Doug Liddle
Chair, UKspace
Find out how the official trade association champions the UK space sector, fostering growth, collaboration and global opportunities while advocating for policy and funding stability.
For more than 30 years, UKspace has been at the forefront of the UK’s space industry, establishing itself as the leading voice for the sector. Today, with nearly 200 members — from startups to multinational corporations across the value chain — it is the only trade association dedicated to the UK space sector.
Far-reaching influence
UKspace works flexibly and responsively to support its members and ensure their voices are heard. Specialist committees and working groups provide regular opportunities for members to collaborate, network and influence policy direction.
Evolving landscape
The 2023 ‘Size and Health of the UK Space Industry’ report, published in July 2024, showed that the sector continues to grow and remain highly productive. However, this is a time of inflexion for the UK space sector, as it faces tightening national budgets alongside the opportunity of growing international markets. More than ever, the sector must come together with a single voice to meet these challenges and deliver the transformational change and national prosperity it is uniquely placed to do.
Space plays an essential
role in the UK’s economy.
Space impacting our lives
Space plays an essential role in the UK’s economy, security and defence, sustainability, Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and much more. It champions the wider benefits of a vibrant space industry; this is where UKspace plays a unique role. This means raising awareness of just how intrinsic space data and technology are to our everyday lives and highlighting the need for space to have a long-term and stable policy and funding platform. It is securing formal recognition within the Government’s modern industrial strategy, due for publication in spring 2025.
Global opportunities
With the UK recognised as a world leader in the design and production of small satellites, combined with ideal conditions for their launch, UKspace continues to build relationships with similar trade organisations, identifying strategic and commercial opportunities for members in the UK and potential partners around the world.
