Bringing skills and apprenticeship expertise together at Westminster

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On 29 July, Warren Founder and Owner Richard Bridgman travelled to Westminster for a meeting with Baroness Debbie Stedman-Scott to continue an important conversation around skills, apprenticeships and opportunities for young people.

The meeting had originally been planned for the House of Lords, but with building works taking place, the group relocated to Portcullis House within the Parliamentary Estate.

Baroness Stedman-Scott, who is Shadow Minister for Skills in the House of Lords, had recently visited Warren and brings many years of experience in supporting young people who are NEET – Not in Education, Employment or Training. She was joined at the meeting by her researcher, Sam.

Having seen first-hand Debbie’s knowledge and enthusiasm for addressing the challenges facing young people, Richard was keen to introduce her to Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity.

Richard has worked with Ann for many years through their shared interest in promoting apprenticeships and developing skills within engineering and manufacturing. Bringing the two together provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, ideas and perspectives on some of the challenges facing employers and young people today.

Skills development and apprenticeships have always been important to Warren. We have seen the difference that the right training, workplace experience and support can make, not only to individuals but also to businesses looking to develop their future workforce.

Meetings like this provide an opportunity for people with different areas of expertise to share knowledge and consider how industry, education and policymakers can work more closely together.

For Richard, the meeting was another valuable opportunity to champion apprenticeships and ensure the experiences of employers like Warren form part of the wider conversation about skills and employment.

We look forward to seeing where these conversations lead.

Warren joins skills shortage panel at The Welding Institute

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On 7 July, Warren Founder and Owner Richard Bridgman was invited to join a special panel at TWI – The Welding Institute, discussing one of the biggest challenges facing engineering and manufacturing – the shortage of skilled workers, particularly within welding.

The event was a major occasion for TWI, attracting visitors from across the UK and overseas. Throughout the day there were trade stands, lectures, competitions and interactive sessions, alongside opportunities to see some of TWI’s facilities, workshops and latest developments first-hand.

With so much taking place, Richard said it was difficult to fit everything in, but the event was extremely well organised and provided plenty of opportunities to meet people from across the industry.

Among the guests were a number of high-profile dignitaries, including the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, as well as HRH The Princess Royal, who arrived at the event by helicopter.

After lunch, it was Richard’s turn to take to the main stage for a panel discussion chaired by Professor Steven Jones from the University of Sheffield.

Richard was joined on the panel by Martyn Fletcher of BAE Systems and Dave Whitehouse of Altrad, representing two major international organisations within the aerospace, defence and industrial services sectors.

Richard commented:

“As you can see, it was quite daunting for me standing beside these guys!”

Despite the difference in scale between the organisations represented, the discussion highlighted a challenge they all share – finding, training and retaining the skilled people needed for the future.

Each panellist spoke about their organisation and their approaches to training and recruitment before Professor Jones raised questions that had emerged during the discussion. The session then opened up to questions from the audience.

For Warren, developing skills through apprenticeships, training and opportunities for people to build careers within engineering has been a longstanding priority. Being invited to contribute to a national discussion alongside some of the industry’s largest organisations was a valuable opportunity to share the perspective and experiences of an SME.

Reflecting on the experience, Richard summed it up simply:

“This was quite a day…”

Warren joins House of Commons meeting on defence opportunities

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Warren’s Founder and Owner, Richard Bridgman, was invited to attend the Eastern Area Defence Meeting on 6th July, representing the company at an important gathering focused on strengthening defence collaboration across the East of England.

The meeting was held in one of the historic committee rooms at the House of Commons, bringing together representatives from across government, industry and education.

Richard attended alongside James Talbot from West Suffolk Council, who had previously visited Parliament as a school pupil. With its impressive architecture and rich history, the Palace of Westminster remains an inspiring place to visit – and Richard enjoyed showing James around before the meeting began.

After climbing what felt like an endless number of stairs, attendees eventually reached Committee Room 17. Despite the grandeur of the surroundings, the summer temperatures made for challenging conditions, with no air conditioning or drinking water available in the room.

Building stronger regional partnerships

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the creation of an Eastern Defence Cluster – a collaborative network designed to strengthen the region’s ability to bid for larger defence contracts and create new opportunities for businesses across the East of England.

The event brought together an impressive range of organisations, including local MPs and members of the House of Lords, universities, local authorities, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, the Ministry of Defence, defence contractors and manufacturing businesses such as Warren.

By working together, the proposed cluster aims to improve collaboration, encourage innovation and increase the region’s competitiveness within the UK’s growing defence sector.

A memorable journey home

While the meeting itself proved valuable, the journey home was rather less straightforward.

Returning to Cambridge North station became an unexpected challenge, with cancelled trains, replacement bus services, staff shortages and some services operating without air conditioning. Like many rail passengers that day, Richard experienced the frustrations of disrupted travel before eventually making it back to his car.

Despite the travel difficulties, the opportunity to represent Warren at such an important meeting and contribute to discussions about the future of defence manufacturing in the East of England made the trip a worthwhile one.

Could you spare two hours to help tackle loneliness?

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Sometimes, just a couple of hours can make a real difference to someone’s day.

The Thetford Rickshaw Project is looking for volunteers to help bring companionship, fresh air and enjoyment to local residents who are experiencing loneliness or isolation.

The project offers free rickshaw rides around Thetford and along the river, giving people who may struggle to get out the opportunity to enjoy their local surroundings while spending time with others.

Two ways to get involved

There are two volunteer roles available, each playing an important part in creating a positive experience for passengers.

Rickshaw riders

If you enjoy cycling, you could become a Rickshaw Rider. The rickshaw is fitted with an electric pedal-assist motor, so you don’t need to be a super-strong cyclist. Your role will be to take passengers on short, enjoyable rides around the town.

