Harwell Space Cluster plays pivotal roll in growth of UK space sector

The UK Space Agency has released its latest assessment of the size and health of the UK space sector.

Despite the global impacts of the pandemicover 3000 UK space jobs were created in one year. The growth of Harwell Campus’ Space Cluster corroborates thisas at end of 2021 there were 100 space-related organisationswhich collectively employ 1400 people (up from 1100 at the end of 2019).

The report also showed that in line with the UK Government’s commitment to increasing public and private R&D spendinginvestment in research and development saw a 19% boost to £836 million.

Joanna Hart Harwell Space Cluster Development Manager said: “Investment into the sector is driving world-leading space research and technology forging the way for the next generation of space discovery and delivering the space companies of tomorrow. Harwell Space Cluster showcases innovative companies like Oxford Space Systems Astroscale and Rezatec highlighting the breadth of capability and world leading expertise within the UK space sector.”

The Harwell Space Cluster is Europe’s most concentrated space cluster with a dynamic range of commercial organisations working alongside public sector stakeholders: European Space Agency UK Space Agency the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space and the Satellite Applications Catapult. It is the front door for international customers collaboratorsand inward investors to engage with expertise and capability from across the UK space sector.

The report identified that there are now 1293 space organisations located across the UKwith Scotland responsible for around one fifth of the entire UK space workforce. Employment in the sector grew from 7703 to 8440 in Scotlandfrom 415 to 1109 in Walesand from 113 to 431 in Northern Ireland. Spaceports in Scotland Wales and England are also expected to generate more jobs in the coming years alongside the growth of regional space clusters international investment and emerging technologies such as in-space manufacturing and debris removalsupported by the National Space Strategy.

Science Minister George Freeman said: “The £16.5 billion space sector is a major contributor to a strong and secure UK economy and it’s promising to see it generate thousands of new high-skilled jobs in the face of global economic headwinds. We’re backing this innovative and resilient industry through the largest ever increase to R&D spending which includes a significant uplift to the UK Space Agency’s budgetand the delivery of the UK’s first National Space Strategy.”

The figures published come from the ‘Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2021’ surveyconducted by BryceTech on behalf of the UK Space Agency.

Find out more on Harwell’s space cluster