University of Hull to Host Conference on the Future of the UK Space Workforce

The University of Hull will host a conference focused on developing the talent and skills needed to support the UK’s growing space industry.

The event, Workforce Beneath the Satellite: Building Britain’s Space Workforce Together, will take place on October 8 as part of World Space Week.

Building a More Diverse Space Workforce

The conference will bring together leaders from industry, education and the space sector, according to a university spokesperson.

Speakers will explore how to develop a more diverse workforce and discuss the skills the industry is expected to need over the next five to 10 years.

Debra Gray, principal at the University of Hull, said: “When people hear the word ‘space’, they still tend to think of astronauts, scientists and rockets. But underneath that there is a much larger workforce – the people who build, operate, maintain and support the technology and infrastructure the sector requires.”

She added: “We have huge ambitions for the growth of the UK’s space sector, but ultimately those ambitions can only be realized if we have the people with the skills to deliver them.”

Opening Space Industry Careers to More People

“Further education has the scale, scope and technical expertise to make a huge contribution. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We want to ensure that people from all backgrounds understand that there could be a place for them in this industry.”

Listen to Highlights

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, and please take a look at the latest episode of Look North.