Space West Newsletter - September 2026
Welcome
Welcome to the September 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 Tech Expo
Space Tech Expo is now little over 6 weeks away.
Space West are joined by the Cornwall Space Cluster in Bremen, as we travel as the South West Space Partnership, also joined by the West of England Combined Authority.
The companies from the Space West umbrella travelling to the event are APACHEiX, BMT, NCC, and Withers and Rogers. Meanwhile, joining us from Cornwall we have Goonhilly, Flann Microwaves, Heathcoat Fabrics, and Spaceport Cornwall.
We are extremely excited to display the full range of capability that the South West Space Sector has to offer in Germany. If you would like to contact anyone from Space West or our partnering organisations, more information can be found via the button below.
Space Composites Forum
An exciting opportunity for space sector professionals is coming to the West of England in November in the shape of the UK Space Composites Technology Forum.
Hosted by NCC and the UK Space Agency, each session enables participants to showcase emerging materials and manufacturing technologies for space.
The UK Space Composites Technology Forum is a national platform designed to strengthen the UK’s leadership in space related composite technologies. Bringing together industry, academia and the public sector, the forum aims to:
• Enhance collaboration across the UK’s space and composites communities
• Facilitate access to leaders and experts across key technical fields
• Showcase and champion UK and European capability in composites and space technology
Through a series of focused one day sessions aligned to the ESA Harmonisation Report (2024), the forum will support continued UK leadership in space manufacturing, materials and systems.
Book your places below. The event will run from 09:30 - 15:30, on Thursday November 12.
STEMAZING
Space West takes pride in supporting STEM activities that are inclusive for all, and that is why we would like to tell you about STEMAZING.
STEMAZING is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to inspiration and inclusion in STEM. Their mission is to empower diverse women in STEM to be more confident, visible role models and inspire the future generation of innovators and problem solvers.
Their two core programmes are:
The STEMAZING Inspiration Academy, which supports women and non-binary people working in STEM industries to shine as visible role models. Participants take their unique online programme, to level-up their public engagement skills, confidence on camera, and grow their STEM outreach toolbox. Once empowered, they match participants with a primary class (ages 7–9) and they deliver a 40-minute online workshop to that class each week for four weeks. Each workshop involves hands-on experiments designed to engage every child and connect learning to life. The workshops are free for schools. Two rounds are run of the Inspiration Academy each year starting in March and September. More information can be found in their STEMAZING Inspiration Academy brochure here.
The STEMAZING Mentor Training Programme, this programme is open to all genders and is for anyone who wants to level-up their skills and confidence as truly effective mentors. Places on this programme are also offered as part of our partner package. Mentors are matched with mentees who are women working in STEM, with a commitment to meet at least once a month. Ongoing support is provided throughout the mentoring period with training, resources for mentoring sessions, and monthly Mentor Circles which provide peer group support and personalised development.
Both of these programmes are CPD accredited and also support Environmental Social Governance targets. 11 rounds of the Inspiration Academy have been completed, with its impacts in the image below - further information is provided in our Impact Report.
More information can be found in the attached brochure and also on their website.
CGI Cyber Escape Room in Bristol
Security is everyone’s responsibility. Most employees mean well but don’t fully understand their cyber responsibilities and how their actions can leave an organisation open to cyber-attacks. CGI Cyber Escape 2.0 is a new immersive experience that teaches participants the basics of cyber security in a fun, memorable escape room setting. The cyber related challenges encourage collaboration and teamwork whilst educating participants about potential cyber security risks, how to keep information and assets safe, and reduce the impact of a cyber-attack.
Small groups (6-8 people) have an hour-long session facilitated by dedicated CGI Games Masters to manage the whole experience. We allow groups up to 50 minutes to escape by working together to discover clues, solve puzzles, and decipher riddles. At the end, our Games Masters gather feedback and deliver a short debrief.
CGI Cyber Escape 2.0 is built inside a shipping container that tours the UK. It is typically deployed for a week and can be delivered to a suitable secure site in a location that suits your organisation. Review our specifications and site requirements summary.
World Space Week
This October brings an air of excitement to the space community, as World Space Week runs from the 4th to the 10th.
World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, with the 2026 theme being Rocket Revolution. This focuses on the rapid transformation of space launch, there has been a major shift in who can reach space, how often launches happen, and what space is used for.
The West of England continues to play a significant role in the UK's thriving space sector, providing plenty of opportunity to take part in World Space Week. Aerospace England will be putting on a special event for the week that includes having the Beagle 2 model on display, object handling, as well as much more - this will be on display from October 3rd to October 9th.
Space West will be celebrating our region’s local innovators throughout World Space Week on our LinkedIn page. Keep an eye out for our posts to learn who is influencing the space sector on your doorstep.
Florida Trade Visit
We are excited to share an opportunity for the 2nd UK Space Trade Mission to Florida, taking place 11-14 January 2027, alongside Commercial Space Week in Orlando.
January’s trade mission supports the key priority of space identified in the 2023 UK-Florida Memorandum of Understanding. It was further announced in July 2026 that the UK-Florida space agreement establishes a £300,000 joint fund to help turn innovative ideas into commercial reality.
Areas of particular interest reflect where UK-Florida collaboration is most likely to generate breakthrough results, including space transportation, satellite systems, in-space research, advanced exploration technologies, and in-orbit servicing and manufacturing.
The activities will include local company and university meetings, Florida’s Space Coast, a Kennedy Space Center tour and networking events. If you are interested in being part of this, let us know and we can get you engaged with the FCDO organising team.
Space CPD
Space Park Leicester is offering a new NASA 4-D Executive Space Programme from 9-13 November 2026, combining NASA's leadership framework with a practical introduction to the modern space sector.
The programme is designed for professionals and organisations looking to build their space-sector knowledge, covering topics including the space economy, regulation, engineering challenges, and commercial opportunities, alongside leadership, communication, and team performance skills.
Delivered by experts from the University of Leicester and industry partners, the course provides a valuable opportunity for both technical and non-technical professionals seeking to enter or grow within the space sector.
Find out more and book your place via Space Park Leicester's Space CPD programme.
Gloucestershire Tech Week Returns This October
Gloucestershire Tech Week 2026 will bring together founders, innovators, businesses, investors, universities and government from 12-16 October for five days of discussion, networking and collaboration focused on the technologies shaping the UK's future prosperity and security. This year's theme, Mission Driven, explores how technology can help address national challenges while creating opportunities across the region.
Hosted across venues including the Jet Age Museum, Hub8 MX, the University of Gloucestershire and Patch Gloucester, the week will cover topics ranging from advanced manufacturing, cyber security and resilience to artificial intelligence, innovation and skills development.
For organisations across the West of England, it presents a valuable opportunity to connect with the region's thriving tech ecosystem, discover emerging technologies and contribute to conversations about the future of innovation in the UK.
This year's edition of Gloucestershire Tech Week is sponsored by Gloucestershire's own SpaceAM.