Spreading Christmas Cheer with the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal 2024

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This year at Warren, our annual Christmas raffle was about more than just festive fun, it was about giving back to our community. We were proud to support the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal 2024, a local initiative dedicated to spreading holiday cheer to families in need across Norfolk.

About the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal

For many families, the holiday season brings added pressures, and the need for support is greater than ever. Nourishing Norfolk’s food hubs play a crucial role in providing affordable food and essentials to thousands of people throughout our community. This year, they asked businesses like ours to help stock Christmas crates full of holiday treats and essentials, ensuring that every family could enjoy a festive meal, regardless of their circumstances.

A stocked Christmas crate costs less than £5 per family and includes items like gravy, stuffing, and mince pies – simple treats that can make a world of difference. With a total goal of £1,500, the appeal aimed to provide over 300 families with a little extra joy this Christmas season.

How we supported the cause

At Warren, we rallied behind this wonderful initiative through our Christmas raffle, with all proceeds going directly to the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal. As always, we included supplier gifts in the raffle, and we encouraged everyone to buy tickets to help us raise as much as possible for this fantastic cause.

A warm meal, a festive treat, and the knowledge that their community cares – these are gifts that can transform the Christmas for families facing challenges. Every donation, big or small, had a real and lasting impact. Thank you for your generosity, and for making a meaningful difference this festive season.

Building Connections and Insights: Make UK Derby Defence Event

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This month, we had the opportunity to attend the Make UK Defence event in Derby, an invaluable two-day gathering for learning about the defence sector and networking with industry professionals. Held at the Derby Football Club, the event provided a unique platform to explore opportunities and challenges within this dynamic industry.

Day one: navigating snow and making connections

The event coincided with an unexpected snowstorm, which made the journey an adventure in itself! Once settled, the day offered a mix of keynote speakers from across the defence sector and valuable networking sessions. These conversations provided a chance to engage with potential customers and learn more about their needs and expectations.

Day two: meet the buyer

The highlight of day two was the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, where we had the chance to pitch to industry buyers. Sophie Hall, our Business Development Manager had requested eight meetings and was fortunate to secure four, although her first meeting didn’t go as planned due to a no-show. Despite that hiccup, the remaining three meetings were productive and offered valuable insights into what buyers in this sector are seeking.

Key takeaways from the event

The event was as much a learning experience as it was a networking opportunity. Here are the main insights Sophie took away from the two days:

  1. Quality is non-negotiable
    Success in the defence sector depends on a relentless focus on quality. It’s not just about meeting standards, it’s about embedding quality as a core value within your business culture.
  2. Qualifications open doors
    Having the necessary certifications and qualifications is crucial. This sector requires adherence to strict regulations, and businesses must demonstrate their ability to meet these consistently.
  3. Longevity is the reward
    Once established in the defence industry, the potential for long-term, repeat business is significant. However, getting to that point requires patience, persistence, and a commitment to building trust with clients.
  4. It takes time to establish credibility
    Breaking into the defence sector isn’t quick or easy. Building the right connections, earning trust, and proving your capabilities can take years, but the rewards are worth the effort.

Looking ahead

Attending the Make UK Defence event was a valuable step in our journey to explore opportunities in this sector. It reinforced the importance of continuous improvement in quality and qualifications while highlighting the long-term potential for businesses that persevere.

We’re excited to take what we’ve learned and apply it to our processes, ensuring we’re well-positioned to meet the demands of this challenging and rewarding industry. Thank you to Make UK for hosting such a fantastic event – we’re looking forward to the next one!

Advancing Quality and Capability: Weld Procedure Trials at Warren

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At Warren, we pride ourselves on continually improving our processes and meeting the evolving demands of our customers. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been undertaking a significant initiative to qualify our weld procedures. With customers now requiring greater scrutiny and standards, we recognised the need to elevate our practices.

We conducted six weld procedure tests across a range of materials:

  • Two tests on high-strength steel
  • Two tests on aluminium
  • Two tests on mild steel

The tests were carried out by our skilled team members – Russell, Mike, and Gavin, under the supervision of our responsible welding coordinator, Ben. These weren’t easy tests. The procedures were intentionally designed to be challenging to ensure a wide range of coverage for future applications. Despite the pressure, the team rose to the occasion, showcasing expertise and resilience.

Long-term benefits of qualified weld procedures

The procedures we’ve developed during these trials are now qualified and will serve as the foundation for welding work at Warren for years to come. While some gaps remain, these are less critical and will be addressed in the new year with additional preparation and practice.

