The SECTEC Regional Knowledge Centre (RKC) will be the coordinating engine for regional collaboration across colleges, training providers, employers and universities, with a clear mission: to develop programmes and services that strengthen the recruitment, retention and development of industry‑expert construction technical teachers.
Operating through a SECTEC‑led hub and Sub‑Regional Centres, the RKC will function much like a teaching‑hospital network—places where new teachers are trained, mentored and immersed in real-world technical learning environments. Crucially, the RKC will facilitate structured cross‑college collaboration to design shared workforce solutions, reduce duplication, and build a coherent regional approach to teacher supply.
Employers and providers will work together to co‑design and co‑deliver new curriculum materials, specialist skills courses and industry‑aligned pedagogies, ensuring teaching reflects the latest construction technologies, methods and standards.
The RKC will also take responsibility for coordinating the FE Teacher Industry Exchange Programme, enabling teachers to refresh their industrial expertise and maintain credibility in fast‑changing construction environments.
To embed a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchange, the RKC will establish a Community of South East Construction Training Professionals, connecting construction technical teachers across the region. This community will act as a professional network for shared problem‑solving, peer learning and the continuous improvement of construction pedagogy.
In short, RKCs will provide technical educators with:
The SECTEC will launch the Construction RKC in 2026, phasing in services as capacity grows.
Core functions may include assessment centres for new teachers, initial teacher training, dual‑professional pathways, a specialist technical teacher bank, industry updating masterclasses, placements, curriculum innovation, digital EdTech support, skills forecasting and a shared repository of good practice.