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The Lancashire & Cumbria Institute of Technology (IoT) is proud to celebrate the national success of Igor Dolgan, an engineering apprentice whose journey demonstrates the power of high-level technical education delivered in close partnership with industry.
Igor recently secured a bronze medal in Mechatronics at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, building on the silver medal he achieved last year in Automation.
Competing against leading colleges, universities and major employers from across the UK, Igor’s achievement highlights the strength of the Institute’s investment in advanced engineering skills and employer-aligned training.
WorldSkills UK is widely recognised as a benchmark for technical excellence. Following regional heats, only the highest-scoring competitors are invited to the national finals, where they are tested against industry-standard briefs under intense time pressure.
In the Mechatronics finals, competitors were challenged to design, build and commission a robotic pick-and-place conveyor system, integrating robotics, pneumatics, PLC programming and control systems.
“The finals were intense,” Igor explained. “Some of the task was familiar, but a significant part was new, which meant we had to adapt quickly and solve problems in real time.”
A defining feature of Igor’s success has been the strong partnership between the Burnley College – one of the IoT’s academic partners, and his employer, Johnson Matthey.
“We’ve released Igor from work to allow him to focus on WorldSkills,” said Adam Derbyshire, Igor’s line manager. “Between the workplace and the college, he’s excelled. The commitment and effort he’s shown have been exceptional.”
Adrian Cawtherley, Learning Development Specialist at Johnson Matthey, added: “Igor has dedicated significant time to developing his skills both in and outside of work. That level of commitment has led directly to his success. The business fully supports his progression, and he’s already been offered a role within our controls team.”
This employer-aligned approach ensures learners develop skills that are immediately transferable to the workplace while building long-term career pathways in high-value engineering roles.
Igor credits the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology facilities as a critical factor in his development. The advanced equipment available through the IoT provision – including robotics, pneumatics, PLC-controlled systems and Industry 4.0 technologies – mirrors the environments found in modern manufacturing and engineering settings.
“The equipment we train on is the same technology I use day-to-day at work,” said Igor. “Not all colleges have access to this level of kit, and without it, competing at this level wouldn’t be possible.”
The Lancashire & Cumbria Institute of Technology’s investment in cutting-edge facilities ensures learners are equipped with the practical, high-level technical skills required by regional and national employers.
In addition to national recognition, Igor’s WorldSkills success places him in contention for Squad UK, the elite development programme that can lead to representing the UK internationally.
More broadly, the experience has strengthened his professional profile and accelerated his career progression.
“I’m being recognised at work for pushing myself,” Igor said. “WorldSkills has shown what’s possible when you make the most of the opportunities available.”