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.

Another apprenticeship success at Warren

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We’re delighted to celebrate another apprenticeship achievement at Warren, with Lud successfully completing her Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship.

Lud has been completing her qualification alongside her role within our Procurement team, putting what she has learned into practice while gaining valuable experience within the business. She has now officially received her pass certificate – a fantastic achievement and recognition of all the work she has put in.

Lud’s success also marks an important milestone for Warren, as all three of our recent Level 3 Business Administration apprentices have now successfully completed their qualifications.

Lud joins Ella and Natalia in achieving their Level 3 qualification, making it a triple success that we’re very proud to celebrate.

Apprenticeships have long been an important part of Warren. While engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships naturally play a major role in developing skills on our shop floor, we’re equally committed to creating opportunities for people to learn and progress within our office-based departments.

Seeing Lud, Ella and Natalia successfully complete their qualifications demonstrates the value apprenticeships can bring across all areas of the business.

We’re continually looking at how we can develop and expand our apprenticeship programme, giving people the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications, build practical experience and develop their careers with Warren.

A huge well done to Lud, Ella and Natalia. All three have become valued members of the Warren team, and we look forward to continuing to support them as they develop their skills, continue their studies and progress within the business.

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…”

Welcoming three new faces to the Warren team

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We’ve recently welcomed several new members to the Warren team, bringing with them experience from across manufacturing as well as plenty of interests outside the workplace.

We’d like to introduce Ashley, Jakub and Dennis and give everyone the chance to get to know them a little better.

Welcome Ashley

Ashley has joined Warren as a CNC Machinist, bringing an impressive 16 years of machining experience to the role.

He has lived in Thetford with his partner for the past eight years and is dad to two young daughters – a five-year-old and the newest addition to the family, who is just four months old.

Outside of work and family life, Ashley has a longstanding passion for boxing, having taken up the sport at the age of 13. He now gives something back by volunteering as a coach at Thetford Boxing Club, helping others develop their own skills in the sport.

We’re delighted to have Ashley within the Warren team.

 

Welcome Jakub

Jakub joins us as a Brake Press Operator, having previously worked within sheet metal manufacturing.

Originally from Poland, Jakub has been living in the UK for several years and brings relevant industry experience to his new role at Warren.

When he’s away from work, he enjoys travelling, playing video games and spending time outdoors.

We’re pleased to welcome Jakub to the business and hope he enjoys being part of the team.

 

Welcome Dennis

Dennis is the newest addition to our Orders Department and also joins us with previous manufacturing industry experience.

Before coming to Warren, she spent three years working for another manufacturing company, where her role focused on stock control. She’s looking forward to taking on new challenges, developing his skills and learning from the wealth of experience that exists across Warren.

Outside of work, Dennis enjoys spending time with friends, getting out and about and making the most of her free time.

It’s always great to welcome new people into the business and see the different experience, knowledge and personalities they bring with them.

A warm welcome to Ashley, Jakub and Dennis from everyone at Warren. We hope you’ll all have long and successful careers with us!

Sean Allan – 10 Year Anniversary

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This month, we are celebrating another fantastic long-service milestone at Warren as Sean Allan marks 10 years with the business.

Over the past decade, Sean has worked as part of both our Assembly and Sapphire teams, bringing reliability, experience and a positive attitude to his roles.

Ten years with a business represents a considerable commitment, and during that time Sean has become a valued and popular member of the Warren team. Known for his easy-going nature and willingness to get on with the job, he has made an important contribution to the departments he has worked within.

We’re also reliably informed that Sean likes a hammer – which, in an engineering and manufacturing business, is probably not a bad quality to have!

Long-serving employees bring a huge amount of knowledge and experience to Warren. Their understanding of our processes, customers and the way we work is invaluable, while their support for colleagues helps skills and knowledge to be shared throughout the business.

Sean’s reliability and commitment over the past ten years are greatly appreciated, and we are delighted to recognise everything he has contributed during his time with us.

Congratulations, Sean, on reaching your 10-year anniversary at Warren. Thank you for your hard work and dedication and here’s to many more successes in the years ahead.

Richard attends the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026

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On 1st July, Warren’s Founder and Owner, Richard Bridgman, attended the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster.

Richard was invited to the prestigious black-tie event as a guest of EAL (Excellence, Achievement & Learning), the organisation responsible for maintaining and promoting training standards across the engineering and manufacturing sectors throughout the UK.

Reflecting on the occasion, Richard said:

“It always feels strange to travel on the train in a dinner suit and bow tie!”

