Engineering and manufacturing businesses invited to explore space at Horizon Works event

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Engineering and manufacturing businesses invited to explore space at Horizon Works event

20th May 2024

We’ll be helping North East-based engineering and manufacturing companies launch into space next month, when we throw the doors open to our latest Opportunities Series event.

The Space Opportunity will be hosted at our HQ at Northumberland Business Park, near Cramlington, Northumberland, on 2nd July. It will be delivered in association with cluster organisation Space North East England, which is dedicated to growing the space economy and developing its ecosystem in the region.

With a line-up of expert speakers on board, we’ll be showing how businesses can diversify into the space sector, highlighting supply chain opportunities and helping delegates get to grips with the space technology landscape.

We’ll also be shining the spotlight on North East England’s own vibrant space cluster: today, there are 40 businesses, including Raytheon UK and Airbus, working in the space sector in our region and Space North East England is aiming to increase the number of jobs in the industry to 10,000 by 2030, building on the last ten years of growth. Just last month, Sedgefield-based Filtronic, a leader in high-performance mmWave technologies, announced that it had signed a strategic partnership and commercial agreement with SpaceX.

These are certainly exciting times, so we’re delighted that Elaine Scott, Cluster Manager of Space North East England, will be joining us for The Space Opportunity to present on the sector opportunities for engineering and manufacturing businesses, the evolution of the global space market is changing and the UK Government’s space strategy. She will also be providing an overview of the space economy and its market segments.

Elaine will be joined on the speaker line-up by Ralph ‘Dinz’ Dinsley, managing director of Alnwick-based 3S Northumbria, which provides sustainable space solutions grounded in the principles of a circular economy for space, and Mark Small, Area Sales Manager of Boyd Technologies, a leading innovator in sustainable engineered material and thermal solutions. They will be sharing first-hand experiences of engaging with the space sector.

The presentations will be followed by a panel session and Q and A, and we’ll also be providing lunch, plus plenty of time for networking.

The event is free to attend for North East England-based engineering and manufacturing companies.

The Space Opportunity is the fourth event in our Opportunities Series, a programme of workshops and seminars for manufacturing and engineering businesses. Run in conjunction with industry partners, the series highlights regional and national opportunities for engineering and manufacturing companies. Previous events have featured speakers from Advance Northumberland, Make UK Defence and the North East Automotive Alliance.

Samantha Vassallo, Managing Director of Horizon Works, said: “After the success of our Northumberland Opportunity, Defence Opportunity and Electrification Opportunity events, we’re very much looking forward to welcoming engineering and manufacturing businesses to Horizon Works once again on 2nd July.

“Space North East England is at the heart of the space sector in our region, so we’re thrilled that Elaine Scott will be sharing her insights and knowledge with delegates.

“We’re also very excited to have Ralph Dinsley and Mark Small with us, who’ll be providing valuable business perspectives and guidance.

“There is a huge opportunity for North East companies in the space sector… and this event will no doubt spark off new ideas, conversations and connections.”

Space North East England supports pioneering advancements in space technologies and exploration as well as helping businesses to enter the sector by bringing together businesses, academia and institutions to unlock opportunities.

Providing both one to one support and events, Space North East England also helps businesses to exploit the use of satellite data, technology and applications to gain a competitive advantage.

Its vision is to build the best possible ecosystem to create North East England as a world-class, vibrant UK region for space businesses to grow.

Space North East England’s partners include Business Durham, Invest North East England, Durham University, Newcastle University, Northumberland University, the University of Sunderland and Teesside University.

The Space Opportunity will take place between 12 and 2pm on 2nd July at Horizon Works, Northumberland Business Park, Cramlington, NE23 7RZ.

Book for the event here.