Warren Services wins prestigious Make UK Developing Future Talent Regional Award 2021
Warren Services gain regional award for developing talent
When the pandemic struck in 2020, Warren Services developed an online work experience programme for Year-12 students at University Technical College Norfolk (UTCN) to help them stay focused on their engineering course.
Now the specialist machine engineering firm has won the prestigious Make UK Midlands & East of England Developing Future Talent Award for its response to the lockdown education crisis and its longstanding commitment to apprenticeships.
UTCN’s Employer Engagement Coordinator, Sophie Skipp said: “Warren Services has supported UTCN since we opened in 2014 and its Chair, Will Bridgman, was a founding member of our industry liaison group. They have been particularly good at offering valuable work experience to our students and encouraging them to apply for apprenticeships.”
She continued: “Despite lockdown restrictions, Will and his team developed a remote, online work experience programme from scratch. This kept our students engaged in their studies through challenging times, which was good for their education as well as their mental health. The bespoke course included CAD, 3D printing, teamwork, time management, and procurement, as well as remote working and presentations.”
Will Bridgman, Chair of Warren Services, said: “We are thrilled to have received this award but the real winners are the UTCN students who showed such commitment through a year of lockdowns. They are a great example of the talented young people in our county who will drive our region’s future success, and our team enjoyed working with them.”
UTCN engineering student using CAD to work with 3D Printer in front of the Haas CNC Toolroom Mill
Make UK, which represents the UK manufacturing industry, held its regional awards, sponsored by legal firm Bevan Brittan, on Wednesday 13 October 2021 in Warwick. It recognised the achievements of businesses from across the Midlands and the East of England. Warren Services, based on the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor, received praise for continuing to provide UTCN students with valuable engineering skills, despite the restrictions on in-person events.
Charlotte Horobin, Region Director for Make UK in the Midlands and East of England, said: “These awards are a testament to the dynamic companies and individuals working within engineering and manufacturing.”
Monica Macheng of Bevan Brittan said: “We’re thrilled to support Make UK’s awards, celebrating excellence in manufacturing across the UK.”
The winners now go on to the National Finals, which Make UK will host in London in January 2022.
