Warren represented at Make UK East of England Advisory Board

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Our Business Development Director, Sophie Hall, recently represented Warren at the Make UK East of England Regional Advisory Board, attending in place of Richard.

The Regional Advisory Board brings together manufacturing leaders from across the East of England to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, share experiences and consider the issues likely to contribute to its future.

Hosted by Toro U.K. Limited, the meeting included insights from Rt Hon Robert Halfon, Make UK’s Executive Director of Policy & External Affairs, who discussed the current economic and political landscape and what this could mean for UK manufacturers. Robert has a longstanding involvement in skills and apprenticeships, having previously served twice as Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills.

Another interesting part of the session was a discussion led by Gabrielle Crofts on the growing role of artificial intelligence in manufacturing and the opportunities it presents for improving performance and efficiency.

The meeting also looked at the latest industry policy developments, including the increasing focus on reindustrialisation and the future of UK manufacturing. These discussions come at a time when manufacturers continue to balance opportunities for investment and growth with pressures including energy, employment and input costs.

For Sophie, it was a valuable opportunity to hear different perspectives from across the sector, share ideas with other manufacturing leaders and gain further insight into some of the trends and developments that could affect businesses like Warren.

Being involved with Make UK’s regional network helps us stay connected with the wider manufacturing community and contribute our own experiences to discussions about the future of our industry.

Getting ready for National Manufacturing Day 2026

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Thursday 24 September will be a particularly busy day at Warren as we once again open our doors to local primary school children for National Manufacturing Day 2026.

We’ll be welcoming large groups of Year 6 pupils to our sites throughout the day, giving them the opportunity to step inside a working manufacturing environment and see some of the people, skills, machinery and technology involved in modern engineering.

For many of the children, this may be their first experience of visiting a manufacturing business. It’s a great opportunity to show them that today’s industry offers a huge variety of roles and career paths, and hopefully spark an interest in engineering from an early age.

Last year’s National Manufacturing Day was a great success, with six classes visiting from schools across the region. The children were able to see processes including welding, laser and waterjet cutting, turning and milling, alongside some of the projects being produced at Warren.

We were delighted by their enthusiasm and the number of questions they asked, so we’re looking forward to welcoming another group of inquisitive Year 6 pupils this year.

With so many young visitors on site, it will inevitably be a busy day for everyone at Warren. We’ll be ensuring the children have an enjoyable, interesting and safe visit.

Events like National Manufacturing Day give businesses like ours the chance to show the next generation what manufacturing is really like and introduce them to an industry they may otherwise know very little about.

We’re looking forward to another busy day and, hopefully, inspiring a few of the engineers and manufacturers of the future!

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.