Estee visits the House of Lords for Apprenticeship celebration

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Thursday 12th June was a proud and exciting day for Warren, as our HR Director, Estee Ross was invited to attend the Apprenticeships Ambassador Network Celebration at the prestigious House of Lords in London.

The event, which had been postponed from 2024 due to the general election, finally took place on a beautiful sunny day in the capital. It was a fitting setting to recognise the ongoing efforts of organisations like Warren that are actively promoting apprenticeships across Norfolk and beyond.

Estee said:

“It was such a special moment to be at the House of Lords – what a fantastic building! It’s actually much bigger than I imagined. I felt truly honoured to be there, representing Warren and all the work we’ve done to support apprenticeships in our region.”

Estee was invited by The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, who unfortunately had to send her apologies on the day, as she was required in the House of Commons. Nonetheless, the event was a great success, with guests from across the apprenticeship community coming together to share ideas and celebrate progress.

Estee was also able to catch up with Lisa Peter from Norfolk Apprenticeships, whose support has been invaluable over the past few years – especially in helping Warren benefit from Levy sharing arrangements with larger employers to support the cost of training.

One exciting announcement from the day was the confirmed date for the next National Apprenticeship Week:
9th–15th February 2026 – a key date for the diary as Warren continues to champion skills development and opportunity through apprenticeships.

Congratulations to Estee on being recognised at such a significant event – and thank you for continuing to fly the flag for apprenticeships and future talent at Warren.

Wicked memories at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

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On Saturday 24th May, our HR Director Estee enjoyed a special day out with her daughter Marley, attending a performance of “Wicked” at the iconic Apollo Victoria Theatre in London.

The show – a West End favourite for nearly 20 years, didn’t just delight Estee and Marley. It also brought back some memories for Warren’s Founder Owner, Richard Bridgman, who recalled a unique experience from behind the scenes…

In 2006, Warren was commissioned to build a BT390 Winch for the show – a substantial piece of kit that needed to be installed in the roof space of the Apollo Victoria. It was a job that presented one challenge after another, as Richard shared:

“We assembled the winch in Thetford, then disassembled it to transport to site. It was Leeroy and myself – I drove down and parked outside the theatre, only to be met by a traffic warden who told me I couldn’t park there as it was a Red Route. She gave me a hefty parking fine on the spot. I said, ‘Well BU**ER you!’ and just started unloading. What else could I do?”

The winch had to be carried – in pieces – up several flights of stairs, as the theatre’s lift was out of order. Richard and Leeroy were helped by other contractors on site, but the biggest challenge was lifting the huge drum up narrow stairwells using straps, teamwork and sheer determination.

“Once we got everything up there, we reassembled it in the tightest space imaginable. It was sweltering hot. No lifting gear. But somehow, we managed it.”

To this day, that same winch is still up in the roof space – working reliably after nearly two decades. Proof if ever it were needed, of Warren’s quality in action.

“I later went to see the show with Sharon,” said Richard, “and didn’t really enjoy it – but plenty of people must, because it’s still running!”

We’re happy to report that Estee and Marley thoroughly enjoyed the performance – a fantastic mother-daughter day out and a reminder of how Warren’s work can often be found in the most surprising places.

From Thetford to the West End – Warren engineering continues to play its part in spectacular ways!

Wishing Colin Browne a happy retirement

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On 31st May, we said goodbye to a much-valued colleague and friend as Colin Browne officially retired from Warren.

Colin’s relationship with Warren goes back much further than his time as a team member. Our Founder and Owner, Richard Bridgman had known Colin for many years through his leadership at Allaway Acoustics, a company just round the corner from Warren. Over the years, the two businesses worked closely together, developing a strong and trusted partnership – with Colin playing a major role in that relationship.

During his time at Allaway, Colin helped grow the company significantly, both in size and turnover, becoming a respected figure in the local manufacturing community.

When Allaway went through a restructure, it came as a surprise to many – including Colin – that he found himself without a role. But Colin wasn’t ready to take life easy just yet. Looking for a less demanding position, and keen to stay active, he joined Warren’s Paint Department, focusing primarily on Powder Coating.

His transition from business leader to hands-on team member showed the same commitment and work ethic he had always demonstrated. He quickly became a reliable and well-liked member of the Warren team.

Colin had hoped to return after a recent operation, working reduced hours as a way to ease into retirement. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan, and Colin made the decision to retire completely.

While we’re sad to see him go, we are incredibly grateful for the time he spent with us, and for the energy, knowledge and dedication he brought to the business.

