One of Our Own Hits the Stage: Jeff’s Country Band Debut

We’re excited to share some fantastic news from our team – our very own Jeff Halpern has recently joined a country band!

Our first real gig on 28th March has been changed from The Elveden Inn to The British Legion in Brandon at 8.45pm. Maybe, just maybe, there’s someone at Warren Services who wants to put on their cowboy hat and do some dancing.

It’s always great to see the team’s talents shine outside of work, and Jeff’s musical adventure is no exception. If you’re a fan of country music (or just fancy a fun night out), this could be the perfect opportunity to support Jeff and show off your dance moves. Cowboy hats and boots optional, but highly encouraged!

Let’s cheer Jeff on as he takes the stage for what’s sure to be an brilliant debut performance!

Welcoming our first Level 3 Business Administration apprentices

Over the past six months, Warren has welcomed three Level 3 Business Administration apprentices – a first for our company. All three apprentices are studying with West Suffolk College and have taken on key roles across different departments:

  • Natalia: Quoting
  • Ludmila: Purchasing
  • Ella: Quality

These apprenticeships mark an exciting new chapter for Warren as we continue to diversify and expand our training programmes.

We are proud to currently have nine learners actively engaged in their apprenticeship programmes, with plans to recruit four more apprentices in September.

We look forward to supporting Natalia, Ludmila, and Ella as they progress through their apprenticeships and contribute to the ongoing success of our business.

National Apprenticeship Week 2025: celebrating skills, growth, and success

From the 10th to the 16th of February, the UK celebrated National Apprenticeship Week – a time to recognise the incredible benefits apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses, and the economy. At Warren, we don’t need a special week to appreciate our apprentices, but we were excited to join the celebrations by sharing fantastic content throughout the week.

Exciting events and achievements

  • Norfolk Apprenticeship Awards: On Wednesday, 12th February, we attended the Norfolk Apprenticeship Awards at Carrow Road in Norwich, where we were honoured to be nominated for Medium-sized Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – and we won! This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in apprenticeships and supporting young talent in the manufacturing and engineering industry.
  • Annual open evening: On Thursday, 13th February, we hosted our annual open evening for parents and learners interested in joining us in September 2025. We continue to offer the Level 2 Engineering Operative qualification, providing a solid foundation for a successful career in the industry.

A special visit from Terry Jermy, MP

On the 13th of February, we had the pleasure of welcoming Terry Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk, to our facility. Mr. Jermy shared his thoughts and some photos on Facebook after the visit:

“Great visit to Warren Services in Thetford today to celebrate National Apprenticeships Week. Under the leadership of Richard Bridgman, Warren have been investing in skills and apprenticeships for many years and just last night won an award at the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards Ceremony. Richard, Estee & Will explained how their investment and commitment to apprenticeships benefits their business by helping to ensure they have a steady flow of skilled employees to help grow their work, allowing the company to thrive. I was pleased to highlight the work of Warren in a speech in Parliament recently.”

We are incredibly grateful for Mr. Jermy’s visit and his recognition of the importance of apprenticeships in driving business growth and supporting the local economy.

As we continue to invest in training and development, we look forward to welcoming the next generation of apprentices and watching them grow, just like Joe, Sam, and Bobby. Apprenticeships are more than qualifications; they are the foundation of a skilled, innovative, and successful workforce.

Celebrating success: apprenticeships lead to full-time roles at Warren

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of three exceptional team members who have recently completed their Level 2 Apprenticeships. Congratulations to Joe, Sam, and Bobby, who have not only passed their qualifications but have also secured full-time positions within the company.

A challenging assessment process

In January, Joe, Sam, and Bobby undertook their End Point Assessment (EPA) – a rigorous process designed to test their skills, knowledge, and understanding of their respective trades. The assessment involved three key components:

A multiple-choice exam: testing their theoretical knowledge of manufacturing and engineering principles.

A weld test: assessing practical skills and the ability to produce high-quality work.

A professional discussion: similar to an interview, this tested their understanding of the industry and the skills they had developed during their apprenticeship.

The hard work and commitment of all three apprentices paid off, with each achieving a merit – the highest possible grade for the specific qualification.

New roles within the company

Following their success, Joe, Sam, and Bobby have all accepted full-time positions within the company. We are thrilled to see them continue their careers with us:

Joe has joined the paint department, where his attention to detail and commitment to quality make him a valuable addition to the team.

Bobby is now part of the laser area, bringing his technical skills and enthusiasm for precision work to the role.

Sam has taken up a position in the welding department, applying the skills he honed during his apprenticeship to deliver high-quality results.

A testament to hard work and determination

The journey to completing their apprenticeships was not without its challenges. There were times when the workload and demands were a struggle, but through determination, resilience – and the support of their mentors and colleagues, all three succeeded.

As a company, we take great pride in nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals. Apprenticeships provide a fantastic opportunity to learn while gaining hands-on experience in the workplace. Joe, Sam, and Bobby have demonstrated just how valuable these programmes are, not only for individuals but for the industry as a whole.

Congratulations once again to Joe, Sam, and Bobby – your hard work has paid off and we are delighted to have you as part of the Warren team. Here’s to a bright and successful future in manufacturing and engineering!

We won an award at the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2025!

We are proud to announce that we have won the prestigious ‘Medium-sized Apprenticeships Employer of the Year (50-249 employees)’ award at the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2025.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday, 12th February at Norwich City Football Club, where our HR Director, Estee accepted the award on behalf of the company.

The Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of apprentices, managers, mentors, and businesses across the county. This year’s event welcomed around 200 guests to honour the incredible contributions made to apprenticeship programmes.

