Projects

Launch into Engineering 5th Iteration

By Workshop Team 24 June 2026

It’s June, it’s hot outside, as it is in the Workshop… welcome back to our Blog!

We have proudly just completed our 5th iteration of Launch into Engineering. Whilst the week is fresh in our minds, we thought now would be a good opportunity to share the project and give a bit more information about the details of the week.

Launch Into Engineering

What is Launch into Engineering?
Launch into Engineering is a hands-on, week-long programme that offers students and young adults, from the local midlands area, an introduction to careers in sustainable engineering and to a range of making techniques. We, the Workshop technicians and the learning team, as part of Derby Museums, work with Vaillant on this fantastic programme and some of their team join us in the Workshop.

‘Vaillant is the largest employer in Belper and has just opened a new site on the new Indurent Park in Pride Park Derby. It is a leading manufacturer of heat pumps, boilers and complimenting heating system products and has invested more than £40 million into the region. Launch into Engineering brings further investment into young people, with the aim of inspiring the apprentices, engineers and makers of the future.’

Vaillant Press Release

The week is packed full of a range of activities. The group receives talks and tours around Derby Museums and Vaillant’s factory. But, being a practical based week, the group spends most of their time in the Workshop making their own, bespoke screwdriver.

The first day is an opportunity for the group to become familiar with the Workshop and to meet everyone working on the project. We run introduction sessions on some of the machines and the group makes their own bespoke name badge.

Day 1
– Workshop Health and Safety tour
– Name badges – Jesmonite, vacuum former, laser cut letters
– Introduction session on wood turning lathe practicing techniques and tools
– Introduction session on Blacksmithing – the forge, letter punching, make a firepoker

Days 2 & 4
We are joined by Graeme, an honorary Technician, and by Vaillant engineers and apprentices for our main days of making. The screwdriver itself consists of three main parts and this sits on a stand. These parts are made by each individual at four main stations across two days. These parts and stations are:

– Handle – Wood turning with Beech, chisels and gouges on the Lathe
– Shank – Metal working on the metal Lathe and blacksmithing on the Forge
– Ferrule – Brass cutting and forming on mandrels with mallets, number punching, brazing with blowtorch
– Stand – Laser cut and engraved shaped acrylic, electronics and soldering

Day 3
The group has a guided full tour of the Vaillant Belper factory site.

Image: Vaillant

The final day is where everything comes together. There are always morning catch up tasks, final wood turning adjustments and last minute ferrule fixing. But once everyone is ready, we start assembling the parts together. The day ends with the participants giving a short presentation of the techniques and tasks they completed in the week. Their finished screwdrivers are always fantastic, all individual, bespoke and very much their own.

Day 5
Assembly day
– Finishing touches and snags
– Polishing Ferrules on wheel
– Fitting the Ferrule onto the Handle
– Fitting the Shank into the Handle
– Cutting the end off the Handle
– Letter punching the place of manufacture and the maker’s name onto the handle
– Sanding and oiling the Handle
– Using their screwdriver to take apart a Vaillant Boiler and constructing a box
– Presentations to Derby Museums Director, Tony Butler, and a representative from Vaillant

There is a lot that goes into Launch into Engineering behind the scenes in the Workshop. Prepping blanks of wood, ordering metals, arranging the Workshop spaces, maintaining equipment.. But, there is so much work from everyone else that joins us and those that work on the programme outside of the Workshop. Here’s a big thank you from the Workshop to everyone at Vaillant (the engineers, the many many apprentices, marketing, directors and more!), to the Derby Museums learning team and, most importantly, the young engineers and makers of the future who attend the week.

It is an honour for us to work on this project, seeing how much each young person can accomplish and the manner in which they approach it. It’s a lot to learn in a week, but they always take it in their stride. By the time Friday arrives, we’ve really got to know the group and a lot of the day is filled with laughs and reflections on the week. For us in the Workshop, Launch into Engineering sums up everything that the Museum of Making, and its Workshop, exists for.

