Jenam 2011Employment in the UK’s space industry grew by nearly 7% between 2019 and 2020, according to a new industry report released on Thursday. Consulting firm Bryce Tech compiled the survey, the “Size and health of the UK space industry 2021” investigation, on behalf of the British Space Agency.
The survey found employment in the UK space sector reached 46,995 in 2020, up from 44,040 in 2019.
There are now 1,293 space organizations located across the UK, and Scotland is responsible for around a fifth of the entire UK space workforce. Between 2019 and 2020, employment in the sector increased from 7,703 to 8,440 in Scotland; from 415 to 1,109 in Wales; and from 113 to 431 in Northern Ireland.
The sector’s total income, however, fell slightly in 2020. Adjusted for inflation, the sector’s total income fell by 1.7% in 2020, compared to a fall of 9.9% in the wider UK economy. , mainly due to the effects of the pandemic. Fewer live sports broadcasts have had a negative impact on satellite broadcast services and travel restrictions have reduced demand for mobile satellite services from shipping companies and airlines, the report said.
Yet confidence remains high, and more than three-quarters of organizations expect their revenue to increase over the next three years. The UK is investing in its space capabilities through the country’s first National Space Strategy, published in 2021. The country is also preparing to open its first national spaceport this summer, with the launch of Virgin Orbit from Spaceport Cornwall.
“The UK space sector has shown remarkable resilience in the face of the challenges presented by the pandemic, thanks to the incredible efforts of all who are part of it, and its future is bright and ambitious,” commented Dr Paul Bate, CEO from the British Space Agency. “We continue to work closely with industry partners, with academia and our government colleagues to catalyze new investments, deliver new space capabilities and missions, and champion space for the good of humanity. .”