Richard Bridgman shared a few words:

“Colin has been a great supporter and friend of Warren for many years. It was a pleasure to have him with us during the final phase of his career, and I want to personally thank him for everything he’s contributed – both as a client and colleague. We wish him the very best for a happy and well-earned retirement.”

Thank you Colin, for your hard work, your good humour and the legacy you leave behind. Enjoy your retirement – you’ve truly earned it.

Apprenticeship success for Wiktoria!

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Congratulations to Wiktoria, who has officially passed her Level 2 Welder Apprenticeship – and not just passed, but achieved a Merit, the highest possible grade for her course!

This is a fantastic achievement and a proud moment for both Wiktoria and the entire team at Warren.

Wiktoria was among the first four apprentices to train on site at Swarm REAGIT. It’s never easy being first, but Wiktoria rose to the challenge with resilience, determination and a real passion for engineering.

The team at Swarm REAGIT shared the good news with a celebratory LinkedIn post – see screenshot below.

Wiktoria’s success reflects not only her hard work and commitment, but also the strength of the apprenticeship programme we’re proud to be part of here at Warren. She is now well-positioned to begin the next chapter of her engineering career.

We’re especially proud to see more young women like Wiktoria stepping into technical roles and excelling. Her achievement is an inspiration to others and a reminder of the opportunities available in modern manufacturing.

Well done, Wiktoria – we’re all incredibly proud of you and here’s to a future filled with sparks, skills and continued success!

Sophie Hall – Celebrating 20 years at Warren

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This year marks a remarkable milestone for one of our most respected and admired team members – Sophie Hall, who is celebrating 20 years with the company.

Sophie joined Warren at a time when it was still rare to see women in engineering roles – particularly in rural Norfolk. She had completed her Engineering Apprenticeship with Bosch in Stowmarket, but after a less-than-ideal stint at a small commercial glazing company in Brandon, she found herself at a crossroads.

Through mutual friends and family connections, Richard and Will Bridgman approached Sophie with an invitation to join Warren. Initially, she declined – but undeterred, they persisted. Thankfully, she eventually said yes, and joined the business just as it was relocating to the Fison Way site in Thetford.

It proved to be an excellent decision for all involved. Sophie has never looked back, and Warren has never looked the same.

Even in her earliest days, Sophie stood out. Her technical training, professionalism and determination were immediately evident – and so too was her influence on the workplace culture. She quickly instigated the removal of outdated ‘girly’ calendars and helped set a new tone for the business. She was, and still is, uncompromising when it comes to sexism or casual remarks – and helped Warren become a more inclusive, accommodating and respectful company.

Over the past two decades, Sophie has taken on a wide variety of roles across the business. She’s been instrumental in:

  • Estimating, costing and planning
  • Customer visits and site surveys
  • Organising and managing trade shows – including one event that led to securing one of Warren’s largest accounts
  • Mentoring young people, especially during school visits and community outreach

Her technical knowledge, combined with her excellent people skills, make her one of the company’s most trusted ambassadors. When customers come to visit, Sophie is often the one showing them around, offering real insight into our operations, backed by two decades of first-hand experience.

Today, Sophie is focused on Business Development – one of the most challenging roles in any company. Cold calling and pursuing new leads is never easy, but Sophie handles it with resilience and professionalism. She knows that you often only get a few seconds to make an impression, and she uses her wealth of experience to do just that.

Sophie has paved the way for more women to enter engineering. Her example has encouraged a cultural shift that is now becoming visible. This year, for the first time, two of the four new Engineering Apprentices joining Warren from Thetford Academy are female – a milestone that reflects just how far things have come, thanks to pioneers like Sophie.

Sophie, you’ve helped shape Warren into the company it is today. Your strength, your standards, your humour and your humanity are woven into our culture, and we are incredibly proud to have you as part of the team.

Thank you for 20 outstanding years. Here’s to many more!

Celebrating 20 years of dedication – Fraser Craigen

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This year marks a major milestone for one of our longest-serving team members – Fraser Craigen, who is celebrating 20 years with Warren Services.

Fraser’s journey into the world of manufacturing began in an unexpected way. Originally a Game Keeper, Fraser made a career change due to health reasons. Through word of mouth and a family connection (his brother Darren was our very first apprentice), Fraser was offered a role with us and the rest as they say, is history.

Starting out briefly at our Feltwell factory, Fraser has been with us through decades of growth and change, from our expansion to two factories and the development of the Kilverstone site. A true constant throughout it all, Fraser has taken every challenge in his stride, always willing to go the extra mile.

