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Brandon Gilbertson is delighted to have secured paid employment after completing a Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology (IoT) course designed to smoothly introduce students to the world of software development.
He progressed through the Software Engineering Systems programme at Blackpool and the Fylde College and has now taken the exciting step into a part-time junior software developer role that fits snuggly alongside his studies.
But Brandon, 18, who is currently studying at Level 6, isn’t stopping there, with a fully-fledged mission to be in full-time work by July.
He described having access to the Igloo facility – a striking 360-degree immersive VR space that surrounds learners with interactive digital environments, allowing them to step inside simulations rather than just view them on a screen – as a real highlight of the IoT course, praising the opportunity to work on ‘real-world’ projects.
The Igloo, funded by the IoT, is used across courses including cyber digital technologies and graphic design, supports hands-on learning with industry-level tools. It helps bring lessons to life and gives students practical experience that mirrors the digital workplaces they’re preparing to enter.
Brandon said: “The Igloo has had a mass amount of money spent on it, and I don’t think you would get something like that anywhere else. It’s really impressive – the computers, the hardware – it’s just fantastic.”
He also appreciated that the college uses the same tools as his workplace, including Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, which makes moving from study into work feel far more natural.
With reliable, high-quality hardware and software in place, students can focus on learning without technical frustrations, helping them step into the workplace with confidence and reassuring employers that graduates are ready to hit the ground running.
He said: “At my placement with Pentagon, I could put my classroom learning straight into practice, so I worked on real projects like database management for councils and web development using HTML and CSS.”
“And because my new job and studying timetable are flexible, I can balance work and study while constantly learning from both, which is a huge benefit of the IoT approach.”
This employment progression illustrates the course’s success in linking academic learning to real-world job opportunities and career growth within the software engineering sector.
A simple Python dice game in Brandon’s first year helped him build confidence in coding and problem-solving. Alongside this, employability skills such as communication, confidence, and interview preparation were introduced early on, helping him feel ready not just for assignments, but for real job opportunities too.
Brandon said: “With smaller class sizes, tutors get to know learners well. You also get a lot of one-to-one guidance and formative feedback so you can improve their work before your final submission.”
“The placement module and guest talks from industry encouraged me to build a portfolio and feel confident in reaching out to employers.”
Combining practical teaching, real-world experience, and strong support, Brandon’s journey is another example of how the IoT helps students grow in confidence, build skills, and move smoothly from study into meaningful careers.