OBJECTIVES & YEAR 1 PROJECTS
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Responding to employer needs to train and develop their work
This is to secure strong and consistent employer engagement in skills development for their sector and increase the number of employers actively involved in curriculum design, delivery, and learner support, as well as promoting careers through more immersive experiences.
It is hoped that employers, seeing the benefits this can bring, will be part of these stronger partnerships and provide greater financial and in-kind investment that shapes provision to meet evolving sector needs and help drive innovation.
There are 65,000 construction employers across the South East of England. This is more than any other region in England, and a significant proportion of these are small or micro businesses.
Whilst many large employers and major project leads engage with the skills system, smaller companies struggle with the capacity and understanding of how to engage and what the benefits to their business and workforce might be. The SECTEC wants to change this and secure sustainable employer-led models of industry engagement.
Initially, the SECTEC is exploring a modern Industry Group Training Model and is planning to pilot this in Kent & Medway by establishing the Kent & Medway Industry Skills Hub - a new employer‑led service designed to make technical training and apprenticeships easier for SMEs to access.
What the Industry Skills Hub Does and how it Operates
A Group Training model provides a single, trusted front door for employers especially SMEs to navigate training, apprenticeships and workforce development. Instead of dealing with multiple providers, funding routes and initiatives, businesses receive clear, practical support from one coordinated service.
The Industry Skills Hub works through three core functions:
- Convene: Brings employers, colleges, training providers and local partners together to align skills priorities and reduce duplication.
- Coordinate: Brokers apprenticeships and short courses, aggregates SME demand to create viable cohorts, and matches employers to the right provision and funding.
- Promote: Supports employer‑led outreach into schools and colleges, helping build a stronger pipeline of future talent.
Benefits for Employers
- One place to get clear guidance on training, apprenticeships and funding
- Faster access to relevant courses and providers
- Reduced administrative burden and less time wasted navigating the system
- Support to plan workforce needs and develop talent pipelines
- Stronger links with colleges and training providers
Benefits for Providers
- Aggregated SME demand that makes specialist and higher‑level provision viable
- Clearer employer insight to inform curriculum and delivery
- Reduced duplication and more efficient engagement
- Stroner links with industry and placement opportunities.
- Increased employment and apprenticeship opportunities for students.
What next….
It is hoped that the pilot will commence during 2026 and following this, the model will be shared across the wider South East region. The SECTEC will work across the regional partnership to understand other models of employer engagement that could be shared.
More information coming soon.