The UK’s thriving £18.6 billion space economy is a powerful driver of both national prosperity and regional opportunity - yet the sector faces urgent calls for innovation, agile research, and critically, a fresh wave of skilled talent. Over half (52%) of UK space organisations are continuing to report severe skills shortages, underlining why Space South Central welcomes the launch of the new Surrey Space Institute at the University of Surrey as a transformative step for the region and the UK.

Southern England is fast becoming the UK’s launchpad for upstream space innovation, and the Made Smarter South-East programme is accelerating that trajectory for ambitious space SMEs. With £1.55 million in government funding and a powerful regional partnership behind it, Made Smarter South-East is transforming how manufacturing and engineering businesses, including those at the cutting edge of space build, satellite manufacture, payload, and sensor development, embrace digital technology.

The space industry is evolving at an incredible pace, offering exciting opportunities for those with a passion for engineering and innovation. Alice, a Space Systems Engineering Apprentice at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and the University of Portsmouth, has joined this dynamic sector, gaining valuable hands-on experience in her role.

For many, becoming an astronaut is a dream and where the journey into the space sector starts. For David, a Space Systems Engineering Apprentice from BAE Systems Digital Intelligence and the University of Portsmouth, he had an unconventional but no less inspiring start to his space journey.