Here’s how these new procedures will enhance our capabilities:

  • High-strength steel procedures: these enable us to manufacture a frame capable of holding an engine. They also position us to attain the DIN 2303 Q2 certification, expanding our work in the defence sector. With this certification, we anticipate a steady stream of work through 2030 and beyond, providing the business with long-term stability.
  • Aluminium procedures: these ensure we remain equipped to handle critical projects for our offshore work, EN 1090 aluminium welding for clients.
  • Mild steel procedures: by filling gaps in our existing library, these procedures allow us to specify requirements upfront, ensuring clarity and efficiency before jobs hit the shop floor. This proactive approach will save time and resources while improving overall quality.

Streamlining and accessibility

With these procedures now qualified, the next step is to document and integrate them into our workflow. They will be easily accessible on job cards and through Warren Web, ensuring our team can quickly find the information they need to maintain consistency and quality.

A team effort worth celebrating

This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and skill of Russell, Mike, Gavin and Ben. Their hard work and commitment to excellence have set us up for success, and we’re deeply grateful for their efforts.

As we look to the future, these weld procedures not only solidify our position in the industry but also open doors to exciting new opportunities. Thank you to everyone involved for making this a success. Here’s to a stronger, more capable Warren!

Celebrating Billy Read: 10 Years of Dedication and Achievement

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This December marks a significant milestone for one of our valued team members, Billy Read, as he celebrates 10 years of service with Warren.

From temporary placement to senior leadership

Billy’s story began at the age of 19 when he joined Warren through the Job Centre Work Placement Scheme. Initially a temporary 8-week placement, his talent and work ethic quickly earned him a permanent role as a Goods in Operative at our Fison Way site. This foundational role equipped Billy with in-depth knowledge of materials and components, laying the groundwork for his future progression.

Four years later, Billy transitioned into the role of Purchasing & IT Assistant, under the mentorship of Ian Nixon. In this position, he built and nurtured strong relationships with key suppliers and developed vital negotiation skills. By 2022, his hard work and expertise were recognised with a promotion to Senior Buyer.

Leading the purchasing team

In his current role, Billy oversees our purchasing team, managing over £4 million in company spend each year. This includes handling more than 7,000 purchase orders and 23,000 line items. His role requires a delicate balance – managing cost, quality, and delivery timelines to ensure the seamless flow of goods for manufacturing. Space and cash flow management add to the challenge, but Billy approaches it all with precision.

Passionate about continuous improvement

Billy’s technical mindset and passion for engineering extend beyond his work. Recently, he completed his ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management and introduced an Approved Supplier Onboarding Process, a vital step forward in meeting client requirements.

Thank you, Billy!

Billy’s 10-year journey is an inspiring example of what can be achieved through hard work, curiosity and a commitment to excellence. His willingness to help others, improve processes, and tackle challenges head-on has made a lasting impact on our team and business.

Thank you, Billy, for an incredible decade of dedication and achievement. Here’s to your next 10 years – we’re excited to see what you’ll accomplish!

Movember at Warren: Raising Awareness for Men’s Health

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This year, several of our team members joined the global movement of Movember, growing moustaches throughout November to raise awareness of men’s health issues. While we weren’t the best at capturing before-and-after pictures of everyone, we’re proud to share a snap of Jamie Mills, who represented the effort brilliantly!

Movember is more than just a chance to sport a new look. It’s about sparking conversations and raising awareness for critical issues in men’s health, including:

  • Mental health and suicide prevention
  • Prostate cancer
  • Testicular cancer

These are topics that don’t always get the attention they deserve, and Movember is leading the way in changing that, one moustache at a time.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated this year – your efforts helped raise awareness for these vital health issues.

Building a skilled workforce: how Warren is supporting the next generation

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A skilled workforce is the cornerstone of every successful business. Yet, navigating how best to collaborate with education providers to develop future-ready skills can be a challenge. We’ve partnered with the University Technology College Norfolk (UTCN) and The Education Landscape to create a unique and impactful resource for 3D printing.

Innovation through collaboration
In collaboration with UTCN, we provided the college with a cutting-edge 3D printer to enhance their educational resources. We also worked alongside Andrew, a dedicated student at UTCN, to bring the college’s existing 3D printers back to full functionality. By ensuring these tools are operational, we’re enabling students to use them for future projects.

This collaboration is more than just about technology – it’s about building bridges between education and industry, ensuring students are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in their careers and tackle real-world challenges.

Why supporting education matters
For businesses like Warren, engaging with education isn’t just an investment in the future workforce – it’s a chance to inspire the next generation of thinkers, makers, and innovators. Supporting teachers and students with practical resources and mentorship helps to close the skills gap, keeping industries like ours at the forefront of technology and creativity.

Get involved: download the free guide
Feeling inspired to make a difference? Head to educationlandscape.org.uk to download the FREE Guide and Index.

Find out more here and in the video below.

 

Will Bridgman Visits East Anglia Air Ambulance for CEO Networking Event

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This week, our Managing Director, Will Bridgman, participated in an insightful event hosted by Turning Factor, a learning and development training provider, at East Anglia Air Ambulance. This gathering brought together CEOs and business leaders from across various sectors to share knowledge, experiences, and grow meaningful connections.

