The Royal Engineer Establishment was founded in 1812 by Major (later General Sir) Charles Pasley. It was renamed the School of Military Engineering in 1868 and was granted the "Royal" prefix in 1962. Today, the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) provides training in all engineering disciplines, providing the unique range of skills that are fundamental to the Royal Engineer as well as delivering military working animals, handlers and maintainers.
Royal Engineers, or as they are more commonly known, Sappers, have been present in every conflict involving British Forces throughout the world since the late 11th century including the on-going operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a Public Private Partnership (PPP) that will span 30 years, Holdfast and the RSME will modernise training and the management of training through the development of new initiatives. It will also provide new & improved living and training accommodation thereby creating an environment where capabilities are stream-lined to deliver not only the training required today but the training that will be required to meet the needs of tomorrow’s Royal Engineers.