Space West welcomes the announcement regarding significant changes to the UK space sector’s administrative structure. The UK Space Agency will be absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This new, more aligned organisation will be responsible for all space policy, strategy and delivery ensuring there is a ‘one government’ approach to space.
At this stage, there are no immediate implications for the clusters or our ongoing activities. We remain committed to our mission: supporting and promoting space innovation, economic growth, and collaboration across academia, industry, and government within our regions and across the UK as a collective. Our relationships with former UKSA teams, now transitioning to DSIT, will continue unchanged in the short term.
We will maintain close engagement with key stakeholders in DSIT, as well as our partner organisations, to ensure that the priorities of the Space West space community are recognised and supported throughout this period of change.
UK Space Agency CEO Paul Bate has expressed optimism about the transition, viewing it as an opportunity to strengthen the UK’s strategic focus in space policy and delivery. He said:
“I strongly welcome this improved approach to achieving the government’s space ambitions. Having a single unit with a golden thread through strategy, policy and delivery will make it faster and easier to translate the nation’s space goals into reality.
“In coming together, the UK Space Agency and space policy colleagues are building on the firm foundations of economic growth and capability development laid in recent years, including cutting-edge missions, major national programmes, and the regulations that enable UK launch and leadership in space sustainability.
“We will continue to deliver, while reducing duplication and ensuring we work even more closely with Ministers to support the UK space sector, and the country.”
The UK Space Clusters stand ready to represent and champion our communities as further details of the restructuring emerge.
We will keep you updated as developments unfold. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local cluster lead if you have any questions or concerns.
You can see the announcement here: UK space sector bolstered with government reforms to boost growth and cut red tape - GOV.UK
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.