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Burnley College gives learners the chance to work with the same tools and technology used in modern workplaces. Backed by the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology, each specialist space is designed to feel like a real environment, whether that’s a design studio, workshop or clinical setting.
Learners simulate cyber-attacks, monitor world events or recreate a small business environment in the Security Operations Centre at Burnley College.
Funded by IoT investment, it’s a centrepiece of the digital facilities at the college and was officially opened by Parliamentary Secretary Abena Oppong-Asare MP in 2024.
The room is made up of 15 hi-spec PCs and the same number of hi-spec laptops, supported by one Linux server and one Microsoft Windows server, and two Cisco switches.
It means students can set up a small business environment from scratch and simulate a variety of exercises and live tasks.
“We’ve worked with employers to make sure we’ve invested in industry-standard equipment,” says Joshua Hyatt, Computing Lecturer at the college. “Cisco, for example, has an 80 per cent market share in networking equipment so it’s likely that our students will be using it in their future workplace.”
Typical exercises include splitting cyber-security classes down the middle, with one half of learners tasked with defending the infrastructure and the other half launching an attack. The isolated system protects the college network from being affected during live tasks.
Active Directory, software used by a business to manage users of a network, is another IoT purchase, replicating an IT helpdesk. It allows computing learners to explore how to set up new users on a network, learn about password complexity requirements and carry out tasks like disabling access for users, for example when a staff member goes on maternity leave.
The room also includes eight TV screens at the front of the classroom showing live threat maps as well as used for screen sharing so learners can go through their work with the rest of the group.
“All computing courses have access to the room but, from outside the computing curriculum, we can use it for tracking world events and studying the role of cyber-crime in world events,” says Joshua. “For example, the US elections see a significant rise in cyber-attacks and when sports events like the Euros are happening, the host country tends to see an increase.”
Employers have had input on courses taught in the SOC, including Burnley-based Seriun, a leading managed service provider of IT, telecoms and cyber security solutions, and software developer Juniper Networks. Staff are Cisco Academy, AWS Academy, Juniper Academy and Oracle Academy accredited, meaning they have the up-to-date skills to train learners in the software they’ll use in the workplace.
“This room has been the springboard for improving our knowledge and what we can offer at Burnley College,” Joshua adds.
The layout and workflows of the SOC are deliberately designed to mirror professional security operations centres, helping learners understand how cyber teams operate in real-time, high-pressure environments.
The SOC also supports cross-college learning, allowing students from non-computing courses to explore the impact of cyber-crime, digital resilience and online threats within wider social, political and economic contexts.
Learners progress from the SOC into higher-level technical study, apprenticeships and employment in IT support, cyber security and digital infrastructure roles.
The SOC forms part of Burnley College’s wider IoT investment, ensuring digital skills sit alongside advanced manufacturing, engineering and health technologies to meet regional employer demand.
Burnley College’s cutting-edge tool management system plays a critical role in preparing students for modern, high-efficiency manufacturing environments.
The department mirrors those used in advanced engineering and production facilities, allowing learners to learn both manual and automated processes for managing tooling, understanding the importance of precision, organisation, and efficiency in CNC machining.
Students learn how tools are selected, stored, monitored, and replaced as part of an integrated manufacturing workflow. This exposure helps them understand how downtime is reduced in industry and why effective tool management is essential for productivity, quality assurance, and cost control.
By embedding this system into everyday teaching, the College ensures learners are not only confident machine operators, but also understand the wider operational systems that underpin advanced manufacturing.
Using the state-of-the art equipment, purchased by IoT capital investment, the parts can be manufactured within a tolerance of 0.005mm.
Burnley College has made significant IoT investment into robotics and mechatronics, giving students hands-on access to the automated systems increasingly used across manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and logistics industries.
Learners work with programmable robotic systems that combine mechanical engineering, electronics, control systems, and software. They explore how automated processes are designed, programmed, tested, and refined, gaining insight into how robotics improve accuracy, repeatability, and efficiency on production lines.
This technology supports learning across apprenticeships, Level 4 and higher technical pathways, enabling students to move confidently into roles involving automation, maintenance, systems integration, and smart manufacturing.
It also helps demystify robotics, giving learners the confidence to work safely and effectively alongside automated systems in real workplaces.
Learners get hands-on, practical experience using the equipment, whilst developing their problem-solving skills to identify and fix faults as they arise.
At the heart of Burnley College’s advanced manufacturing offer is its two 5-axis Mazak CNC machines – a flagship piece of industry-standard equipment used widely in high-precision engineering sectors.
The machines – one supported by a robot arm – allows learners to manufacture complex components by machining multiple faces in a single setup, significantly reducing production time while improving accuracy. Learners gain experience producing intricate parts that would be impossible or inefficient on traditional 3-axis machines.
Students progress through the full CNC workflow:
Training on Mazak technology ensures learners are work-ready, as many employers in the region, particularly in the aerospace supply chain, operate the same or similar machines.
This exposure gives Burnley College’s IoT learners a strong advantage when progressing into apprenticeships, employment, or higher-level engineering study.
Burnley College has used IoT investment to develop specialist health, microbiology and immunology laboratories, giving students access to industry-standard equipment used in clinical, biomedical and research environments.
The labs are designed to replicate professional laboratory settings, allowing learners to build practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. Students work in controlled conditions, following the same protocols and procedures expected in NHS and commercial laboratories.
The IoT funding has enabled the college to invest in a wide range of specialist laboratory equipment supporting microbiology, immunology and medical biology. Learners gain hands-on experience using equipment for:
This equipment allows students to move beyond textbook learning, applying scientific principles in real-world contexts and developing accuracy, attention to detail and critical thinking.
Equipment includes incubators, centrifuges, iBright imaging system, BioSafety cabinet, fume hood, shaking incubators, tape station, PCR and QPCR machines, 3D printer, fluorescent microscope and inverted microscopes.
The laboratories support learners studying higher-level health and life sciences qualifications, including medical biology. The facilities enable students to carry out practical investigations, analyse results, and understand how laboratory data informs diagnosis, treatment and research.
Through regular access to advanced equipment, students develop the confidence and competence required for progression into healthcare, biomedical science, laboratory technician roles, postgraduate study and research-based careers.