Award Nomination

In further testament to this great project, Launch into Engineering, along with the other branches of the partnership with Vaillant, was nominated for an award!

Museums and Heritage Awards – 2026

Unfortunately, the programme did not win the award, but congratulations to North Yorkshire Council Out of the Box Learning! Regardless of not winning the award, it is fantastic that the new project was considered on this level and it pays tribute to the important partnership between Vaillant and Derby Museums.

Wardwick Signs

The Wardwick, over at the Museum and Art Gallery, has seen many improvements in the last few years since its former life as Derby Central Library in 2018.

‘The Museum on The Wardwick is a 19th century grade II listed building that has long stood as one of Derby’s most iconic buildings. The Wardwick, with its striking arched entrance, beautiful glass atrium and ornate mezzanine balcony full of curiosities, is a unique and stylish venue available for hire, located in the heart of the city.

The classic Gothic architecture is a spectacular backdrop for a wedding, and also makes for a versatile space suitable for a range of events, including award ceremonies, birthday parties, conferences, trade shows and live performances.’

Last year, we were approached by our Derby Museums colleagues to help them make some custom signage for the space. They already had a clear vision for the project and wanted something in the style of the signage they were putting on display in the Wardwick cabinets. These vintage museum signs are full of hand-painted character and craftsmanship, and it was up to us to reverse-engineer the style.

The brief was to create a set of signs to direct visitors to the toilets, the different types, and staff only rooms whilst replicating the style of the examples. We also had to consider that the Wardwick space is a listed building, meaning the signage would not utilise wall fixings.

We knew this would be a perfect job to work on with our dedicated, highly skilled Volunteer team. We started the project by finding suitable fonts and making digital drawings.

We decided the best approach would be using thin, laser cut woods. This would keep them lightweight and super smart. The letters were layered on top of the background, creating depth, and opportunity for light to catch the signs. After lots of redrawing and perfecting the style and size, we cut our parts out. We then painted them and glued it all together.

We think they turned out great and really suit the space. They are also a great example of the high quality projects that our Workshop Volunteer team are doing every week. Look out for the signs if the Wardwick is open for an event!

From the Shadows Interactives

It’s the Year of Wright!
As part of that, a new Joseph Wright exhibition, From the Shadows, opened June 13th and is open until November 1st.

‘Wright of Derby: From the Shadows is the first major exhibition dedicated to the British artist’s ‘candlelight’ paintings. Join us as we celebrate and look again at his most admired works.’

We recently worked with Derby Museum’s learning team to create a set of interactives. The purpose of these was to be an aid to learning and enhance visitor engagement. Together we developed the idea that elements could be selected from Joseph Wright’s paintings. These act like a visual treasure hunt, which leads to prompts on the back of the board.

The learning team selected some items and shapes from the paintings and provided prompts for each. We then started making digital drawings which interpret each. We aimed for clear silhouettes with simplified details.

We aimed for an average size that fit around A4. Once happy with the drawings, we laser cut them out and used a deep engraving setting for the details and writing on the back. We also made an appropriate opening for a ribbon to go through so they could be hung on a peg. The final touches were some sanding and (many) layers of a darker varnish. We are really happy with how these interactives came out and hope many visitors to the show get enjoyment from them.

We also cut the main sign that greets you to the From the Shadows, Joseph Wright exhibition. We used the logo from exhibition, converted this to an appropriate digital drawing and cut the letters on our CNC machine. We also worked on some stationary boxes used part of the learning area in the show. Its great to bring the Workshop into such an important exhibition at Derby Museums!

Upcoming Maker Saturdays:

In addition to our regular weekday hours, we are opening the Workshop on selected Saturdays to Makers!
Every second Saturday of the month.
10am – 4:30pm

July 11th
August 8th
September 12th
October 10th
November 14th