The evening celebrated the outstanding achievements of apprentices, employers and organisations that are helping to develop the future of engineering and manufacturing. Throughout the ceremony, awards were presented across a wide range of categories, recognising excellence in skills, training and workforce development.

As well as the presentations, the event provided an excellent opportunity to connect with industry leaders, training providers and business representatives from across the country. Richard enjoyed catching up with longstanding contacts, making new connections and hearing about the innovative work taking place throughout the sector.

Supporting apprenticeships and investing in skills development has always been a key part of Warren’s values, so it was inspiring to see so many individuals and businesses recognised for their commitment to nurturing future talent.

After an enjoyable evening of celebration and networking, Richard finally arrived home at 1.30am – bringing a memorable and very long day to a close.

Congratulations to all of this year’s Enginuity Skills Awards winners and finalists for their outstanding achievements.

Celebrating three long-service milestones this July

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July is a special month at Warren as we celebrate three significant long-service anniversaries across the business.

This year, we are proud to recognise the dedication and commitment of:

Adam Goldson – 20 years
Chris Watson – 10 years
Jordan Brimson – 10 years

Together, these milestones represent an incredible 40 years of service to Warren.

Long service is about much more than the number of years someone has worked for a company. It reflects the commitment, professionalism and positive contribution individuals make every day – helping colleagues, supporting customers and playing an important role in the continued success of the business.

Each of these team members has developed valuable expertise within their specialist area. From milling and welding to powder coating, they represent the breadth of skills that exist across Warren and demonstrate the diverse capabilities that enable us to deliver high-quality engineering and manufacturing solutions.

Their knowledge, experience and willingness to support others have helped strengthen not only their own departments but the wider business as well.

On behalf of everyone at Warren, we would like to thank Adam, Chris and Jordan for their hard work, loyalty and dedication over the years. Reaching these milestones is a fantastic achievement and one that deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

Congratulations to all three of you. We are incredibly grateful for everything you have contributed over the years and look forward to many more successes together.

Russell Cook – 10 Year Anniversary

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Every great success story has a beginning, and ten years ago Russell Cook started his journey at Warren on the Twilight Shift.

Joining the business with exceptional welding skills, a strong work ethic and a commitment to supporting those around him, it quickly became clear that Russ would make a lasting impact on the team.

Over the years, through hard work, dedication and leadership, Russ progressed to become the Welding Captain of the Twilight Shift – a position earned through experience, consistency and the respect of his colleagues.

Throughout his decade with Warren, Russ has taken on countless challenges, worked to demanding deadlines and contributed to a wide variety of projects. Time and again, he has approached each task with determination, professionalism and a willingness to help others succeed.

His welding expertise has played an important role in producing high-quality work that meets the standards our customers expect, while his leadership has helped support and guide the team through the day-to-day demands of manufacturing.

Like many long-serving members of the Warren team, Russ has grown alongside the business, helping us adapt, develop and continue delivering for our customers. His contribution over the last ten years has been greatly appreciated by colleagues across the company.

Looking back, there have been plenty of memorable moments along the way, including a famously blunt first-day assessment from Richard! Thankfully, Russ didn’t let that put him off and has gone on to prove exactly what an important member of the team he is.

Congratulations, Russ, on reaching your 10-year anniversary. Thank you for your hard work, dedication and leadership over the past decade. We look forward to seeing what the next chapter brings.

Estee attends HR event focused on workplace challenges

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People are at the heart of every successful business, which is why staying informed about workplace trends and challenges is so important.

On Thursday 4th June, our HR Director Estee Ros, attended an HR event in Royal Leamington Spa that brought together professionals from a range of manufacturing businesses to discuss some of the most significant people-related issues facing employers today.

The event covered a variety of topics including menopause, retirement, employee wellbeing and generational differences in the workplace. These are often the conversations that sit beneath the surface of an organisation, yet they can have a significant impact on employee engagement, wellbeing and overall business performance.

Alongside discussions on upcoming workplace reforms due to take effect in 2026, the event focused on helping businesses build manager confidence, support multigenerational workforces and address topics that are sometimes considered difficult or sensitive to discuss.

A key theme throughout the day was that workplace challenges are best addressed proactively. Open conversations, clear communication and practical support can all play an important role in creating a positive working environment where employees can perform at their best.

The event was extremely well attended and provided a valuable opportunity to hear from other manufacturing businesses within the MAKE UK membership network. It was reassuring to learn that many organisations are facing similar challenges and working towards similar solutions.

Events like this allow us to learn from others, share experiences and bring back ideas that can help us continue to support our employees and strengthen our workplace culture.