The UK Space Agency is launching Skills for Space, a new internship program offering 50 paid places to give young people practical experience of a space career.
The new program is a UK-wide initiative aimed at giving students a springboard to space careers through structured internships with the space industry.
Skills for Space offers placements across a variety of sectors and locations, giving participants practical experience in one of the UK’s fastest growing industries.
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, commented: “The UK space sector is growing rapidly and we need a talented and diverse workforce to seize the opportunities of the future.
“Skills for Space gives young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to gain real-world experience and develop the skills the industry needs.”
Industry faces difficulties attracting new space career employees
The initiative comes as the field faces major recruitment challenges and struggles to recruit new people to space careers.
According to the latest Space Skills Survey, 80% of space organizations are facing recruitment challenges, up from 61% in 2020.
More than half of organizations report skill gaps among their current workforce, and 61% have identified gaps among job seekers.
Additionally, nearly all organizations surveyed (95%) reported experiencing skills-related challenges.
Bridging the skills gap in space
These 50 internships are an investment in Britain’s space future, helping the country build a space career that is innovative, inclusive and ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
The program, which will run for eight weeks between July and August 2026, will provide undergraduate and further education students with practical experience of real-world projects that contribute directly to the UK’s space economy.
By incorporating practical skills and industry exposure, this program helps close critical skills gaps in engineering, software, data science, and professional competencies while promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.
“This scheme will help raise awareness of the great role the UK can play in space and break down barriers to entry,” explained Ben Stern, vice-chairman of UKspace and chair of the Space Skills Advisory Committee.
“Experience shows that a successful internship can open the door to a long-term career in space because the company and the intern already know each other.”
Applications for internship candidates are currently being accepted and placements will be announced in May.
How space carriers will support an already thriving field
The UK’s space sector already employs more than 55,000 people and generates £18.6 billion for the economy.
Internships are one of many routes to a space career. The sector offers opportunities through apprenticeships, graduate schemes and direct entry roles across a range of sectors.
David Edwards, chief executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society FRAeS, said: “The Royal Aeronautical Society welcomes the UK Space Agency’s Space Skills Internship Program and strongly supports the Society’s ambition to widen access to careers across the UK space sector.
“Initiatives like Skills for Space help inspire the next generation of talent, give young people practical experience and support their path to future careers in space.”
Through this initiative, the UK Space Agency will strengthen its talent pipeline, support small businesses and large organizations, drive innovation and growth across the UK space sector, and ensure the UK’s global competitiveness and inclusiveness.
Source link
