Next Steps for UK Space Policy – Reflections from Westminster Business Forum

I recently attended the Westminster Business Forum’s online conference on “Next steps for UK space policy, regulation and sector development,” which brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to discuss the future of the UK’s space sector. 

The event featured insights from notable panellists including Rob Desborough, General Partner and Chair at Seraphim Space; Nik Smith, Regional Director at Lockheed Martin Space; Sharon Parker-Lines, Deputy MD at Astroscale; and Jacob Geer, MD at Orbit Fab. 

It was a fascinating morning of talks covering topics such as investment, sustainability, skills, cybersecurity, and even ownership of the moon!

Key Takeaways from the Conference

Investment Needs

The first panel session focused on the priorities for unlocking growth in the UK space sector. The consensus was that more investment from both the public and private sectors is essential for the UK to reach its growth potential. Despite the UK’s burgeoning space sector and unrivalled knowledge, it lags behind its neighbours in terms of investment. Rob Desborough noted that the UK ranks 17th globally and 10th in Europe in terms of average deal size. While there are numerous pre-seed and seed transactions, companies often look abroad for Series A rounds and beyond. Desborough suggested that space should be viewed as a horizontal industry impacting all other sectors, rather than a vertical, siloed industry. Other panellists agreed, emphasising the need for clarity on the UK’s role in global space capabilities and focused investment towards those capabilities. The panellists also stressed the importance of alignment across government departments regarding the sector’s focus and strategies.

Launch Capability

The importance of launch capability was a recurring theme throughout the conference. The UK remains dependent on international launch providers, exporting much of what should be done domestically. As a space-faring nation, the UK should not rely on others for launch. Launch capability is considered a matter of national security and the missing link in the national space ecosystem. While the UK leads in manufacturing, it loses its advantage when it comes to launch as other countries already have build-and-launch packages in place. The panellists argued that launch should be seen as infrastructure, similar to airports, rather than just a growth opportunity. The development of spaceports creates numerous direct and indirect jobs, and public sector funding should be central to this effort.

Skills Shortage

The second panel session addressed “supporting growth in space technology and manufacturing – innovation, talent, and supply chains.” A key theme was the challenge of accessing people with the necessary skills for the sector’s growth. Many space companies cite the skills shortage as their main barrier to growth. While the sector has kept up with job demand to date, it will struggle to maintain that pace as it continues to grow rapidly, especially in areas like in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, which are creating new jobs. Sharon Parker-Lines highlighted Astroscale’s approach of using graduates, apprentices, work experience, and interns to attract talent, many of whom remain with the company.

Sustainability Focus

Sustainability was a major focus at the conference. Jacob Geer from OrbitFab discussed their creation of “petrol stations” in space, which will extend the life of satellites and enhance the resilience of national and military satellites. Other countries, such as China, have demonstrated this, and the UK aims to follow suit. Katherine Courtney from the Global Network on Sustainability in Space provided insightful contributions, noting that re-entries are impacting the atmosphere and the night sky is now 10% brighter, affecting nocturnal wildlife. There are also alarming instances of defunct satellites coming within 10 meters of operational satellites, risking significant debris. We are collecting more and more data about the impact of space activities, and identifying sustainability issues that need to be addressed. It’s now time to come together to find solutions to these important issues, before it’s too late. 

If your organisation is navigating the challenges of investment, launch capability, skills shortages, or sustainability in the UK space sector, Burges Salmon is here to help. Our team has extensive experience supporting clients with regulatory, commercial, and strategic advice tailored to the evolving needs of the space industry. Get in touch to find out how we can assist you in turning these challenges into opportunities.