SDE Forge - Technical Skills Residential

• Collaborative, expert-led technical training for careers in research Secure Data Environments (SDEs)
• A grounding in the skills needed to build and operate SDEs and to develop a career in the field
• Hands-on experience with code and tooling
• Clear learning outcomes with challenges that stretch your knowledge
• Building a professional network through collaboration, problem-solving activities, and a structured social programme

Target Attendees

People currently supporting research organisations to design, build and maintain Secure Data Environments, or those looking to move into this area. Attendees should be early in their career in this field and may come from a range of backgrounds including technical, professional services, or research and academic. Attendees could include (but are not limited to):

• Recent graduates from courses in computer science, data science, informatics or related disciplines.
• Junior or trainee technical professionals working with Secure Data Environments in a research setting, for example: platform, data and DevOps engineers.
• Those in technical research support roles (e.g. Research Software Engineers, system administrators, and IT solution architects).
• Research Technical Professionals in other fields looking to move into research data infrastructure.

Prior knowledge required

All attendees should have some experience with software development or scripting, understand basic terminal commands, and have some experience with the Git version control system.

We welcome applications from anyone for whom this event is relevant — if it speaks to you, please complete the short application form on our Eventbrite page.

We are using a short application process rather than first-come, first-served registration. This helps us:

• Allocate places fairly with a balanced mix of participants
• Ensure equal opportunity to apply given the limited number of spaces available
• Support those who will benefit most from the residential experience

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application.

Accommodation and full board catering are fully funded. Attendees are responsible for their own travel and any additional personal expenses.

For more information contact: sdertp@manchester.ac.uk

To ensure a valuable, cohesive event for all, attendees are expected to be present for the full duration and participate fully in the programme. This workshop is designed to meet formal CPD requirements. On completion, attendees will receive a certificate confirming their completed CPD hours.

Prizes will be awarded in three categories — further details to follow.

Learning Overview

Architecting Secure Data Environments: Core Principles and Practical Implementation

As the UK increasingly relies on Secure Data Environments (SDEs), also known as Trusted Research Environments (TREs), to analyse sensitive research datasets, the ability to design and maintain these systems has become a vital capability. This workshop offers a guided, hands-on introduction to SDEs for individuals looking to build expertise in this specialised area.

1. Theoretical Foundations and Architecture

We will begin by exploring the specific needs of research Secure Data Environments and the essential skills required to operate as a Research Technical Professional. You will learn the core architectural principles that govern SDEs, focusing on data security, access control, and scalable compute.

2. Guided Practical Implementation

To ensure you gain practical experience without spending time on initial setup, the technical portion of the workshop is heavily scaffolded. You will be provided with a foundational, Azure-based codebase to demonstrate the principles covered. Throughout the exercise, you will:

• Adapt and modify the core codebase to meet specific requirements
• Explain and justify your design choices, linking them directly to the SDE RTP skills framework
• Learn how to translate Azure implementations into equivalent architectures for AWS, GCP, or on-premises environments

By the end of the session, you will have a working knowledge of SDE architecture and the resources to pursue independent follow-up learning.

We will also run parallel sessions covering related implementation models and technologies, including Kubernetes, data engineering and AI.

Workshop Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, attendees will have:

• Gained expert insight: Direct training from field experts on evolving standards for UK research data services and the Research Technical Professional pathway.
• Understood the landscape: The role of Secure Data Environments in enabling collaborative research and the opportunities available within research and academia.
• Practical deployment experience: Hands-on experience adapting and deploying secure, scalable research frameworks, and developing the practical technical skills to support Secure Data Environments.
• Architectural translation skills: The ability to move beyond a single cloud provider, applying security controls across different cloud environments, data services and research tools.
• Competency alignment: A clear understanding of how to document and demonstrate technical work against the RTP professional standards.
• A professional peer group: Lasting connections with a cohort of engineers and architects specialising in the UK's secure research infrastructure.

Learning objectives are mapped to the SDE Team Development Hub RTP competency framework.

Day 1 — Wednesday 11 November

Day 2 — Thursday 12 November

Day 3 — Friday 13 November

To find out more about the team that will be hosting the workshop, please visit our team page.