Day, a day dedicated to showing the importance of manufacturing across the UK. Businesses like ours open their doors to give people a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens in the world of manufacturing.

This year, we had the pleasure of hosting nearly 300 local Year 6 pupils from six different primary schools, alongside local businesses Boniface and Peerless Plastics. It was an exciting day full of learning, fun and hands-on experiences aimed at inspiring the next generation of engineers.

A day of discovery

With so many eager young minds, we had to split the groups in half to manage the number of visitors. Will and Jed led tours at our Fison Way site, while Ali and I guided the pupils at Brickfields Way. Throughout the day, the children had the opportunity to try out a range of interactive activities within our factories, getting a taste of the work that goes into manufacturing.

At times, it felt like controlled chaos, however seeing the excitement and curiosity on the children’s faces made it all worthwhile. Their reactions were priceless and we’ve already received fantastic feedback from the schools.

Capturing the day

A special mention goes to Mia Nixon, who created an outstanding video of the day’s activities. The video beautifully captures the energy and excitement of the event and it’s now available to view on our post here.

Inspiring future engineers

At Warren, we believe events like this are crucial in inspiring the next generation of engineers. It’s vital to reach young people early, before they begin making decisions about their future careers and Year 6 is the perfect age to spark that interest. By opening our doors and offering these experiences, we hope to encourage more young people to consider a career in manufacturing and engineering.

Looking ahead

We’d like to thank everyone who helped make National Manufacturing Day a success this year. From our dedicated staff to the enthusiastic pupils, it was truly a team effort. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, and who knows it might be even bigger and better!

 

View the video produced by the local council about the day:

Warren Team Takes on Only The Brave 2024

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This year, the Warren team once again took on the “Only the Brave” challenge and what an event it was! Fourteen of us battled through 6 miles of tough terrain and tackled 25 wet and muddy obstacles. It’s safe to say the challenge lived up to its reputation, extremely muddy, extremely wet and absolutely exhilarating!

A team effort

Every single member of the Warren team completed the course and while some of us finished faster than others, the support and teamwork made the experience truly special. A huge shoutout to Nathan Cubley, who crossed the finish line with the fastest time from our group. Well done, Nathan!

Supporting the Air Ambulance

“Only the Brave” is more than just an endurance test; it’s a charity event in support of the East Anglian Air Ambulance. This year, our team raised over £1,000 for the cause, an outstanding effort that we are all proud of. The entire event has raised an incredible £95,000 so far and we’re thrilled to have played a part in supporting such a vital service.

A special thank you to our volunteer

We also want to extend a special thank you to Wiktoria, who generously gave up her time to volunteer at the event. With over 150 volunteers needed to help run things safely, it simply couldn’t happen without people like her. Thank you, Wiktoria, for helping make the day a success.

No major injuries, just sore muscles

Thankfully, no major injuries were sustained, although I’ll admit my entire body was aching for at least three days afterward! As always, I’m telling myself “never again” for next year but let’s see what happens when the team starts signing up again. It’s hard to say no to such a fun, challenging and rewarding event!

A big thank you

A massive well done to everyone who took part and a big thank you to all who kindly sponsored us. Your support makes a real difference and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Until next year… maybe!