Space West Newsletter - July 2026
Welcome
Welcome to the July edition of our Space West Newsletter. With each newsletter, we aim to share the most recent discoveries, advancements, and stories from the world of Space in the South West.
About Space West
The Space West programme is hosted by NCC and is funded by the UK Space Agency. It is supported by founding partners including the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, the Centre for Modelling and Simulation, the University of Bath, the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. Reinforced by strong endorsement from industry champions, the Space Cluster has provided the momentum for the development of an ambitious and timely regional space strategy.
Farnborough International Airshow
As the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow drew to a close, Space West can say that the event delivered and provided the means for a multitude of new and exciting connections.
It was great to explore the space zone and hear about the exciting developments going on within our sector. It also provided the opportunity to connect with our partner clusters, which is always a great occasion.
The West of England having plenty to offer is an understatement, selling the infrastructure and capability to new international markets is not the hard part. The hard part is what comes next, as we look to build on the seeds that we sowed.
On the final day, we attended the CySpace and SISAC workshops as we delved into the question of cybersecurity within the space sector. Both workshops made for an intriguing listen, the cyber question is a shared problem that requires cooperation across the supply chain. Resilience by design and efficient communications is where the emphasis lies.
Academia and government have a key role in developing next generation technologies and advising on a strategy that keeps space safe and secure.
For more about the event, click the button below:
Space Cluster Infrastructure Fund
The next round of the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) is now live and you're invited to send Expression of Interest.
The expression of interest is open for five weeks commencing 20 July 2026, ahead of a competitive funding process later this year. The form will close at 12:00pm on Friday 21 August 2026, however reviews will be conducted as and when responses are received.
Building on the success of the SCIF Pilot programme, which supported 13 projects across the UK, the next round of SCIF will issue at least £37 million in grant funding for infrastructure projects that help grow the UK’s space capabilities, unlock investment, create high-value jobs, scale businesses, strengthen supply chains and enable technologies to progress from development through to commercial deployment.
Once you have read the attached guidance, please complete the EOI form here.
More guidance can be found via the button below:
Secure Consult
Being agile in the face of new opportunities can aid the challenges involved with scaling.
As the defence sector increasingly opens its doors to space, hiring the right staff with the correct clearance levels can be problematic.
Secure Consult is a specialist recruiter for security-cleared roles, with the ability to manage SC and DV clearance entirely in-house.
That means they don’t just rely on the limited pool of already-cleared candidates, they can access the full employment market, identify the best people for the role, and take them through clearance themselves.
The result is faster hiring, better talent, and a consistent pipeline of ready-to-place cleared professionals across engineering, project delivery, and technical leadership.
To find out more, email Henry via the button below:
Amalgam Models
We love to meet new businesses with unique selling points, that is why our visit to Amalgam Models was quite the treat.
When you think of growing the space sector, the technology and infrastructure is crucial. But so is selling yourself to the customer, this is where companies like Amalgam find their place.
Amalgam specialises in modelmaking and full visitor experience packages. Their models are highly detailed and can be tailored to all kinds of design and demonstration requirements.
They are highly skilled in understanding the story that is being and ensuring what they produce demonstrates exactly what needs to be seen. Their workshop was one of a kind, a treasure trove of highly detailed pieces with individual care given to each tailored solution. They have worked with companies from a variety of sectors, including aerospace and defence giants.
If you are thinking of how, you can better display your product to a customer, make more of an impact at your offices, or draw attention at an exhibition – speak to Amalgam Models. Their services aid all of the above and provide expertise in story telling.
Additionally, congratulations to the Amalgam team for winning the Bristol Harbour Festival Cardboard Boat Race.
Cosmic Catch Up
Our Cosmic Catch Up has taken on a slightly different form this month, we will be having a networking drinks tonight (Thursday July 30) at the Hole in the Wall (The Grove, Queens Square, Bristol BS1 4QZ). We will be there from 6pm onwards.
Our last networking drinks proved to be very popular and if you would like to come, we would appreciate it if you signed up with the button below.
We look forward to seeing as many faces as possible.
The theme for next month’s Cosmic Catch Up is yet to be determined, keep an eye out for any announcements.
We would like to also say a big thank you to Dr Hannah Wakeford, Rita Carvalho-Serra, and Emma Puranen, for their brilliant presentations in our previous Extra-Terrestrial themed edition of the Cosmic Catch-Up.
Global Autonomy Cluster
If you work in autonomy, robotics, AI, sensing, or defence - your insight is needed to help shape a major new programme for the Great South West.
University of Plymouth, supported by UKRI through the Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF), is developing the Global Autonomy Cluster. A programme aiming to unlock £20M UKRI funding and £40M private investment to accelerate autonomous systems innovation across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.
The programme builds on regional strengths in: marine autonomy, defence & aerospace, advanced manufacturing, digital tech, AI & robotics, and sensing & data analytics.
If you have 10 minutes, click the link below to answer a quick survey that will help influence a programme designed to position the Great South West at the forefront of autonomous systems innovation across land, sea and air.
ASTROSCALE NOW CO-SHAIR SPACE ISAC
The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (Space ISAC) has announced that Astroscale will now sit as Co-Chair alongside CGI for Space ISAC UK Hub.
The Space ISAC enables collaboration across the global space sector to strengthen collective preparedness for and response to vulnerabilities, incidents, and emerging threats. It facilitates the timely sharing of actionable intelligence among its members and serves as the sector’s primary channel for cybersecurity-related communications.
The objective of the UK Global Hub is to bring together trusted government, industry, academia, and critical infrastructure partners to strengthen the cyber resilience of the global space ecosystem while connecting directly to the trusted Space ISAC network.
It is great to see such as important effort gain even closer industry ties, we at Space West wish Astroscale well in their new position and look forward to what is next.
August Eclipse
On Wednesday August 12, there will be a near total solar eclipse visible in the UK. Around 90% of the sun will be covered for us, with a total eclipse visible in Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Spain.
The 90% coverage equates to the largest eclipse experienced in the UK since 1999. The good news for the West of England is that the South West is where you will see the most coverage.
First contact will be at 6:08pm in Scotland, 6:18pm in Truro, Cornwall. The eclipse will be at its peak from 7:05pm to 7:15pm – with it subsiding by 8:10pm.
Space West reminds you to use eclipse glasses as these events can damage your vision if looked at directly.
The Royal Astronomical Society has a guide to eclipse-watching, which includes details about how to use household objects to create pinhole viewers. The guide can be found via the button below: