Working Towards Zero Waste: Warren’s Progress Report

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As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, we at Warren are working towards achieving zero waste going to landfill. With each passing month, we are diligently working to minimise our ecological footprint and maximise our efforts in waste reduction and recovery. In line with this commitment, we are excited to share our progress for the last quarter, showcasing our dedication to this vital cause.

Our approach to waste management

At Warren, we understand the significance of responsible waste management in safeguarding the environment. Our approach focuses on reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering waste to ensure that as little as possible ends up in landfill sites. By prioritising sustainability throughout our operations, we strive to make a positive impact on both the local and global environment.

Our achievements in the last 24 months:

December 2025:

November 2025:

October 2025:

September 2025:

August 2025:

July 2025:

June 2025:

May 2025:

April 2025:

March 2025:

February 2025:

January 2025:

December 2024:

November 2024:

October 2024:

September 2024:

August 2024:

July 2024:

June 2024:

May 2024:

April 2024:

March 2024:

February 2024:

 

January 2024:

December 2023:

Future outlook

As we reflect on our achievements, we are encouraged by the progress we’ve made towards our goal of zero waste to landfill.

Stay tuned for future updates as we continue our mission towards zero waste to landfill. Together, we can make a difference!

Welcoming Katarzyna to the Warren team

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We’re pleased to welcome Katarzyna Kachel to Warren Services, where she has joined the team as a CNC Machinist.

Katarzyna works with our CNC machines, bringing valuable experience and a strong technical background to the role. Before joining Warren, she worked in a vegetarian food manufacturing environment in a Quality Assurance Technical position, where she was responsible for quality control, technical checks and maintaining high safety and production standards.

Prior to that, Katarzyna gained hands-on experience in precision engineering as a CNC Operator at Michelin Polska, developing her skills in machining and manufacturing processes.

Outside of work, Katarzyna enjoys travelling and swimming, helping her to stay active and unwind. We’re delighted to have her on board and look forward to seeing her continue to develop her skills and contribute to the work we do across the business.

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:

Bury St Edmunds rickshaws – community support on wheels

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The photo below captures just some of the dedicated volunteers behind Bury St Edmunds Rickshaws, a brilliant local initiative making a real difference in the town.

Both the Bridgman and Ross families have personally sponsored one of the rickshaws for several years, helping the project grow and thrive. Today, the group operates six rickshaws and supports the community in a variety of ways, which includes offering free rides around the town for elderly and infirm residents, as well as collecting surplus food and donated goods from local shops, supermarkets and businesses.

All items collected are passed on to charities supporting people in need, including those experiencing homelessness and local food banks. It’s a practical, people-focused approach that combines kindness, sustainability and community spirit.

Expanding the idea to Thetford

Richard Bridgman explained how the success of the project sparked a new idea.

Inspired by how well the scheme works in Bury St Edmunds, he began exploring the possibility of launching a similar initiative in Thetford. Earlier this year, Breckland Council purchased the first rickshaw for the town, marking an important first step.

Support is already in place, with Keystone Trust agreeing to help run the Rickshaw Project from their Riversdale Centre. While there are still challenges and processes to work through before it becomes fully operational, the foundations are firmly being put in place.

Watch this space

As plans develop, volunteers will be needed across a range of roles to help bring the Thetford Rickshaw Project to life – drivers and coordinators along with support roles behind the scenes, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved.

To learn more about the Bury St Edmunds project, visit bserickshaw.org.uk. Further updates on the Thetford initiative will be shared as plans progress.

iSH DECOM Connect event – driving innovation in nuclear decommissioning

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On 27 November 2025, the Cumbrian town of Workington became a focal point for the UK’s nuclear decommissioning supply chain, as industry leaders, innovators and supply chain companies gathered at Energus for the iSH DECOM Connect event.

Travelling up from Thetford the previous afternoon, the anticipation was for a day packed with learning, insight and collaboration – and the event more than delivered.

Bringing industry challenges to the fore

Organised by Industrial Solutions Hub and supported by Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, the conference was designed to connect businesses with real-world challenges and opportunity pipelines across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate.

The agenda featured presentations from senior leaders including Sellafield Ltd CEO Euan Hutton, Nuclear Waste Services CEO Seth Kybird, and Gareth Frazer, Head of MPO at Sellafield Ltd. Their sessions provided valuable context around the scale, complexity and long-term nature of decommissioning work across the UK.

Insight into real opportunities

Attendees gained clear visibility of current and upcoming market engagement opportunities, including the MSSS 3m³ Box Tender presented by Cath Murphy of Sellafield Ltd, and the Decommissioning Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP) led by Simon Martin.

These sessions were particularly relevant for Warren Services, highlighting where supply chain capability is needed now and where it will be needed in the years ahead. This led to a valuable one-to-one discussion later in the day with Cath Murphy and Jenny Maher, helping to shape early thinking around how Warren could align its expertise with sector demand.

A personal perspective

Reflecting on the journey north, Sophie Hall, Business Development Director at Warren Services, noted the wider importance of events like this, not just for business development, but for supporting the UK’s move towards a safer and more sustainable future.