The event, organised by James Howells, Director of Turning Factor, aimed to create a supportive space for CEOs, offering them the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges and gain insights into each other’s fields. The highlight of the day included a presentation and a tour of East Anglia Air Ambulance, allowing attendees to see the impressive work and innovation behind the life-saving operations of the air ambulance team.

James Howells thanked Will Bridgman for his participation, saying, “I wanted to thank you for coming to yesterday’s event. Your presence and engagement were the beginning of what we hope to be a powerful forum. We hope you enjoyed the presentation and tour from East Anglia Air Ambulance and found it as interesting as we did.”

This event marks the beginning of a promising network where local business leaders can come together for mutual support and collaborative opportunities, driving growth not only within their companies but also across the community.

Warren Is Growing a MO for Movember!

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This year at Warren, we’re taking part in Movember and we’d love to see the men join in on this meaningful cause. Starting at the end of October, we’re encouraging everyone to begin the month clean-shaven, then grow out their moustaches throughout November. The moustache is more than just facial hair—it’s a powerful symbol that encourages life-saving conversations about men’s health.

Why Movember matters

Movember is the leading charity dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. The movement focuses on raising awareness and funds for critical issues such as mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. By growing a moustache, you’re helping to shine a spotlight on these important topics and encouraging others to engage in conversations that can make a difference.

How to get involved

It’s simple: at the end of October, go clean-shaven and then start growing your moustache on 1st November. Throughout the month, let your ‘Mo’ take centre stage and help spread the message of Movember’s mission. You can learn more about Movember’s work and how to get involved by visiting their website: Movember – Changing the Face of Men’s Health.

Let’s see those moustaches!

As we embark on this hairy journey together, we’d love to capture the moment! If you’re taking part, let’s get some photos of your ‘Mo’. Let’s see who can grow the most impressive moustache by the end of the month—‘tis the season to be hairy, after all!

Warren Welcomes Students from The Damara School for a Factory Tour

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At Warren, we believe in the power of inspiring the next generation and that’s why we continue to engage with local schools. On Wednesday 9th October, we were excited to welcome a group of students from The Damara School in Thetford to our facilities for a behind-the-scenes look at what we do.

Touring Fison Way and Brickfields Way

The visit started with a tour of our Fison Way site, led by Kieran, where the students had the opportunity to see some of the impressive manufacturing processes we use every day. Next, Adam took the group around our Brickfields Way site, showing them more of the equipment and technology that powers our operations. To conclude the tour, the students gathered in the meeting room for a talk from Will, who shared his experience in the world of engineering and manufacturing, as well as what a career in the industry can look like.

Encouraging young minds

The students seemed to thoroughly enjoy the tour, asking great questions and showing enthusiasm for the industry. At Warren, we’re committed to engaging with children at a young age to spark their interest in engineering and manufacturing. By providing these hands-on experiences, we hope to inspire future generations of engineers and innovators.

Thanks again to The Damara School for joining us. We hope to see more aspiring engineers visit Warren in the near future!

Celebrating National Manufacturing Day at Warren

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On Thursday 26th September, we proudly celebrated National Manufacturing Day, a day dedicated to showing the importance of manufacturing across the UK. Businesses like ours open their doors to give people a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens in the world of manufacturing.

This year, we had the pleasure of hosting nearly 300 local Year 6 pupils from six different primary schools, alongside local businesses Boniface and Peerless Plastics. It was an exciting day full of learning, fun and hands-on experiences aimed at inspiring the next generation of engineers.

A day of discovery

With so many eager young minds, we had to split the groups in half to manage the number of visitors. Will and Jed led tours at our Fison Way site, while Ali and I guided the pupils at Brickfields Way. Throughout the day, the children had the opportunity to try out a range of interactive activities within our factories, getting a taste of the work that goes into manufacturing.

At times, it felt like controlled chaos, however seeing the excitement and curiosity on the children’s faces made it all worthwhile. Their reactions were priceless and we’ve already received fantastic feedback from the schools.

Capturing the day

A special mention goes to Mia Nixon, who created an outstanding video of the day’s activities. The video beautifully captures the energy and excitement of the event and it’s now available to view on our post here.

Inspiring future engineers

At Warren, we believe events like this are crucial in inspiring the next generation of engineers. It’s vital to reach young people early, before they begin making decisions about their future careers and Year 6 is the perfect age to spark that interest. By opening our doors and offering these experiences, we hope to encourage more young people to consider a career in manufacturing and engineering.

Looking ahead

We’d like to thank everyone who helped make National Manufacturing Day a success this year. From our dedicated staff to the enthusiastic pupils, it was truly a team effort. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, and who knows it might be even bigger and better!

 

View the video produced by the local council about the day: