Warren wins more new business and moves to larger premises in one half of the old village school in Feltwell, Norfolk. Richard and Sharon set their sights on growth.
Warren’s history – it really did start in a garage
1990
1990
Warren recruits its first employees: three of Richard’s former colleagues from another local engineering firm. It also starts investing in training and equipment.
1990
1990-1997
Warren invests in:
– training its employees and taking on its first apprentices
– a computer to produce professional invoices, long before many competitors
1997
After renting half the school, then the whole school, Warren finally buys the entire building. Over the next seven years, it invests in:
– creating a modern working environment
– an ERP system before it needs it, but in anticipation of growth.
1997
2001
Will Bridgman joins his parents at Warren, having studied Business and Finance at University of Birmingham. Sharon is Financial Director and Richard is Chair and Sales & Technical Director.
2002
Warren achieves £1m turnover and Will becomes Managing Director.
2002
2004
Warren invests in refurbishing a 30,000sq ft, near-derelict building on Fison Way in Thetford to create a modern precision engineering factory. It continues investing in advanced manufacturing equipment, including CNC machines, so its 32 employees can serve a fast-growing range of industry clients.
2007
Estee Ross (Sharon and Richard’s daughter) re-joins the business (having gained work experience there when at school). She starts on the shop floor before moving into accounts. After completing her CIPD she becomes Human Resources Manager.
2007
2009
Warren achieves £3m of turnover and now employees 50 people.
2014
Warren opens its second site in Thetford on Brickfields Way. This gives it a further 50,000sq ft of manufacturing, fabrication and assembly space, including room across both sites for shot blasting, laser cutting, and painting booths, as well as many other high-end technologies.
2014
2014
The Manufacturer magazine names Richard as one of the 100 most inspirational individuals in UK manufacturing – and Warren takes on its 100th employee.
2015
Richard is made an Honorary Fellow of the UCS for all his work with West Suffolk College, schools and other universities across the country.
2015
2017
Will becomes Chair. Both Sharon and Richard step back from day-to-day management but Richard remains closely involved in the skills development programmes.
2018
Richard receives an OBE for ‘Services to Training Young People’ in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
2018
2019
The Manufacturer Magazine recognises Will as one of the Top 100 most Inspirational and Exemplar individuals in UK manufacturing for 2019.
2020
Warren starts installing solar panels on its factories, as part of its strategy to be Carbon Neutral by December 2023. By the end of 2022 it has 827kW of solar generating capacity onsite.
2020
2021
Estee becomes HR Director. The firm now employs 121 people, including 8 apprentices and 7 people on the Kickstart scheme that launched in September 2020.
2021
Warren wins Make UK’s Midlands & East of England Developing Future Talent Award for its response to the lockdown education crisis and longstanding commitment to apprenticeships.
2021
2023
Warren continues to invest in engineering skills, facilities and equipment to remain competitive and provide customers with excellent engineering services. As Richard always says, “It’s what goes out the door that counts.”
2023
New Warren branding and website launched.
2023
Where Warren was founded in the far end of the Old School in Feltwell January 1990
Inside the Old School
New roof at the Fison Way site, part of the initial major refurbishment in 2004
Reunion of Sharon and Richard with the first employees of Warren when it was founded in 1990
Supporting skills development
Richard left school in 1963 and started his working life as a toolmaking apprentice. This experience has left him with a passion for skills development and a commitment to training future engineers. Warren has invested heavily in training from the start.
Warren recruited its first apprentice in 1992 and has since trained more than 60 people through apprenticeships and in-work programmes. Many now hold key positions in the company and 50% of its directors started as apprentices with Warren or elsewhere. Warren maintains a flexible and agile business by cross-training employees so at least 50% of them can move to another function if needed and is a proud member of The 5% Club.
Championing engineering in East Anglia
Richard is a keen promoter of Norfolk as a great place to live and work. He campaigns tirelessly for investment the region, including dualling the final stretch of the A11 from Thetford to Barton Mills. He is also one of the original proposers for what is now the Hethel Engineering Centre and served on the government’s East of England National Skills Academy Board.
Where Warren was founded in the far end of the Old School in Feltwell January 1990
Inside the Old School
New roof at the Fison Way site, part of the initial major refurbishment in 2004
Reunion of Sharon and Richard with the first employees of Warren when it was founded in 1990
Supporting skills development
Richard left school in 1963 and started his working life as a toolmaking apprentice. This experience has left him with a passion for skills development and a commitment to training future engineers. Warren has invested heavily in training from the start.
Warren recruited its first apprentice in 1992 and has since trained more than 60 people through apprenticeships and in-work programmes. Many now hold key positions in the company and 50% of its directors started as apprentices with Warren or elsewhere. Warren maintains a flexible and agile business by cross-training employees so at least 50% of them can move to another function if needed and is a proud member of The 5% Club.
Championing engineering in East Anglia
Richard is a keen promoter of Norfolk as a great place to live and work. He campaigns tirelessly for investment the region, including dualling the final stretch of the A11 from Thetford to Barton Mills. He is also one of the original proposers for what is now the Hethel Engineering Centre and served on the government’s East of England National Skills Academy Board.
Warren’s history – it really did start in a garage
1990
Warren wins more new business and moves to larger premises in one half of the old village school in Feltwell, Norfolk. Richard and Sharon set their sights on growth.
1990
Warren recruits its first employees: three of Richard’s former colleagues from another local engineering firm. It also starts investing in training and equipment.
1990
1990-1997
Warren invests in:
– training its employees and taking on its first apprentices
– a computer to produce professional invoices, long before many competitors
1997
After renting half the school, then the whole school, Warren finally buys the entire building. Over the next seven years, it invests in:
– creating a modern working environment
– an ERP system before it needs it, but in anticipation of growth.
1997
2001
Will Bridgman joins his parents at Warren, having studied Business and Finance at University of Birmingham. Sharon is Financial Director and Richard is Chair and Sales & Technical Director.
2002
Warren achieves £1m turnover and Will becomes Managing Director.
2002
2004
Warren invests in refurbishing a 30,000sq ft, near-derelict building on Fison Way in Thetford to create a modern precision engineering factory. It continues investing in advanced manufacturing equipment, including CNC machines, so its 32 employees can serve a fast-growing range of industry clients.
2007
Estee Ross (Sharon and Richard’s daughter) re-joins the business (having gained work experience there when at school). She starts on the shop floor before moving into accounts. After completing her CIPD she becomes Human Resources Manager.
2007
2009
Warren achieves £3m of turnover and now employees 50 people.
2014
Warren opens its second site in Thetford on Brickfields Way. This gives it a further 50,000sq ft of manufacturing, fabrication and assembly space, including room across both sites for shot blasting, laser cutting, and painting booths, as well as many other high-end technologies.
2014
2014
The Manufacturer magazine names Richard as one of the 100 most inspirational individuals in UK manufacturing – and Warren takes on its 100th employee.
2015
Richard is made an Honorary Fellow of the UCS for all his work with West Suffolk College, schools and other universities across the country.
2015
2017
Will becomes Chair. Both Sharon and Richard step back from day-to-day management but Richard remains closely involved in the skills development programmes.
2018
Richard receives an OBE for ‘Services to Training Young People’ in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
2018
2019
The Manufacturer Magazine recognises Will as one of the Top 100 most Inspirational and Exemplar individuals in UK manufacturing for 2019.
2020
Warren starts installing solar panels on its factories, as part of its strategy to be Carbon Neutral by December 2023. By the end of 2022 it has 827kW of solar generating capacity onsite.
2020
2021
Estee becomes HR Director. The firm now employs 121 people, including 8 apprentices and 7 people on the Kickstart scheme that launched in September 2020.
2021
Warren wins Make UK’s Midlands & East of England Developing Future Talent Award for its response to the lockdown education crisis and longstanding commitment to apprenticeships.
2021
2023
Warren continues to invest in engineering skills, facilities and equipment to remain competitive and provide customers with excellent engineering services. As Richard always says, “It’s what goes out the door that counts.”
2023
New Warren branding and website launched.
2023
Contact Details
Warren – 2 sites in Thetford:
Brickfields Way, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1HX
Fison Way, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1HT
Email: enquiries@warrenservices.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1842 760 850
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