The atmosphere at Energus was one of genuine collaboration, with delegates keen to share knowledge and contribute to solving some of the industry’s most complex challenges. This sentiment was echoed by Gary McKeating, Managing Director of iSH, who highlighted the value of bringing together problem-solvers, fixers and do-ers to make positive change happen through innovation and action.

Looking ahead

As a new business to the region, Warren was warmly welcomed and even offered space to set up a stand – conveniently positioned next to the tea and coffee area, which helped spark plenty of conversations throughout the day.

The key takeaway was clear. This opportunity is not short term, and demand currently outstrips the number of capable companies available to deliver the work. Over the coming months, focus will turn to developing a clear and considered strategy to determine how Warren Services can play a meaningful role in this growing sector.

Christmas Jumper Day at Warren

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Thursday 11th December marked Christmas Jumper Day at Warren Services, and it was great to see so many people getting involved.

Team members from both factories swapped their usual workwear for festive jumpers, bringing plenty of colour, laughter and Christmas spirit to the day. With classic knits and standout festive designs, there was no shortage of effort or creativity on display.

A big well done goes to Reino and Lukasz, who took home prizes for the best Christmas jumpers. Thanks to everyone who joined in and helped make the day a fun and festive one across the Warren team.

House of Lords TWI Dinner

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On the evening of 29th October, Will, Louis, Kieran and Estee had the honour of attending a dinner at the House of Lords, hosted by the TWI.

The group were invited by Caroline Gumble, the new Chief Executive of TWI. Caroline is a long-standing contact of both Richard and Will, with connections going back many years through EEF and Make UK.

The evening brought together representatives from a range of UK businesses and members of the TWI community. It offered an opportunity to share experiences, discuss industry developments and reflect on the ongoing importance of collaboration across the manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Estee, our HR Director, said, “It was a really lovely meal and an honour for all of us to be invited and share tables with lots of other UK businesses and members of the TWI.”

It was a memorable night for the team and a proud moment for Warren to be represented at such a prestigious event.

Ada Lovelace Day: Supporting Women in Manufacturing

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To mark Ada Lovelace Day, Richard encouraged our Business Development Director, Sophie Hall, to attend the breakfast reception at Westminster Palace on 14th October. The annual event shines a light on the underrepresentation of women in STEM careers, including engineering and manufacturing.

Despite the early start, Sophie’s journey went smoothly and she arrived at 7:30am to find a growing group of women gathering. After confirming she was in the right place, she soon struck up conversations, first with Esther Cornell, MD of a subcontract engineering firm and a familiar name to Richard, and then with Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, MD of Professional Polishing Services Ltd.

Sophie said, “My initial nervousness about attending such a significant event alone quickly dissipated as I found myself in great company.”

The event included inspiring speakers who shared their experiences and discussed the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan, which supports the 35% by 35 initiative. This aims to increase the proportion of women working in manufacturing to 35% by 2035.

At Warren, 19.3% of our current workforce are women. Reflecting on this, Sophie spoke about her own journey into engineering:

“I recalled being the only female apprentice in my college class. Speaking with Estee, it seems the numbers have not changed significantly, even today. While the solution to this issue remains unclear, it’s encouraging to see so many dedicated and intelligent individuals working to inspire young women and girls to consider careers in engineering and manufacturing. Warren is certainly striving to be the change we want to see. I remain hopeful for the next generation of women in these fields thanks to the promising young women Warren already employs.”

Sophie returned energised by the discussions taking place across the sector and encouraged by the collective drive to open more opportunities for young women. At Warren, we will continue to champion a more inclusive future in engineering, one where women are better represented and fully supported to thrive.

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!

Taking Flight on STEM Experience Day

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On Thursday 30th October, we were delighted to host a STEM Experience Day at our Brickfields site in partnership with ACE and Saxon Air. The Norwich-based aviation company, known for their private jet and helicopter charters, brought along a range of exciting, hands-on activities designed to inspire the next generation of engineers and aviators.

Upstairs at Brickfields, students got stuck into online flight simulators equipped with realistic controls, giving them a taste of what it’s like to pilot an aircraft. They also took part in a wire locking workshop, learning about the importance of precision engineering in aviation before having a go at creating their own wire lock examples – with expert guidance from the Saxon Air team.

Meanwhile, other groups headed outdoors for two more aviation-themed challenges. In a secure tent, students tested their skills in a drone challenge, flying small drones through a figure-of-eight obstacle course and landing on miniature drums. It was a fun and competitive way to learn about drone technology, the rules around flying them and their growing role in engineering and aviation.

Next up was the cockpit simulator, featuring two large monitors and a life-size replica of a plane cockpit. Each student took a turn at the controls of an all-electric aircraft, taking off, climbing to altitude, flying around the O2 and then attempting to land safely (with varying levels of success)!

To round off the day, the group explored the topic of flight safety. Saxon Air demonstrated how to put on survival suits and life jackets, explaining the features that make them vital in emergencies and why they’re mandatory for certain flights.

It was fantastic to see every participant fully engaged, asking thoughtful questions and getting involved in each part of the experience.

A big thank you goes to Jed for hosting site tours and to Estee for coordinating the day. Also to the team at Saxon Air for bringing aviation to life for our visitors. We’re proud to have played a part in inspiring young people to think about the many exciting career paths in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.