Opportunities for businesses in Cumbria to diversify into the space industry are being brought to the region next month when iSH, the Industrial Solutions Hub, hosts Space Week from June 26-30.
Businesses, schools and individuals are invited to a range of events throughout the week to see how they could be inspired by the UK’s fast-growing space sector.
The first two days of the event are devoted to a business audience with a wide range of speakers from the space industry addressing delegates at Lakes College, Workington, on Monday and Tuesday, June 26 and 27.
Leaders of the UK Space Agency, the Satellite Applications Catapult and businesses operating in the Space Sector will share information on how the market works while the Space Skills Alliance will deliver a workshop presenting the skills needs of the space industry.
The event will also include discussions on how to develop R&D in the space sector and how to attract funding to work collaboratively with universities and other organisations to grow a space cluster in West Cumbria.
Miranda Kirschel, iSH regional representative, said: “We have been working with partners to explore opportunities for businesses in Cumbria to diversify into other sectors. The innovation, expertise and skills we see day in day out in Cumbria mean businesses are well positioned here to transfer that capability into different industries.The space industry has been identified as one of a number of sectors where West Cumbria’s industry can offer transferable, and directly applicable, skills and capability.”
In conjunction with Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s Business Bites initiative, businesses are also invited to attend an event on Thursday, June 29, 5pm-7pm, in the grounds of St Nicholas Church, Whitehaven.
“Let’s Talk About Space” features Alan Cross, North West Space Cluster Development Manager from the UK Space Agency, who will lead a discussion designed for local businesses and organisations on space, satellites, the data they gather, how it affects and benefits our lives, and what it could mean for West Cumbria.
As well as business events, iSH Space Week will also include a series of events aimed at inspiring schoolchildren about future careers in space. Tim Gregory from the National Nuclear Laboratory, BBC Bitesize, and The Sky at Night, will be hosting three sessions of activities for Year 5 and 6 students at Lakes College on Wednesday, June 28, while Whitehaven Council is hosting a day of Science Shows led by BBC television presenter, author and broadcaster Stefan Gates in the grounds of St Nicholas Church, Whitehaven on June 29.
iSH is also giving schoolchildren the opportunity to “Design a Robot” to help clean up space as part of a national ambition to support sustainability in space.
iSH Space Week is supported by Cumberland Council, Sellafield Ltd, Jacobs, National Nuclear Laboratory, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Whitehaven Council, and the Beacon Museum.
