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.

STEM Experience – 30th October 2025

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We’re excited to announce that we will be hosting a STEM Experience on Thursday 30th October 2025, right here in Thetford!

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and this event is all about giving young people the chance to explore these fascinating fields in a real-life manufacturing environment.

The session will take place at our Brickfields Way site in Thetford (IP24 1HX) from 10.00am to 2.00pm, and is open to students aged 13–18 years. With just 15 places available, it’s a brilliant opportunity for young people who are curious about how things are designed, made and tested.

Participants will need to bring a packed lunch, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis – so if you have a son, daughter, sibling or friend aged 13–18 who might be interested, encourage them to register them.

REGISTER HERE

We’re proud to support STEM learning and help inspire the next generation of engineers, technicians and innovators.

We look forward to welcoming the group later this month for what promises to be a fun and inspiring day of discovery!

Take a look at the STEM Experience flyer below.

Inspiring the Next Generation on National Manufacturing Day 2025

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After the success of last year’s National Manufacturing Day, we knew we had to do it again – only bigger and better! This year, we were thrilled to welcome even more young people through our doors for another day of hands-on learning and discovery in the world of modern manufacturing.

We hosted six classes from different schools across the region, with group sizes ranging from 30 to 65 students. Their day began with visits to Boniface and Peerless Plastics before making their way to our sites for the final part of their tour.

At our Fison Way site, Ella and Richard led the tours, introducing students to the fascinating world of welding – especially our robot welder, which was a huge hit! They also watched demonstrations in the Quality Room, saw the Bystronic laser and water jet in action, and got a close look at our turning and milling processes.

Over at Brickfields, Jed, Sophie and Will took over, giving classes a glimpse into our production work on Sapphire balconies and other current projects. There was even time for some fun, with students building their very own Warren Lego figures!

For many of the children, it was their first time stepping inside a factory and seeing the machines and technology that bring real engineering projects to life. The curiosity and enthusiasm they showed throughout the tours were fantastic – and their teachers and school staff told us how valuable and inspiring the experience was.

A huge thank you goes to Will, Richard, Ella, Jed, Sophie, Suzie, Louis and Gavin for their brilliant support with tours and demonstrations, and to everyone across both sites who helped make the day run so smoothly.

We received lots of great feedback (and some excellent questions!) from the students and it was a pleasure to see so many young minds excited about engineering and manufacturing. We’re already looking forward to welcoming students next year!

Strengthening Our Welding Standards with The Welding Institute

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Warren has been steadily moving up in the welding world, and on Friday 5th September, we were delighted to welcome two very special visitors from The Welding Institute (TWI): Caroline Gumble, the new CEO, and Dr David Howse.

Richard Bridgman has known Caroline for over 30 years, since the days when Warren first joined the EEF (now MakeUK). Their paths crossing again at this important stage feels very timely, as Warren continues to raise the bar in welding and fabrication.

Caroline and David were given a tour of Fison Way by Kieran Stewart (Factory Manager) and Louis Lummis (Quality Manager & Responsible Welding Coordinator), with a particular focus on the Welding area. Afterwards, the visit continued at Brickfields, where they were joined by our Managing Director, Will Bridgman.

We were open in sharing that we’ve been a little disappointed with TWI in recent years. However, with Caroline at the helm, there is optimism that the organisation will be reinvigorated and return to its best.

This visit comes at a crucial time for Warren. With defence and potentially nuclear projects on the horizon, we are now working under much higher levels of scrutiny. These sectors demand exceptional quality and precision, and our team is determined to meet that standard. Louis has already been undertaking extensive training at TWI to ensure our welding processes continue to evolve and align with these demanding requirements.

Our discussions with David covered a wide range of technical detail and by the end of the day, both teams had developed a much stronger mutual understanding of the expectations and opportunities ahead.

This was a highly valuable visit for Warren, reinforcing our commitment to the very highest standards in welding, and we look forward to building a stronger relationship with TWI under Caroline’s leadership.

Richard Appears on ITV News

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Warren’s Founder Owner, Richard Bridgman recently found himself in front of the cameras, for an interview with ITV News.

The opportunity came about when Richard’s friend, Gina Long MBE was approached by ITV to be filmed at her home for a feature on the Honours List. As there wasn’t enough airtime available for both of them, Gina kindly suggested Richard, and the filming took place at her house.

Richard admits the process was quite daunting:

“It’s a strange experience having a camera right in your face. The filming takes a long time, but so much gets cut down – so it can end up as just a few minutes on screen.”

The feature reflected on the significance of receiving an Honour. Richard was awarded his OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II, in recognition of his work over many years to support apprenticeships both locally and nationally. Today, the tradition continues under King Charles.

Richard says he was humbled to be recognised:

“When I received the letter from the Queen, I felt that I knew others who were far more deserving than me. I feel many get an Honour just for doing their job, and this needs to change. Let’s hope that more recognition is given to people who have dedicated their lives to something they’re passionate about. I must admit though, it was one of the proudest days of my life.”

Richard was accompanied to Buckingham Palace by his wife Sharon and their children, where his medal was presented by Prince William. After the ceremony, the celebrations continued with a lunch surrounded by 16 family members and friends.

📺 You can watch Richard’s ITV News appearance  below (skip to just after 6 minutes in).