Estee expressed her gratitude, stating: “We are thrilled to receive this award. Apprenticeships are at the heart of our company’s growth and success. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our apprentices and the dedication of our team in supporting and nurturing new talent in the manufacturing and engineering industry.”

Apprenticeships Norfolk highlighted the importance of the awards, saying: “Our annual ‘Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2025’ shone a light on the exceptional achievements of apprentices, managers/mentors and businesses right across the county – celebrating their successes with around 200 guests at Norwich City Football Club.”

This accolade reflects Warren’s commitment to providing high-quality apprenticeship opportunities and supporting the next generation of skilled professionals in the manufacturing and engineering sectors.

We are immensely proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing our work to create valuable opportunities for apprentices.

 

Our 10,000 Steps Challenge!

This March, we’re getting on the move with a brand-new step challenge! The goal is to hit 10,000 steps per day, every day, for the entire month.

We’re looking forward to as many of our team as possible to take part – it’s a great way to boost fitness, have some fun, and enjoy a bit of friendly competition. Unlike some of our previous challenges, we think this one is much more achievable, so we will be rising to the occasion!

To keep things engaging, we’ll be setting up a group chat where we can report our daily steps and cheer each other on. All that we’ll need is a device to track our steps – a smartwatch, fitness tracker, or phone.

Let’s make March a month of movement and see just how far we can go!

Christmas Drinks: A Festive Night Out in Thetford

On Saturday 14th December, our team swapped the workbench for Wetherspoons as we gathered in Thetford to kick off the festive season with a few Christmas drinks. It was our annual Social Saturday night out, and a last-minute venue change from Norwich to Thetford meant more of us could join the celebrations.

We started the night at The Red Lion (Wetherspoons), where the festive cheer was already in full swing. By the time Estee arrived at 7 pm, the party spirit had well and truly taken hold—let’s just say a few people were feeling merry already!

From there, we made our way to the Green Dragon, on the hunt for some live music. We were in luck, as a singer was performing, and we didn’t hesitate to join in, belting out a few classic tunes. The Green Dragon’s cosy size led to a bit of a divide in the group, though, as not all of us could get in.

After the Green Dragon called last orders at 11 pm, we carried on at The Albion, ensuring the festive fun didn’t end too soon. Unfortunately, this time Estee didn’t make it to the legendary ICE nightclub, but that’s all the more reason to plan another Thetford outing in the future!

Thank you to everyone who came along – it was great to catch up and socialise outside the workplace. Nights like these remind us how important it is to celebrate our hard work and enjoy some well-earned downtime together. Cheers to that! 🎄🍻


We’re Finalists in the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2025!

We’re thrilled to announce that we are finalists in the Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2025!

Apprenticeships Norfolk plays a vital role in supporting both individuals seeking apprenticeships and employers aiming to provide them. Their free advice and step-by-step guidance ensure that the apprenticeship journey is a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

The Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards is a fantastic platform to shine a spotlight on the dedication and talent of Norfolk apprentices and employers. We’re proud to be part of an initiative that celebrates the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses, and the wider community.

The awards are sponsored by the East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), a passionate group of around 860 employers and 340 current or former apprentices. Their work inspires and promotes the value of apprenticeships across the region.

We can’t wait to join fellow finalists at the awards ceremony in February and celebrate the achievements of apprenticeships in Norfolk. A huge thank you to our brilliant team and apprentices for their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication, which have made this recognition possible!

Giving away an Amada Co2 4-kilowatt laser machine – a rare opportunity!

At Warren, we’re always focused on innovation and efficiency. As part of our commitment to optimising our manufacturing processes, we’ve upgraded our laser cutting capabilities to accommodate thicker aluminium materials. This means we now have a fantastic opportunity for someone to take ownership of an excellent piece of machinery – completely free of charge!

We’re giving away an Amada Co2 4-kilowatt LASER machine, purchased new in November 2009. This machine has been an integral part of our operations, delivering precision cuts and reliable performance. While we’d love to keep it, we need the floor space for our new equipment. Here’s everything you need to know about this offer:

  • This machine cuts steel effortlessly, with a maximum capacity of up to 20mm thick.
  • The 3m x 1.5m bed size is ideal for a variety of applications.
  • It has been meticulously maintained, with all servicing up to date and carried out by Amada engineers.
  • The Amada Co2 LASER is a trusted choice in engineering and manufacturing sectors worldwide.

This machine has served us incredibly well, and we are confident it can deliver the same results for its next owner.

What’s the catch?

The machine itself is free. The only costs involved are related to removal and transport, which will need to be covered by the recipient.

This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses or educational institutions looking to expand their laser cutting capabilities without the upfront cost of purchasing new equipment.

Machine specifications

For more info and the technical details, you can view the full machine brochure here:
LC-F1 Brochure

Get in touch

If you’re interested or know someone who could benefit from this opportunity, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact Richard Bridgman at:

Festive Fun at Warren: Christmas Jumper Day 2024

On 13th December, Warren Services was brimming with festive cheer as we celebrated Christmas Jumper Day 2024! From reindeers and penguins to dalmatians and even a dinosaur, the office was alive with colourful, creative, and humorous Christmas jumpers.

Our team didn’t hold back – alongside the jumpers, there were hats, beards, and flashing lights, adding an extra sparkle to the day. It’s always great to see everyone embracing the holiday spirit and bringing a little joy to the workplace.

Well done to all who took part and made the day such a fun and memorable occasion. You helped spread holiday cheer throughout the company.

Thank you for making Warren Services a place where we can work hard and have fun together! 🎅✨