While the UK might not be launching rockets every day, its space industry is quietly generating a staggering £17.5 billion in annual turnover, fueling a high-tech economic engine that is significantly outpacing the national average and projecting a trajectory to £24 billion by 2030.
Key Takeaways
- The UK space sector's total turnover reached £17.5 billion in 2021, marking a 9% increase from 2020
- The space sector contributed £11.0 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy in 2021, representing 0.5% of total UK GVA
- Downstream activities accounted for 82% of total space sector turnover at £14.4 billion in 2021
- The UK space industry directly employed 53,500 people in 2021, with 80% in highly skilled roles
- Total employment impact including supply chain reached 119,000 jobs in 2021
- 42% of space workforce held degrees in STEM fields in 2021
- There were 1,280 space companies in the UK in 2021, up 15% from 2016
- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) made up 95% of UK space firms in 2021
- Large enterprises (>250 employees) numbered 62, contributing 65% of turnover in 2021
- The UK has launched over 50 satellites since 2018, with 20+ in 2022 alone
- UK-built satellites in orbit numbered 142 as of 2023
- OneWeb constellation has 428 UK-supported satellites launched by 2023
- UK gov funding for National Space Innovation Programme £200m over 5 years to 2025
- UK Space Agency budget increased to £680m for 2023/24, up 8% YoY
- £153m allocated to Launch UK programme for 5 spaceports 2021-2025
The UK space industry is booming, showing strong growth and high economic productivity.
Companies and Infrastructure
- There were 1,280 space companies in the UK in 2021, up 15% from 2016
- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) made up 95% of UK space firms in 2021
- Large enterprises (>250 employees) numbered 62, contributing 65% of turnover in 2021
- 470 companies active in downstream space applications in 2021
- 210 firms in upstream manufacturing in 2021
- Satellite manufacturing companies numbered 45 in 2021
- 120 spaceports and launch infrastructure projects underway in 2021
- Sutherland Spaceport had 5 licensed operators in 2021
- 350 companies in Earth observation sector in 2021
- Satellite Applications Catapult supported 200+ firms in 2021
- 85 UK companies supplied components to OneWeb constellation in 2021
- Space cluster in Harwell had 150 organizations in 2021
- 40 vertical launch vehicle developers in UK in 2021
- Prestwick Spaceport partnered with 12 companies for operations in 2021
- 280 SMEs in satcom supply chain in 2021
- Cornwall Spaceport secured 3 launch contracts in 2021
- 15 major primes like Airbus and Thales in UK space in 2021
- 620 firms in navigation and positioning services in 2021
- SaxaVord Spaceport had 8 tenant companies in 2021
- 110 startups in New Space sector in 2021
- Wales hosted 75 space companies in 2021
- 25 ground station operators active in UK in 2021
- Northern Ireland had 35 space firms in 2021
- 180 companies in integrated applications in 2021
- UK developed 12 satellites launched in 2021
- 7 space clusters identified including Leicester and Glasgow in 2021
Companies and Infrastructure Interpretation
The UK's space industry is a galaxy of plucky SMEs buzzing around a few large planets that still provide most of the gravity, busily building everything from satellites to spaceports while proving that ambition, much like a rocket, starts with a very broad and collaborative base before it ever gets to the pointy, solo-flying part.
