Harriet Kennedy
Head of Education and Future Workforce, UK Space Agency
Marianne Shelton
Space to Learn Lead, UK Space Agency
Careers in the space sector are fascinating, challenging and unique. We must also ensure space opportunities are relevant, accessible and welcoming.
Space addresses major human challenges like climate change and disaster relief while driving discoveries and economies nationwide. However, we face a skills problem in the UK, impacting the sector’s growth and productivity.
Nurturing the space talent pipeline
The space workforce lacks diversity with only 24% women and 11% of people from ethnic minority groups. Diversity is important not only for equity but an organisation’s ability to innovate and lead in a commercial market.
A key challenge for all STEM sectors is nurturing the talent pipeline. While young people think science is important, they don’t see it as being something ‘for them.’ This is particularly true for under-represented groups, such as girls.
Space has an unparalleled ability to inspire awe and curiosity in people of all ages, but inspiration is not enough. We must also make space careers relevant, accessible and welcoming.
A key challenge for all STEM
sectors is nurturing the talent pipeline.
A multi-intervention approach
At the UK Space Agency, we target different interventions for specific age groups and interests. We provide opportunities for young people, teachers and families to engage with space in schools and social settings. We fund 22 science centres across the country to host an ‘Our World from Space’ exhibition, demonstrating how our society relies on space every day.
Through mechanisms such as Scouts and Girl Guiding challenges and classroom teaching resources, we help young people explore the relevance of space to them. We challenge perceptions about who belongs in space and allow them to explore whether a career in space might be for them.
To support students accessing early space careers, our Space Internship Programme provides summer placements in various space disciplines including component manufacturing, space marketing and PR. Two-thirds of our interns gain employment in the sector after completing our landmark programme.
Collaborative steps forward
The UK’s vision for the future of the space sector is underpinned by a diverse, productive and resilient workforce. In order to tackle the skills shortages, we must bring together a view of commercial ambitions, critical national capabilities and leading training provision, facilitated by collaboration between government, business and academia.