As one of the first employees at our Fison Way site, Fraser was instrumental in shaping and managing our Goods In & Out processes, as well as coordinating transport across all sites. His work ensures finished goods are correctly booked out, securely packaged, and delivered to customers across the country — no small task when you’re dealing with large and complex items like balconies, which require careful coordination between our Brickfields and Kilverstone locations.

In more recent years, Fraser has also taken on the growing challenge of recycling management, working closely with Sackers to ensure our waste and scrap processes are efficient, compliant, and environmentally responsible.

What’s written here only scratches the surface of the contribution Fraser has made over two decades. He carries enormous responsibility and his knowledge, reliability and calm approach are appreciated by everyone who works with him.

From all of us at Warren, thank you Fraser for your 20 years of service, dedication and hard work. We look forward to the years to come and the continued success we’ll share together.

Easter raffle raises £500 for children’s charity

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We’re delighted to share the final update from our Easter raffle – and we’re proud to announce that we raised £500 in support of West Suffolk Hospital’s WiSH Upon a Star Children’s Appeal.

This important charity works to enhance the care that young people receive across the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, both in hospital and in the wider community. The Trust supports a population of around 280,000 people – with more than 160,000 of those aged 18 or under, so the impact of this appeal reaches far and wide.

The Warren team came together to deliver another fantastic fundraising effort for a truly worthy cause. A huge thank you goes to Becky and Christine for all their hard work in organising the raffle, selling tickets and collecting donations – your dedication makes events like this possible.

Thank you also to everyone who donated prizes and to those who bought tickets so generously. Your support means a lot and helps us continue to give back to our community in meaningful ways.

Well done, team Warren – and happy (belated) Easter to all!

A royal honour: Visit from Lady Dannatt, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk

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On Thursday 10th April, we had the privilege of welcoming a very special guest to Warren Services – Lady Dannatt, the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.

As His Majesty’s representative in the county, the Lord-Lieutenant plays a unique and important role in promoting goodwill, supporting community initiatives, and recognising excellence across Norfolk. Lady Dannatt, who holds this position, is deeply committed to strengthening local communities and takes a keen interest in businesses, voluntary organisations and education.

Her visit to Warren Services focused on our work with young people, particularly in the areas of skills development, apprenticeships and engagement with local schools and colleges. We were proud to share how we support learners, help bridge the skills gap in engineering and manufacturing, and encourage others in the sector to follow suit.

The tour went smoothly and the discussions that followed were both meaningful and encouraging. We were honoured to learn that Lady Dannatt plans to write to His Majesty The King to share details about our company and the positive impact we are making.

In a further mark of recognition, we were delighted to receive an invitation to attend The King’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 14th May – a true honour and a testament to the dedication of our team in promoting education and opportunity within our industry.

More news and photos from this exciting occasion will be shared soon.

Will Bridgman announced as Chair of EEIN

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We’re proud to share some fantastic news from the Warren Services team – our Managing Director, Will Bridgman, has been appointed as Chair of the EAL Engineering Industry Network (EEIN).

Will’s appointment is a reflection of his longstanding commitment to training, apprenticeships and education in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. His passion for developing the next generation of talent is well known across Norfolk, and he has been a driving force behind many local initiatives to support learners and close skills gaps.

As Chair of EEIN, Will will continue to strengthen partnerships between industry and education. He actively collaborates with schools and colleges to help shape learning experiences that are meaningful, relevant, and aligned with real-world needs. Whether it’s inviting students into our facilities to see engineering in action, or helping shape sector-wide qualifications, Will is focused on making a difference.

His mission is clear: to ensure qualifications are not only fit for purpose but also empower learners to succeed in their chosen career paths.

Congratulations, Will. We know you’ll bring your energy, insight and leadership to the role, and we’re excited to see the positive impact this will bring to our industry and community.

Warren ladies enjoy an afternoon out in Norwich

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In April, a group of the Warren ladies headed out to Norwich for a well-earned afternoon of great food, drinks, and even better company.

Once we’d done a quick headcount, we were delighted to find there are now 20 women working at Warren – a fantastic number and a real shift compared to years gone by. It was lovely to see so many of us able to come together outside of work, especially with colleagues we may not usually cross paths with day to day.

The team enjoyed a relaxed afternoon at Mr Postles, where good conversation flowed just as easily as the drinks. It was a brilliant opportunity to unwind, catch up and share a few laughs away from the workplace.

A big thank you to everyone who joined – here’s to more afternoons like this in the future!