1899 - Founded as an art school in Southend.
1991 - Renamed South East Essex College of Arts and Technology (SEECAT).
2004 - Relocated to a new campus in the heart of Southend.
2010 - Merged with Thurrock and Basildon College to become South Essex College of Further and Higher Education.
2013 - The Forum Southend-on-Sea opened, providing a dedicated home for Higher Education.
2014 - Thurrock College relocated to a new purpose-built facility in Grays.
2019 - Opened the Engineering and Construction Centre in Southend and merged with PROCAT.
2020 - Formed a partnership with the National College for Creative Industries and Access Creative College.
2021 - Opened the Centre for Digital Technologies in Basildon.
2024 - Introduced a new structure comprising Southend City College, Basildon College and Thurrock College, and became the sole college partner of the National College for Creative Industries.
2026 - Opened new Clean Energy Centres in Thurrock and Basildon.
From Art School to South Essex Colleges Group: Our Story
More than 125 years of education, skills and opportunity in South Essex
Today, South Essex Colleges Group (SECG) spans Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Thurrock and Purfleet, providing education and training across a diverse range of subjects and industries. But our story began more than 125 years ago with a small art school in Southend.
The College was founded in 1899 as an art school, growing from the technical education provision that had been established in Southend during the 1890s. It was later renamed the Junior Day Technical School, before being restructured to offer a wider range of commercial and industrial subjects, including plumbing.
As Southend and the surrounding area grew, so did the College's ambition and the range of skills it offered. In 1991, it became South East Essex College of Arts and Technology (SEECAT), reflecting its increasingly broad technical and vocational curriculum.
A new home in Southend
A major milestone came in 2004, when the College moved to a new campus in the centre of Southend. The move provided modern facilities and established the town-centre campus that remains at the heart of the organisation today.
The next major chapter came on 1 January 2010, when South East Essex College formally merged with Thurrock and Basildon College. The newly enlarged organisation was renamed South Essex College of Further and Higher Education, bringing together provision across Southend, Basildon and Thurrock.
Growing our higher education offer
In 2013, The Forum Southend-on-Sea opened its doors. South Essex College became part of this landmark town-centre development, with a dedicated area on the third floor supporting our Higher Education provision.
The following year, in 2014, our Thurrock provision moved into a new purpose-built campus in the centre of Grays, strengthening our presence in the town and providing modern facilities for students.
Building specialist provision
The College continued to expand its specialist facilities. In 2019, a new campus opened on Stephenson Road in Southend, specialising in engineering and construction.
That same year marked another important development. In February 2019, South Essex College merged with PROCAT – Prospects College of Advanced Technology, a specialist engineering and construction provider with centres in Basildon, Canvey Island and Ilford. The merger significantly strengthened the Group's engineering, construction, building services and technical education offer.
A stage for creative careers
Our story then expanded into the creative industries.
In 2020, South Essex College formed a partnership with The National College Creative Industries (NCCI) Ltd and Access Creative College. As part of this partnership, South Essex College took responsibility for college-based delivery at The Backstage Centre at High House Production Park in Purfleet, while Access Creative College became the apprenticeship delivery partner.
The Backstage Centre brought specialist technical theatre and production training into the Group, giving students the opportunity to learn in a professional creative environment alongside the industries they were preparing to enter. South Essex College also took ownership and management of The Backstage Centre.
Bringing digital skills to Basildon
In 2021, we opened the Centre for Digital Technologies in Basildon town centre.
The specialist centre provides facilities for students studying technology-focused subjects, including areas such as IT networking, app development, games design and animation. It represents the College's continuing response to the changing skills needs of the local economy.
From one small art school to a group of specialist centres
More than 125 years after that first art school opened, the organisation has come a very long way.
Today, South Essex Colleges Group serves communities across South Essex through Southend City College, Basildon College, Thurrock College and University Centre South Essex, alongside specialist facilities in Purfleet and across the region.
Our provision spans further education, higher education, apprenticeships and adult learning, supported by industry-leading facilities including the Centre for Digital Technologies, specialist engineering and construction centres, the National College for Creative Industries at The Backstage Centre and our new Clean Energy Centres.
What's particularly striking is how closely our history mirrors the changing world around us. We began by responding to the educational needs of a growing Victorian town. Over the decades, we expanded into commercial and industrial skills, embraced new technologies, developed higher education opportunities and strengthened our expertise in engineering, construction, creative and digital industries.
The names, buildings and courses have changed enormously since 1899, but the purpose remains remarkably familiar: giving people the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to build their futures while supporting the communities and employers of South Essex.
As South Essex Colleges Group continues to evolve, that 125-year tradition of adapting to the needs of students, employers and communities remains at the heart of everything we do.