From Earth Sciences to Digital Insights: Emeka’s Mid-Career Breakthrough

At 40, Emeka Ebelechukwu wasn’t exactly starting fresh. The Dunfermline resident already had solid credentials: a BSc in Geology and Mining from Enugu State University of Science and Technology plus an MBA from Edinburgh Napier. Still, he felt stuck.

‘I saw where jobs were going,’ Emeka told us. His research showed analytics positions popping up everywhere with many different career options in this field and too few people could fill them.

What made him choose our Edinburgh Centre? Not just convenience, though the commute wasn’t bad most days.

‘Pitman works with actual businesses,’ he says. ‘They design training for what companies want right now.’ This meant learning skills employers genuinely value. Not just textbook stuff.

The Data Analyst Diploma caught his eye for practical reasons. ‘Every industry needs this,’ he points out. ‘I knew about mining geological data, but wanted to work with all sorts.’

For Emeka, studying at his own pace and a location of his choice either in-centre, online, or hybrid made all the difference. ‘You can learn when and where it suits you,’ he writes. ‘Hard concepts become surprisingly clear while actually being enjoyable to learn.’

But it was the people and staff that made it work. ‘The Centre Manager and Receptionist knew my name by week two,’ he recalls with a smile. His Learning Coaches never left him hanging. When he got stuck, which happened plenty during the statistics modules, help appeared without the faff.

This mix of flexibility and support helped him finish his full qualification in just one year. Quite impressive while juggling everything else in life.

He reflects that ‘the training filled gaps I didn’t even know I had, like gaining new coding skills and also ways of thinking that work across different jobs and industries. This knowledge helps me improve job performance and boost any company’s bottom line.’

The journey grew his confidence too. ‘I now see how what I do affects a company’s success,’ he says. ‘That makes me valuable in loads of positions.’

What would he tell someone thinking about making a similar jump? Emeka doesn’t hesitate.

‘If you want to properly understand things, not just memorise them, give it a go. The courses break difficult ideas into manageable bits.’

He adds, ‘If I managed it while commuting from Dunfermline in the Scottish winter, you probably can too.’ Fair point.

‘The entire experience was incredible,’ he concludes. ‘Everyone at the centre played a part in making this training have such a significant impact on my career.’