Rolls-Royce, iHUB

The Nuclear Skills Academy is the first of its kind and aims to sustain nuclear capability within the UK’s submarines programme by creating a dedicated pipeline of talent at the start of their careers.

Based in Derby at the iHub, the Nuclear Skills Academy is a partnership between the University of Derby and Rolls-Royce supported by industry and education experts, including the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, The National College for Nuclear and Derby City Council. This ensures new apprentices have access to the best courses and mentors throughout their apprenticeship.

Bolton Sign were asked by Rolls-Royce to take care of all external and internal signage while working in partnership with Seddon Construction. We began by liaising with the architect, Morrison Design, to overcome a variety of planning obstacles including difficulties in fixing to the zinc cladded exterior elevations, keeping up with requirements from structural engineers, creating a lifting plan and logistics of crane use on site to position the totem framework, getting the right concrete mix. Collaborating on designing a strategic and effective wayfinding system which was in keeping of the minimal signage scheme was also a challenge, which we successfully overcame while keeping the brand guidelines to the forefront of the endeavour.

Bolton Sign designed and fabricated all in house a 5000 mm CNC fret cut high totem complete with galvanised mild steel frame, laser cut base plate with corresponding fixing holes, rebar subframe and all groundworks positioned near the entrance to the site on Infinity Park Way. The base plate was secured via 600mm long M30 holding down bolts previously set into he concrete with the subframe. The aluminium totem its self was finished by our highly skilled wet spray painter in the usual Rolls-Royce colours with our high gloss polished finish and backed up with blue acrylic. 

We also created two high level debossed badges and installed installed to the cladding of the iHub building with matching specification for The University of Derby at 1600 mm square and for Rolls-Royce which measured 2520mm tall as specified within the corporate guidelines, complete with radius corners.

We have installed various internal wayfinding signage, entrance directory and room identification signage as the institution has developed over the past couple of years.