Thousands inspired to take on careers in space sector, the UK Space Agency reveals

Over the last five months, the UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) Space for Everyone tour has attracted hundreds of thousands of young people.

With over 90 per cent of attendees saying they were more aware of the career opportunities the sector can offer, UKSA director of launch Matt Archer said the scheme had been a “phenomenal success”.

Archer said:

“Our Space for Everyone tour has achieved phenomenal success, engaging over 160,000 young people about the exciting opportunities in the UK’s fast-growing space sector and highlighting the wide variety of opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and skill sets.”

By placing a 72ft replica rocket in its host cities and offering interactive exhibits as well as expert discussions on the sector's opportunities, the scheme aimed to captivate and inspire younger generations to take on careers in the flourishing space industry.  

Partners of the scheme included Edinburgh based space company Skyrora and satellite manufacturer AmbaSat.

On top of individual visits, over 100 schools, youth, and community organisations also had the chance to access specially guided tours.

After Visiting 13 cities across the UK, including a stop in Glasgow last September, the tour has covered 2,684 miles – equalling five return trips to the International Space Station.

As part of the tour, UKSA also joined efforts with Imperial College London to develop the recently launched www.spaceperson.co.uk website. The online tool offers initiatives such as free space-based education resources and an online tour of the project – which has attracted almost 48,000 visits. 

Simon Foster, teacher at Imperial College London, said: “The space sector is a huge part of the UK economy and giving young people an understanding of the diverse range of careers on offer and how to access them is vital to ensure that we have a healthy talent pipeline.”

Now, the replica rocket will go on loan to Spaceport Cornwall to form part of a free space-based exhibition.