About Us

How UKspace Operates

UKspace has three levels of operation:

CEO Group

The CEO's of member companies, operating collectively, set strategic direction and priorities and agree additional resources to enable UKspace to deliver key objectives.

Main Committee

As the central policy institution of UKspace, it directs the operations of the association. It endorses the scope and objectives of all specific activities undertaken on behalf of UKspace as well as the work of committees and groups. It also sets subscription levels and approves budgetary proposals. Membership comprises representatives of all UKspace member companies. It meets bi-monthly in London and its tasks include:- producing policy and position papers on key issues; setting the scope and objectives for actions to be undertaken in the interests of UKspace members; monitoring the work of its committees and inter-acting with relevant advisory bodies and staff in the British National Space Centre (BNSC), other areas of government, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission and Eurospace (the European space trade association)

Committees

Committees drive the engine room activities of UKspace. These groupings drawn from member company representatives, are established to meet either sector or pan-industry challenges. Their work programmes are approved and coordinated by the Main Board and include monitoring and inter-acting with appropriate BNSC and other HMG bodies. There are currently 6 committees:

• Earth Observation Applications & Missions (EOSC)
• Research & Technology (RTSC)
• Satellite Navigation (SNSC)
• Satellite Telecommunications (STSC)- run jointly with Intellect Satellite Committee
• Security & Defence (SDSC)
• Space Science (S3C)

Representation Through The Work Of The Committees

The UKspace's Main Board meets six times a year. Its remit is to:

• Consider high level policy and issues
• Set the scope and objectives for actions to be undertaken in the interests of members
• Task and review the work of committees
• Approve budgets.

Committees represent specific sub-sectors, namely:

• Earth Observation Applications and Missions Committee
• Research and Technology Committee
• Security and Defence Committee
• Satellite Navigation Committee
• Satellite Telecommunications Committee
• Space Science Committee.

In addition two committees cover the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme and Meteorological issues respectively.

Membership is drawn from full and associate members and may be augmented by co-opted non-UKspace specialists. Tasks include producing high level policy and position papers on key issues and monitoring the work of and interacting with relevant organisations.

Relationships

• UKspace is the Space Board of the SBAC
• The Chairman is a member of the SBAC Council and will attend Intellect Board meeting as requested by DG Intellect
• The Chairman is an ex-officio member of the BNSC Space Advisory Council
• UKspace is strongly represented on all BNSC Advisory Boards and is increasingly invited to represent the views of the space industry as a whole to government
• There are frequent Ministerial and official briefings and regular liaison with ESA staff at senior level.

Communications

Communications is a vital attribute for any trade association and is recognised as a key capability in UKspace. A Communications Working Group has been established from members' resources, which acts as a task force to plan all aspects of UKspace external PR and lobbying activity.

The Parliamentary Space Committee

The Parliamentary Space Committee (PSC) exists to promote wider awareness in and around Parliament of the benefits from the UK's leading role in the global space sector, and to keep its members informed of developments at home and abroad. The PSC is one of Parliament's oldest and most respected all-party groups, with around 100 members from all sides of the House and from both Houses. The PSC has held joint events with a number of other parliamentary groups on subjects as topical and diverse as Africa, Climate Change, the Olympics, Astronauts, Space Tourism and inspiring women into science and engineering. UKspace is the leading industry association supporting the work of the PSC. The PSC works closely with a number of bodies in and around Parliament and with equivalent parliamentary groups in Europe. It is a founder member of the European Interparliamentary Space Conference.

Exports and Trade Missions

UKspace is active in supporting Members' interests in the export field. In recent years, outward missions (with UKTI sponsorship) have been organised to Japan, China, Brazil, Turkey and USA. Inward missions from Turkey, China and most recently Japan have been hosted. UKspace works closely with BNSC in other export related initiatives and with SBAC on export control issues.