Economic and Market Statistics
- The UK space sector's total turnover reached £17.5 billion in 2021, marking a 9% increase from 2020
- The space sector contributed £11.0 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy in 2021, representing 0.5% of total UK GVA
- Downstream activities accounted for 82% of total space sector turnover at £14.4 billion in 2021
- Upstream space manufacturing turnover was £1.9 billion in 2021, comprising 11% of the sector total
- Satellite operations turnover stood at £1.2 billion in 2021, making up 7% of the UK space economy
- The UK space sector exports were valued at £5.8 billion in 2021, accounting for 33% of total turnover
- Space sector R&D expenditure reached £1.7 billion in 2021, or 10% of total turnover
- The sector's projected turnover growth is expected to reach £24.0 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.6%
- Location Quotient for space sector productivity was 2.7 in 2021, indicating high economic efficiency
- Space tourism and emerging services contributed £120 million to turnover in 2021
- The UK ranks 6th globally in space economy size with 6.4% of global turnover share in 2021
- Earth observation downstream services turnover was £4.2 billion in 2021, 24% of total
- Navigation services turnover reached £3.1 billion in 2021
- Communications satellite services generated £5.7 billion in turnover in 2021
- Space sector supply chain multiplier effect added £7.2 billion indirectly to the economy in 2021
- Induced economic impact from space sector employment was £2.9 billion in 2021
- UK space sector investment attraction grew by 15% to £1.2 billion in 2021
- Sector's contribution to UK trade balance in space goods was +£2.1 billion surplus in 2021
- Ground segment equipment turnover was £450 million in 2021
- Integrated applications turnover hit £2.8 billion in 2021
- UK space sector grew 7.2% annually from 2016-2021, outpacing UK economy growth of 1.1%
- Space data brokerage turnover was £680 million in 2021
- Sector's share of UK high-tech manufacturing was 12% in 2021
- Turnover per employee in space sector was £312,000 in 2021, 2.1x UK average
- Space insurance services turnover reached £210 million in 2021
- UK space economy ranked 2nd in Europe behind France in 2021
- Launch services turnover was £95 million in 2021
- Space manufacturing GVA was £1.1 billion in 2021
- Digital economy linkage added £4.5 billion to space turnover in 2021
- Projected GVA growth to £16.5 billion by 2030 at 4.6% CAGR
Economic and Market Statistics Interpretation
The UK space sector proves it's firmly out of this world, generating £17.5 billion while demonstrating that its real power lies not in launching rockets but in the sophisticated, earthbound services—like communications and Earth observation—that fuel a highly productive and export-driven slice of the economy.
Employment and Skills
- The UK space industry directly employed 53,500 people in 2021, with 80% in highly skilled roles
- Total employment impact including supply chain reached 119,000 jobs in 2021
- 42% of space workforce held degrees in STEM fields in 2021
- Women comprised 24% of the UK space workforce in 2021, up from 20% in 2016
- Average salary in UK space sector was £58,000 in 2021, 47% above UK median
- 15,200 people employed in downstream services in 2021, 28% of total
- Upstream manufacturing employed 7,800 FTEs in 2021
- Space operations roles totaled 4,200 employees in 2021
- 12% annual growth in space employment from 2016-2021
- 28% of workforce aged under 35 in 2021, indicating young demographic
- Scotland hosted 5,100 space jobs in 2021, 10% of UK total
- London and South East region employed 22,000 in space, 41% share in 2021
- 3,200 apprenticeships in space sector in 2021
- Ethnic minorities represented 12% of space workforce in 2021
- Projected employment growth to 78,000 direct jobs by 2030
- 6,500 roles in Earth observation services in 2021
- Navigation services employed 4,100 people in 2021
- 9,200 jobs in satcom services in 2021
- Staff turnover rate in space sector was 8.2% in 2021, below UK average
- 2,100 vacancies reported in space skills shortage areas in 2021
- North West England had 4,200 space jobs in 2021
- 18% of workforce had PhDs in 2021
- Training spend per employee was £2,100 in 2021
- Midlands region employed 3,900 in space in 2021
- 1,800 roles in space manufacturing engineering in 2021
- Disability representation in workforce was 7% in 2021
- Projected total jobs impact 172,000 by 2030
- 950 space startups employed 5,200 people in 2021
Employment and Skills Interpretation
While Britain's space industry boldly goes towards a future of remarkable growth and high-paying jobs, it appears the final frontier still has some work to do on its diversity mission back home.
