At UWE Bristol, the MAKERS project – Making And Knowledge Exchange for Repair and Sustainability – has been showing how practical repair and making activities can transform engineering education. Now, we’re excited to share the next step: the launch of the How to Create MAKERS guide and toolkit, designed to help other universities and colleges embed similar approaches in their own student communities.
What is MAKERS?
Delivered by the Science Communication Unit at UWE Bristol and supported by over £115,000 from the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Diversity Impact Programme, MAKERS connects students with local maker and repair communities across the West of England. Through workshops and monthly Repair Cafés, students build hands-on skills, tackle real-world sustainability challenges, and strengthen their sense of belonging in engineering.
The initiative was designed to widen participation in engineering by supporting women and students from Global Majority backgrounds. In its first year, the results have been striking: 32% of regular participants were women – double the UK engineering average – and 77% came from Global Majority backgrounds. Alongside these inclusion outcomes, MAKERS has prevented 248 kg of waste, saved 1.6 tonnes of CO₂, co-developed projects with 17 organisations, and welcomed more than 70 community participants.
“Repair and making are not just about fixing objects – they’re about building communities, confidence, and resilience,” said Dr Laura Fogg-Rogers, Associate Professor for Engineering in Society and MAKERS lead. “Through this initiative, we’re showing how sustainability can be embedded in engineering education while creating more inclusive spaces where every student can thrive.”
Creating MAKERS Spaces
Building on this success, Creating MAKERS Spaces offers a practical guide for other higher and further education institutions to establish their own programmes. The toolkit provides step-by-step advice on:
- Setting up sustainability and repair projects
- Designing inclusive learning environments
- Building meaningful community partnerships
- Measuring impact and sharing best practice
The aim is to help universities enrich student experience strategies by embedding repair cafés and community workshops, while also supporting wider goals in employability, inclusion, and climate action.
“We’ve seen first-hand the difference it makes when students come together to learn practical skills and connect with their communities,” said Kat Corbett, Project Coordinator for MAKERS. “This guide is about sharing that experience so other institutions can create their own spaces for belonging, sustainability, and hands-on learning.”
Repair in the Community: The Bristol Repair Coalition
MAKERS also coordinates the Bristol Repair Coalition, a city-wide alliance of community groups, social enterprises, universities, and local government. Launched in 2024, with the Repair Acts team, the Coalition supports grassroots repair activity, works with Bristol City Council on integrating repair into waste strategy, and is exploring a Circular Economy Demonstrator for the city. This hub would bring together repair, reuse, and refurbishment to create jobs, training, and a stronger circular economy.
The Coalition has also developed the Bristol Repair, Share and Reuse map, a public tool highlighting cafés, enterprises, and services across the city – making it easier for residents to find repair opportunities and get involved.
Looking Ahead
The launch of the How to Create MAKERS guide marks an important milestone in embedding repair and making in higher education. It is both a practical toolkit and a call to action: to reimagine engineering education as inclusive, hands-on, and connected to the pressing challenges of sustainability.
The legacy of MAKERS lies in producing graduates who are not only technically skilled, but also confident, collaborative, and committed to building a more sustainable future.
You can follow progress on the Engineering Our Future blog or join us at one of our monthly Repair Cafés at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay Campus.