The Space Partnership brings together industry, academia, and government stakeholders to work together on priority issues to realise the ambitions set out in the National Space Strategy and grow the UK space sector.

The Space Partnership team draws on expertise and knowledge from across the whole of the UK space sector to identify these shared priorities, then propose collective action to the Space Partnership Board and once agreed, work to collaboratively deliver the activities identified. This may include contributing to policy development, proposing new coordinated interventions, and agreeing common narratives.

The Space Partnership, established in 2023, has built on the strong foundations (and lessons learnt) from its predecessor organisations:

  • The Space Innovation and Growth Strategy (IGS), which was published in 2010, highlighted the benefits of bringing industry, academia & government together to drive the UK space sector forward.
  • The Space Growth Partnership in 2016 operationalised the process for the space sector to come together and published the ‘Prosperity from Space’, which set out its vision for enhanced growth in the UK space sector over the following decade.
  • The National Space Partnership (NSP) pilot in 2021 concluded that a model which is broad, continuous, and embraces knowledge and expertise from across whole UK space sector is vital to the success of the UK space sector.

SP About Us Reports

The Space Partnership Team

The Space Partnership comprises a small independent team of people, led by the Space Partnership Director, that draws knowledge and expertise from across the sector to provide the Space Partnership Board with an informed analysis of opportunities and challenges.

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The Space Partnership engages openly with the entire sector, providing opportunities for input from a diverse audience, as detailed in the Space Partnership Engagement Guidelines. In addition, the Space Partnership welcomes secondees from across the sector to be part of the team.

The Space Partnership is part-funded by government, matched with resource contributions from the sector.

The Space Partnership Board

As explained in the Space Partnership Terms of Reference, the Space Partnership Board is the mechanism to fairly reflect all stakeholders across industry, academia and government so that these shared priorities can be agreed and tangible proposals developed to benefit the sector across the UK. The Space Partnership Board has equal representation from industry, academia and government (3 votes each), along with an independent Chair. There are also non-voting Permanent Attendees who attend the Space Partnership Board meetings to bring a wider perspective to discussions.

Tim Bestwick LR

Tim Bestwick

Space Partnership Chair

John Hanley LR

John Hanley

Chair, UKspace Trade Association

Joanne Wheeler 500

Joanne Wheeler

Chair, Satellite Finance Network

HEadshot

Steve Greenland

UKspace SME Forum Chair

Josh Broom

Josh Broom

Department for Business and Trade

Kathy Bass​ LR

Kathy Bass

Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology

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Peter Hagen

Ministry of Defence

Anu Ojha

Anu Ojha

UK Space Agency

Kate Robson Brown​ LR

Professor Katharine Robson Brown

Co-Chair, Space Academic Network

Mark Sims LR

Professor Mark Sims

Co-Chair, Space Academic Network

Lucy

Lucy Berthoud

Co-Chair, Space Universities Network

The Space Partnership Board - Permanent Attendees

John Abbott Head photo

John Abbott

Satellite Applications Catapult

Sarah Beardsley LR

Sarah Beardsley

UK Research and Innovation