It was on May 14, 1990 when Richard and Sharon Bridgman, along with three other employees, opened up Warren Services at the Old School in Feltwell.

A quarter of a century on, and the business is now an established engineering firm with a reputation for promoting apprenticeships and producing items used across the world.

On Saturday, staff and their families were invited to a special birthday bash to celebrate, with cake, games and activities and a barbecue.

Now with more than 100 staff operating on 80,000sqft of factory space in Fison Way and Brickfields Way, Mr Bridgman, 68, said he felt “great pride” in how the business has flourished.

“When we started, I never envisaged we would be this size. I had an ambition to turn over a million pounds and own the whole of the old school building we were in.

“We did all of that, then bought the factory in Thetford and developed it and we are still here.

“We are still making good money and all of us enjoy what we are doing,” he said.

Since opening, the company has become known for being a training ground for hundreds of apprenticeships, even when such schemes went out of fashion.

Now back in popularity, Mr Bridgman has become one of their biggest cheerleaders, acting as an ambassador and the business regularly being cited as an example of good training practice.

“Seeing everyone here today is a great feeling. I’ve got pictures of me surrounded by 10 apprentices that we’ve brought through, and it’s things like that which make me proud,” he said.

“25pc of our staff is always made up of current or former apprentices, and it’s served us extremely well.”

The company specialises in manufacture and assembly, with processes including milling, machining, laser cutting and powder coat painting among those on offer.

Projects the firm has worked on include the building of a robotic man for Take That to take on tour, and its handiwork was recently used at the £95m opening ceremony of the European Games in Baku on Friday.

Such work has seen employees have the chance to travel overseas to offer support and advice.

Are you part of a group or business which is doing work to benefit the local community? If you would like to feature on this group, email andrew.fitchett@archant.co.uk or call our Thetford Office on 01842 752510.