Chatty Chums

If cycling isn’t for you, you can volunteer as a Chatty Chum. You’ll accompany solo passengers on their ride, providing friendly conversation and helping to make the experience enjoyable and sociable.

Helping people reconnect

The Thetford Rickshaw Project aims to reduce loneliness by helping people who may otherwise struggle to get out and about. Whether it’s enjoying the scenery, sharing stories or simply having someone to chat with, every ride can make a meaningful difference.

Just two hours of your time could help brighten someone’s day and strengthen connections within the local community.

Find out more

If you’d like to become a volunteer or would like more information about either role, please contact:

Amber: amber@keystonetrust.org.uk

The Worlington Beer & Cider Festival

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Warren is pleased to promote the Worlington Beer & Cider Festival, a fantastic local event bringing together great food, quality drinks and live entertainment for the community.

Taking place at Worlington Cricket Club (IP28 8RU), the festival promises a full day of live music, featuring classic hits from legendary bands including Queen, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Journey, Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC.

Alongside the music, visitors can enjoy a wide selection of beers and ciders, great food and a relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for spending time with family and friends.

As a business with strong roots in the local community, Warren is always proud to promote events that bring people together and help local organisations thrive. Community events like the Worlington Beer & Cider Festival are a great opportunity to enjoy live entertainment while supporting local clubs and volunteers who work hard to make them happen.

If you’re looking for a great day out filled with classic rock, delicious food and refreshing drinks, make sure you head down to Worlington Cricket Club and join in the festivities.

We hope to see you there!

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.

Engineering Industry Network event at Amazon

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On 24th February, the Engineering Industry Network hosted an industry event at the Amazon facility in Derby.

Our Managing Director, Will Bridgman attended the event and was grateful for the opportunity to gain insight into the operations of one of the world’s largest companies and to see just how much activity takes place behind the scenes.

Reflecting on the visit, Will said:

“The day was full of tours, talks and opportunities to network with those attending from other businesses across the country. Amazon not only showcased how hard-working their company is, but also highlighted the strength of their apprenticeship programme and outreach strategy.

“Altogether, it was a worthwhile event to be a part of. All attendees were given multiple opportunities to learn, discuss, debate and network. Events like this truly help business owners and directors across the country.”

The event provided valuable insight into large-scale operations, innovation and workforce development, while also offering a great opportunity for business leaders from across the engineering and manufacturing sectors to connect and share ideas.

Speaking at Norwich Science Festival

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In February, a member of the Warren team attended the Norwich Science Festival as a speaker on the Diverse Jobs for Life in Manufacturing panel.

The discussion brought together three business leaders, including Hayley Scarrott and Tom Beales, to talk about careers and opportunities within the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

During the panel, the speakers shared real-life experiences from their own careers, offered advice to those considering a future in the industry, and discussed the evolving workforce in modern engineering and manufacturing businesses. Topics included the wide variety of roles available within the sector and the skills that will be important for the next generation of professionals.

Events like this are an important way to highlight the opportunities that exist within manufacturing and to encourage more people to consider careers in engineering.

It was a great experience to take part in the discussion, and we would like to extend a big thank you to the festival organisers, the other panellists and everyone who came along to listen.

Inspiring future engineers at Thetford Academy careers day

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On Thursday 12th March, Warren attended the annual careers event at Thetford Academy. The event provides a great opportunity for local businesses to engage with students and help them learn more about the wide range of career paths available to them.

The day was very well supported by businesses and training providers from across the region. Warren was joined by Miganglia Ltd., who brought along their popular virtual welding simulator. Alongside this, we ran our Lego engineering challenge – a practical activity that always proves to be a big hit with students.

Hands-on activities are a great way to engage young people, helping them experience a small taste of engineering and manufacturing in a fun and memorable way.

We were also pleased to be supported by Reino and Alfie, who helped out during the day. Both are former students of Thetford Academy, making them very relatable to the young people attending the event and allowing them to share their own experiences of apprenticeships and careers in engineering.

It was a successful but busy day, with plenty of conversations and activities taking place throughout. The level of engagement from the students was fantastic, although it certainly reminded us just how many pupils there are at the academy.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success. As part of our ongoing partnership with the school, Warren will also be welcoming four Year 10 students for work experience placements this July, continuing our commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation.

Supporting the future of engineering at West Suffolk College

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On Monday 9th February, Richard, Our Founder Owner was delighted to attend the grand opening of the Gene Haas Foundation Centre at West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds.

The event marked a brilliant start to National Apprenticeship Week 2026 and celebrated the launch of a state-of-the-art Engineering and Manufacturing suite. The new centre represents far more than upgraded facilities – it reflects a shared commitment to developing the engineering workforce of the future.

Apprenticeships play a vital role in our industry. They provide individuals with the opportunity to earn while they learn, gaining practical experience alongside the technical skills that businesses genuinely need. As a company that works closely with apprentices and values hands-on development, it was inspiring to see these opportunities brought to life in such an impressive space.

The opening was made even more special by the presence of Kathy L., Executive Director of the Gene Haas Foundation, who travelled over 5,000 miles to attend. The facility was officially opened alongside Lady Clare Euston, making it a proud moment for the college and its partners.

We are fortunate to work alongside forward-thinking education providers and businesses that share the same vision – investing time, expertise and belief into apprenticeships and long-term skills development.

At Warren, we understand that today’s apprentices are tomorrow’s engineers, technicians and leaders. Supporting initiatives like this helps ensure our industry continues to grow, innovate and thrive here in Suffolk and beyond.