Space West Newsletter - March 2026
Welcome
Welcome to the March 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.
Space Comm and more
March might well have been one of the busiest months on Space West records.
Having wrapped up February with a very successful Space Security Roadshow – Constellation collaborative event with Space Northwest, we launched into March with Space Comm Expo.
It was a delight to engage with so many faces, both familiar and new about Space West and the wider space community present on the day. Strategy, engineering, and operational functions all key points of discussion. Space West look forward to building on the conversations and relationships started at Space Comm.
Following this, we were also at Aerospace Bristol for Spacefest and presented about our cluster during the UKSA and KI Bid Consulting’s ESA 101.
The Space Security Roadshow left very little time for rest, as we visited Belfast and London. Both events provided excellent information about key practices applicable to all, and local insights from the region’s local organisations.
Space West takes pride in its engagement with its community and the wider space-ecosystem, so we wanted to say a big thank you to all of those who gave us a platform in the recent weeks.
Check out our 'Spotlight' on section to discover stand out companies making waves in the regions space industry. Learn about innovations, achievements, products and contributions to the field.
KI Bid Consulting: Spotlight On
KI Bid Consulting is run by Kelly Instrell. She has over 12 years of experience in bidding, managing bid teams and developing the bidding capability in large international organisations. She has worked on bidding for European Space Agency contracts for over 10 years and her ESA bidding portfolio includes major platform and sub-system bids, together with a large number of technology development and early phase study bids.
As KI Bid Consulting, she helps businesses navigate the complex bidding environments of ESA and other institutional organisations to produce comprehensive and competitive submissions.
Kelly is the author of "Bidding for ESA Contracts: The Essential Guide" and "Demystifying the Funding Landscape for Space"; and is the delivery partner for UK Space Agency's ESA Proposal Advice Service. Both guides are available to download here: Opportunities and Resources | NCCUK
1-2-1 sessions to explore your specific business circumstances and potential funding routes are also available. If you would like to have a free, 1 hour session, please reach out to Kelly via the button below:
Easter Holiday Space Events
Looking for fun, educational, out‑of‑this‑world activities to keep the kids busy? The West of England has you covered with hands‑on science, mini space quests, and jaw‑dropping 3D planetarium shows!
We The Curious – Easter “Curious Adventures” (3–19 April 2026)
Go on Mini Space Adventures inside Bristol’s award winning science centre.
- Zoom through the Solar System in immersive 3D planetarium shows (additional tickets required).
- Passport to the Stars: Explore 5 activities to see how different types of curiosity link to space science and find your own kind of curiosity.
- Get hands on with experiments, science demos, and creative activities.
- Book here.
Aerospace Bristol
Discover how engineers push the boundaries of air and space travel.
- Explore the iconic Concorde and experience what it was like to be in the captain’s seat with the simulator.
- Go to space with the Dome Club Planetarium from 13 to 19 April (Additional tickets required).
- Book here.
Space Cadets Online
A great option from anywhere
- Kids ages 7–11 can join interactive online space science session running on the 8th April.
- Book here.
ESA 101 & Bid Writing
It was a pleasure to support the UK Space Agency and KI Bid Consulting with their ESA 101 event on March 12th at The Bristol Hotel.
Matthew Wills, Space West Cluster Manager presented beforehand about our cluster as we connected with members of the space sector keen to make the most of European Space Agency (ESA) opportunities.
The event explained key information about how the ESA operates and what businesses need to pay attention to when engaging with the ESA. As mentioned above, a guide is available that covers this content here:
There is more to come on this subject, as a second event that delves into the granular details of the bidding process is planned currently for May. Pay close attention to Space West communications, we will be announcing the confirmed event information shortly.
£14 million funding boost to power UK space technology innovation
UK businesses can today apply for a share of up to £14.7 million in funding from the UK Space Agency, unlocking new opportunities to develop cutting-edge space technologies and strengthen the UK’s industrial capability.
The funding is available through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), its flagship programme for maturing new space technologies from early-stage research to flight-ready demonstration.
The General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is a European Space Agency programme aimed at the development of new and innovative space technologies.
Learn more about the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and how to apply by selecting 'More' below.
Cosmic Catch Up
Our next Cosmic Catch Up on Business Scale-up is tomorrow on Friday the 27th of March.
We have speakers from KPMG, Deloitte, and Technia presenting on the key points of business awareness, the impact of space in other sectors, and technical support.
In April, we will be hosting the Cosmic Catch Up on Friday the 24th. The theme will be Women in Space, with guest speakers to be announced shortly.
If you are interested in attending, please register below.
Space Security Roadshow
The Roadshow has reached its final stop.
The Space Security Roadshow commenced in January 2025 with a workshop in Bristol, as Space West supported the UK Space Agency (UKSA) in promoting the importance of cyber security.
Following this, we toured the country with further stops in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Manchester, Belfast, and finally London.
In every region we visited, we were joined by local academic and industry experts to share real experiences and cutting-edge research. We reviewed what the critical points of cyber-awareness are in the space sector, as well as exploring what tomorrow’s threats may look like.
Over the course of the Roadshow, we connected with around 300 individuals from over 200 organisations around the country. This engagement enabled the UKSA to communicate the growing risk that is associated with increased capability in the space sector.
We were also frequently joined by Martin Lee, Space Program Procurement Manager at Airbus. Martin shared real stories from companies of all sizes and how being prepared for a cyberattack and the consequent recovery period can be pivotal to a company’s survival.
The series also explored what the cutting edge of the technology in the sector looks like, and the consequent risks that are associated with topics such as post-quantum cryptography and transmission beam security.
Companies are advised to refer to the advice and guidance found on the National Cyber Security Centre (The National Cyber Security Centre | National Cyber Security Centre - NCSC.GOV.UK) and National Protective Security Authority (CNI & Industry | Security Guidance | NPSA) websites.
Continued support in this area is still available. If you are an SME and involved with the space sector, you can apply for Cyber security consultancy support. Find out more here: Cyber security consultancy support, plus assessment and certification - GOV.UK