A talented technician from East Lancashire UC – the higher education arm of East Lancashire Learning Group (ELLG) – has been inspiring local school pupils as part of a nationwide initiative from the BBC.
Ermal Sadiku took part in the acclaimed BBC Bitesize Careers Tour event at Pleckgate High School, Blackburn, where he shared his experiences of working as a university technician and sparked curiosity about exciting career paths in engineering and beyond.
The BBC Bitesize Careers Tour brings together passionate professionals from a wide range of sectors to help secondary school pupils discover diverse and inspiring career pathways. Through interactive, hands-on sessions, pupils meet real people working in roles they may never have encountered before, gaining valuable insight into the skills, responsibilities and huge variety of opportunities available.
During the event, Ermal provided pupils with a behind the scenes look at his rewarding and dynamic role, which involves keeping engineering labs running efficiently, maintaining specialist equipment and helping students bring ambitious projects to life. His hands on work bridges education and industry, and he was keen to showcase what that looks like in practice.
Reflecting on the experience, Ermal said: “I got involved with the BBC Bitesize tour because it’s nice to give pupils a perspective of what the working world is like. I really enjoyed getting to know the other panellists and the BBC Bitesize team.”
Charlotte Scheffmann, Dean of ELUC, added: “We are incredibly proud of Ermal’s contribution to the BBC Bitesize Careers Tour. His involvement helped young people understand the real impact University Technicians make in education and industry. Engaging with communities in this way supports our commitment to widening participation and championing higher technical education.”
Do you share Ermal’s passion for Engineering and university-level study? Find out more about our courses starting in 2026 – January and September – and take that first step into a rewarding career. Find out more at: https://ncc.eastlancslearning.ac.uk/university-student/
