S5 EP10: Scaling Up the UK Space Sector

Is the UK’s commitment to space being watered down, or is the recent merger of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) a smart move for efficiency?

Host Dallas Campbell sits down with Mark Saxon, Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult, to dissect the political landscape shaping the UK space industry’s future. They dive deep into the National Space Strategy, the new Industrial Strategy, and the critical importance of a “one government approach” to space policy. Mark argues for a necessary shift from R&D-led grant funding to commercially-driven growth, stressing that to create ‘space unicorns,’ the sector must move past talking only about technology and instead focus on powerful, benefit-driven stories for customers and investors.

This timely conversation explores the push to scale up UK businesses to £10 million in revenue and capitalises on the current momentum, which is backed by a fresh £1.5 million investment from the UK Space Agency to unlock climate and transport innovations. Discover why Mark is optimistic about the sector’s trajectory and the actionable steps needed to ensure its global success.

Dallas presents some of television’s most popular factual programmes, his immersive documentaries lift the curtain on our human planet, giving audiences of all ages and backgrounds an exclusive backstage pass to some of the world’s most fascinating stories, ideas and places.

Beyond television, Dallas is an author, speaker, and ambassador for STEM education. He works closely with several major outreach initiatives which help kids across the UK think creatively about technology and innovation. He works internationally with the British Council’s FameLab project, designing and running workshops for early career academics, helping them hone their science communication skills.

Resources

National Space Strategy (2021) – Sets out a unified civil-defence vision for the UK in space across five strategic goals.

National Space Strategy in Action (2023) – Provides an update on delivery progress, highlighting tools, programmes and achievements to date under the 2021 NSS.

Space Industrial Plan: From Ambition to Action (2024) – Details the next-phase “Thrust” actions to drive UK space sector growth, focusing on capability goals and industry-government collaboration.

Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy (2024) – Outlines the government’s proposed 10-year industrial strategy aimed at giving businesses long-term certainty and targeting growth in high-potential sectors.

The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy (2025) – Sets out the finalised 10-year plan to boost business investment, productivity and resilience across eight priority sectors.

Outer Orbit

In this bonus episode, Dallas Campbell and Mark Saxon, Chief of External Affairs at the Satellite Applications Catapult, drill into the mechanics and importance of the UK’s Industrial Strategy. Mark breaks down why space is a vital ‘frontier industry’ nested within the broader Advanced Manufacturing sector and what this means for business owners. The strategy, a core mission to grow the economy, is already delivering, with government securing over £250 billion in investment into the IS-8 sectors since July.

The conversation reveals where the money is, including £135 million in traditional UK Space Agency funding and increased innovation procurement funds for the defence sector. Mark explains the vital role of patient capital from the British Business Bank and the National Wealth Fund, which is specifically directed to help space companies grow. Ultimately, this strategy aims to make the UK a leading exporter of space technology and data.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to contact us about any episode of In-Orbit, collaboration opportunities, or to find out more about how we can help your business, please email marketing@sa.catapult.org.uk

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