Funding Policy and International Cooperation
- UK gov funding for National Space Innovation Programme £200m over 5 years to 2025
- UK Space Agency budget increased to £680m for 2023/24, up 8% YoY
- £153m allocated to Launch UK programme for 5 spaceports 2021-2025
- National Space Strategy commits £1bn+ investment by 2030
- £30m Access to Space fund supported 20 smallsat missions in 2022
- £11m for International Bilateral Fund with bilateral partners 2023
- Centennial Challenges awarded £20m to 15 space tech prizes by 2023
- £450m National Space Innovation Programme 2021-2025 for R&D
- UK joined Artemis Accords with 20+ nations in 2021
- £2.1m for Space Sustainability Fund grants to 12 projects 2023
- Horizon Europe UK association guarantees £2bn space funding 2021-2027
- £127m for Skyrora rocket development via NSIP 2022
- Space Growth Partnership invested £100m in sector growth 2013-2023
- £400m Defence Space Portfolio over 10 years for secure comms
- UK Export Finance provided £500m guarantees for space exports 2022
- £7.5m for Satellite Applications Catapult expansion 2023
- International Space Innovation programme £10m for 20 partnerships 2023
- £50m for quantum technologies including space apps 2023-2024
- UK Space Agency R&D budget £240m in 2022/23
- £160m for European Space Agency contributions 2023
- £24m Cygnus Moon mission funding via NSIP 2022
- £1.5m for space data exploitation competition winners 2023
- National Security Strategic Investment fund £15m for space 2023
- £6m for space-based PNT demonstrator 2023
- UK rejoined Copernicus programme with £130m commitment 2023-2027
- £33m for Orbex rocket via Launch UK 2022
- Space Regulatory Framework Act 2021 enables licensed launches
- £4.3m for in-orbit manufacturing demonstrator 2023
Funding Policy and International Cooperation Interpretation
The UK's space ambitions are no longer pie in the sky, but a carefully funded and multi-pronged assault on the final frontier, proving that while they may have lost an empire, they are decidedly keen to help build a new one in orbit.
Technological and Mission Statistics
- The UK has launched over 50 satellites since 2018, with 20+ in 2022 alone
- UK-built satellites in orbit numbered 142 as of 2023
- OneWeb constellation has 428 UK-supported satellites launched by 2023
- UK Pathfinder 1 satellite launched successfully in 2023 for In-Space Missions
- 18 UK small satellites launched via SpaceX in 2022
- Skyrora successfully tested Skyrora XL rocket engine in 2022
- UK-led ARIA programme processes 10 petabytes of EO data annually
- ICEYE SAR satellites with UK tech provide daily global imaging
- UK Quantum Mission includes 3 satellite demonstrator projects funded £6m
- 45 UK-built payloads on international missions in 2022
- Orbex Prime rocket achieved hot-fire test with 8.5kN thrust in 2023
- UK Space Agency's In-Orbit Servicing demonstrator launched 2023
- DMC3 satellites provide 2.5m resolution global imaging daily
- UK contributes to Galileo with 15% of navigation payloads
- 12 UK hyperspectral imaging instruments on satellites in 2023
- Reaction Engines SABRE engine tested at Mach 3.5 in 2022
- UK has 6 operational vertical launch vehicles in development 2023
- Tyvak Nano-Satellite platforms produced 20 units for UK MoD in 2022
- UK Space Weather forecasting monitors 100+ solar events yearly
- 25 UK laser communication terminals deployed on satellites by 2023
- AST SpaceMobile partners with UK for 5G direct-to-phone sats
- UK-developed star trackers used on 50+ international satellites
- Carbonite-2 imaged ISS at 2m resolution in 2018 mission
- UK first horizontal launch from Shetland planned 2024 with HyImpulse
- 8 UK radio occultation instruments on operational satellites 2023
- QinetiQ Space NV provides propulsion for 30 UK smallsats
- UK LISA Pathfinder exceeded noise target by 10x for gravitational waves
- 15 UK AI/ML models for autonomous satellite ops deployed 2023
- BilSat-1 was UK's first EO microsatellite launched 2004
Technological and Mission Statistics Interpretation
The UK space industry is orchestrating a quiet but formidable coup in orbit, launching satellites with factory-like precision, pioneering everything from quantum space demonstrators to Mach 3.5 engines, and proving it’s far more than just a guest with a plus-one at the global space party.
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