UKspace was delighted to welcome guests to its 2024 Christmas Reception in London last night, with over 300 people including our members, parliamentarians, academia and other stakeholders across the UK and international space industry.
The Minister for Industry in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Sarah Jones MP, addressed guests, highlighting her commitment to working with the space sector and other sectors that show the most potential to support our economic growth, national security and Net Zero drive.
Also speaking at the reception, UKspace Chair, Doug Liddle, added: “While the UK space sector is still growing at a faster rate than the UK economy, and providing well paid and highly skilled jobs the length and breadth of the country, we are starting to see some headwinds emerging. We need to effect change in the way the sector works if we are going to maintain, or better still, exceed, the trends of the past decade.
“Additionally, we must be clear about our sector’s role on the international stage. We can strengthen ties with Europe through our membership of ESA, and our renewed ability to collaborate across Europe through Horizon and Copernicus.
“The new government is hitting the ground running – and UKspace has been responding with submissions to the budget, SDR and Industrial Strategy Consultation – in addition to the work we are currently conducting to provide a robust industrial case for the ESA Council of Ministers and the next phase of the Spending Review.
“As the official trade association of the UK space industry, UKspace is uniquely placed to represent the sector across this industrial policy landscape, and we should all be looking forward to 2025 with hope that we can work together to maximise the benefits of our sector to support our country’s economy, security, society and standing on the world stage.”
