Following the success of our previous cohorts, we are thrilled to be moving into our fifth iteration of Launch into Engineering! This highly successful project is a collaboration between Derby Museums and Vaillant.

Vaillant is a globally renowned, family-run leader in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning technology. While they operate across the globe, they are big part of our local community, with major sites in Belper and at the newly opened Indurent Park in Derby.

The Launch into Engineering project bridges industry and education, taking place across both the Museum of Making’s Workshop and the Vaillant plant in Belper. The goal is simple: engage students in a real-world making project while opening their eyes to careers in engineering and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths).

Hands-On in the Workshop

During the week, students tour the Museum of Making, complete a workshop safety induction, and dive straight into a fast-paced carousel of practical tasks. The culmination of their hard work is a fully usable, bespoke screwdriver and custom stand built entirely from scratch.

To complete their projects, students master an incredible range of traditional and modern skills:

• Blacksmithing & Forge Work (making a fire poker and tool elements)
• Woodturning on a lathe to shape Beechwood handles
• Metalworking & Lathe Turning for the steel shank
• Brazing & Soldering for the electrical components and the ferrule
• Laser Cutting & Acrylic Bending to build the custom stand
• Finishing Techniques including precision sanding, oiling, and polishing

Real-World Experience

As well as their time in the Workshop, students spend a day touring the production lines at the Vaillant plant in Belper. This hands-on industry exposure directly covers several crucial Gatsby Benchmarks (specifically Benchmarks 2, 4, and 5) focused on embedding careers in the curriculum and providing meaningful encounters with employers.

To date, cohorts from Bemrose School, Belper High School, Aldercar High, and the YMCA have benefited from this unique partnership. Here is what the young people had to say about their experience:

• “I enjoyed everything I got to do this week—the forging, woodturning, brazing, and soldering. This week made me feel more confident than ever in trying something new.”
• “I enjoyed doing the woodturning and creating a strong, sturdy handle for my screwdriver. It was a great experience.”
• “I always thought I’d become a bricklayer because it’s hard and heavy work. Now I’ve tried blacksmithing, I want to do that instead. It’s still hard work, but I actually loved it!”

Seeing these young people grow in confidence, pick up machinery skills in mere days, and tour a live factory floor is exactly why we love this project. They walk away with a high-quality handmade tool they can use forever, alongside an experience that will give them a massive advantage in future jobs or apprenticeship interviews. 

For an even deeper look behind the scenes, you can read the full technical breakdown from our Workshop Team here: Derby Museums Workshop Blog.

Want to get your students involved? If you think a group of your Year 8–12 pupils would enjoy this opportunity, and could commit to a week out of school, please get in touch with our learning team today by emailing Learn@derbymuseums.org