The Industrial Solutions Hub (ISH), an enterprise social value initiative based in Cleaton Moor, Cumbria held a Space Event week starting on 26th June 2023 the aims of which were to explore the opportunities in the Space industry that West Cumbria, with it’s skills and expertise especially in nuclear work, could exploit and also to make young people aware of future Space opportunities and the NSC and some members were there to support it.
The first day, chaired by Alan Cross started with an overview of the industry and was followed by presentations from Paul Bhatia, regional ESA Business Applications Ambassador and Anuradha Damale-Day from the Satellite Applications Catapult. Tim Tinsley, NNL, then described the current development work on the nuclear powered space battery. Rhianne Boag from Nuclear Transport Solutions described how their expertise can be used to help in some of the space transport challenges.
Jonathan Adams from Rolls Royce explained their work on developing a microreactor for space missions Sion Edwards from Jacobs described their role in building the Caithness and Sutherland Spaceport and Roy Kirk, Highland and Islands Enterprise talked about how they are using Space in Scotland to help in regional development.
Betty Bonnardel Azzarelli MBE, described her experience from working in both the Space and Nuclear industries and Rob Elliott from SSTL talked about what it is was like to work in a fast-growth SME. James Cornish, Fraser Nash, then gave an update on the status of Space Solar Power.
After lunch Heidi Thiemann, Space Skills Alliance, discussed the current skills needed for the Space industry and then the attendees were split into groups each of which had a particular issue to discuss regarding skills or expertise in the Space industry and how they could be addressed in Cumbria. At the end of the workshop the main points and conclusions were presented by each group.
The following day Professor Adrian Bull MBE, Chair in Nuclear Energy and Society at the Manchester University Dalton Nuclear Institute chaired the ‘How expertise in the Nuclear Sector can translate into the Space Sector’ workshop. This was followed by lunch and networking. At the end of the week a separate day was spent promoting Space activities to young schoolchildren.
A well organised and really interesting event with many speakers highlighting the latest developments in the industry especially those of relevance to the local attendees.
For further information on the above or the Space Industry generally contact bob.morris@thensc-uk.com.