The Manufacturer Top 100 is a project that showcases the most dynamic leaders, young pioneers and unsung heroes working in UK manufacturing, all of which have been nominated by their peers.
Among the Top 100, however, our judging panel chose 20 individuals for special recognition. We call them ‘Exemplars’ – those who have exemplified remarkable leadership, daring or innovation within their respective field, and who set the direction of travel as we head into the new decade.
Will Bridgman, Chairman of Warren Services Limited
With a cool 20 years in the world of manufacturing at senior management level, Will has been at the forefront of significant changes within the industry, and has always strived to ensure his company keeps pace with the latest developments in engineering and design.
Founded in 1990, Warren Services manufactures components and mechanical and electrical subassemblies using advanced 3D CAD systems.
“We moved into our existing premises in 2005,” said Will. “The factory was completely renovated and redeveloped, providing 30,000 sqft of shop floor area and new offices, which gives us a modern and well-equipped facility with new machinery and cutting-edge IT systems. The space is split into CNC machining, welding, fabrication and finishing, and water jet, laser and folding.”
“In 2014 we completed and opened our second site just around the corner at Brickfields. This gave us a further 50,000 sqft and the space to move our assembly processes over allowing for further development.”
Celebrating seven years of inspirational industry leaders
Launched in 2014, The Manufacturer Top 100 publicly recognises the most dynamic leaders and innovators in manufacturing.
Published by The Manufacturer, in partnership with Cranfield University, one of the country’s top centres of business education, the project is helping to dispel widely-held myths that vibrant manufacturing in the UK is a thing of the past.
Click here to make your nomination for The Manufacturer Top 100 2020, and to download a copy of the 2019 publication.
Will said strategic alliances are the cornerstone of a successful and sustainable business, while remaining agile in developing new products and services from end-to-end.
“I am very passionate about finding new ways to enhance business portfolios and to ensure that Warren Services remains a leading-edge, technical solutions provider.”
The A Level mathematics graduate went on to study finance at degree level at the University of Birmingham, before assuming management positions within the hospitality sector where his responsibilities included re-configuring catering services and facilities to be more efficient, overseeing health and safety protocols, developing communications packages, providing technical and design consultation and sitting on the board of directors.
“At Warren Services my main responsibilities include building effective strategic client and partner relationships to deliver business success, leading the senior management team and ensuring that business efforts are aligned to the organisation’s vision, while working directly with line management to help craft effective production and manufacturing processes,” he said.
In their own words
What is your favourite engineered/manufactured product?
It has to be the Tesla Model 3. I love how Tesla has accelerated the transition to sustainable energy with electric cars.
Please give one interesting fact about yourself that not many people know.
I’m dyslexic. It’s something I’ve struggled with in my life, but others shouldn’t let it stand in their way.
If you weren’t in manufacturing what would your dream job be?
I’d love to be in software development. I think it’ll be exciting to see what happens there.
To hear more from Will, listen to The Manufacturer podcast where The Manufacturer’s editorial director Nick Peters reflects on 2019 “The year that was” and in which the Warren Services chairman discusses his plans for the company in 2020.
Meet our other 2019 Exemplars:
- Will Bridgman – Warren Services
- Michael Higgins – Ford Motor Company
- James Grainger – Grainger and Worrell
- Joern Behrenroth – FEV UK
- Paul Jones – Morgan Furniture
- Ayesha Lumsden – Jaguar Land Rover
- Jane Langton – Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK
- David Owen – Lintott Control Systems
- Lisa Oxnard – Doncasters Group
- Brian Palmer – Tharsus Group
- Thomas Palmer – BAE Systems
- Giles Salt, CEO, M&I Materials
- Darren Sloan IT Director, Premier Foods
- Georgina Stalker, Project Engineer, TSP Engineering
- Stephen Trollope, Co-Founder & CEO, The Temporary Kitchen Company
- Emma Trollope, Co-Founder & Director, The Temporary Kitchen Company
Every week, The Manufacturer will highlight an individual named as an Exemplar of UK industry in 2019.
