UKSA Space Ecosystem Champion

Location: Leeds - Main Campus

Contract type: Fixed term (for 3 months, ending 31^st March 2026)

Are you a motivated and experienced Champion of the UK Space Ecosystem excellent research and innovation knowledge, network building skills, and an interest in the Space sector? Do you want to take a leading role in growing the UK Space Ecosystem nationally in the UK, working with research and education institutes, businesses and government agencies across the UK?

We are looking for experienced and motivated applicants to apply for a position as the Space Hub Yorkshire (SHY) UKSA Space Ecosystem Champion. Hosted at the University of Leeds but working closely with all Yorkshire Universities and businesses, this is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in growing the UK Space Ecosystem nationally in the UK. The Space Ecosystem Champion will provide clear and expert business support advice to a wide range of organisations, primarily those based within the local space cluster. This will include guidance on the most appropriate business support programmes for their growth ambitions, as well as information on how to access them and broader funding and commercial opportunities across the UK’s Space Ecosystem. The individual will also collaborate with other Champions across the UK Cluster Network to map these opportunities and develop a consistent approach to engaging with them that will endure beyond their fixed-term deployment.

You will have an excellent track record of leadership, partnership working, experience of cluster development work, knowledge of the Space sector; and an enthusiasm for working closely with academics, Space industry and international Space agencies. 

Space Hub Yorkshire (SHY) is supporting the growth of the UK’s Space industry in Yorkshire. The SHY consortium brings together universities, colleges, local authorities, government agencies, and commercial partners covering a geographic area across the Yorkshire (and Humber) region, and building links with other clusters across the UK. SHY has now won three rounds of UK Space Agency (UKSA) funding for development of our regional Space hub, which we do in close collaboration with Space agency and the Satellite Applications Catapult. The UKSA grant is part of national programme to grow the UK’s Space sector through the development of other regional Space hubs across the UK.

Over the past five years SHY has grown from a new spin out to an established cluster, with a track record of running national events to showcase our regions world-leading Space expertise, including Satellite Earth observation and environmental monitoring, high performance manufacturing and robotics, and RF technology. SHY stakeholders include the Satellite Applications Catapult, the 4 Yorkshire LEPs, Mayoral Combined Authorities, Yorkshire Universities, UKSA, and over 250 commercial companies.

The role will involve significant engagement with universities, businesses, policy makers and industry and third-sector partners. You will be based in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds, but will work closely with all Yorkshire Universities, local colleges and other affiliated academic organisations across Yorkshire, along with the UKSA Space Ecosystem Champion network.

To explore this post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Anna Hogg, Founder of Space Hub Yorkshire
email: a.e.hogg@leeds.ac.uk

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