Are you looking to upskill fast in advanced manufacturing technologies and tackle critical skill gaps in the UK space sector industry? At 3D 360, we offer comprehensive training programmes that are funded and free to eligible learners. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the sector, our courses will help you stay ahead of the curve and secure a strong footing in an industry that is vital to the UK economy.
The UK space industry is growing rapidly, both in economic output and employment. Government data shows the sector’s income reached £18.9 billion in 2021/22, up 2.7% since 2018/19 despite recent challenges. The workforce now includes over 52,000 professionals (full-time equivalents), a 6.7% increase from the previous year. This accounts for around 0.16% of the UK workforce, highlighting the industry’s expansion.
When including supply chain jobs, the space sector supports 128,500 roles across the UK. Satellite broadcasting (Direct-to-Home TV) makes up around 21,000 of these jobs, about 40% of the total space workforce. Excluding broadcasting, the core space industry employs roughly 31,000 people in areas like satellite manufacturing, launch services, and downstream applications.
Future growth looks strong, with the UK’s National Space Strategy aiming for a £40 billion industry and 100,000 new jobs by 2030. Trade associations are equally optimistic, with UKspace projecting 15,000 high-skilled “green jobs” in climate monitoring and Earth observation. Private investment and new companies are driving this expansion, with the number of UK space organisations reaching 1,765 in 2023. Regional spaceports in Scotland and Cornwall are also creating new opportunities.
However, this rapid growth has revealed a skills gap. A 2023 government-backed survey found that 52% of space organisations struggle with skills shortages. The biggest gaps are in software and data skills, particularly AI and machine learning (41% of companies). While engineering talent remains in demand, traditional aerospace engineering roles are easier to fill, often within 10 weeks..
Over the coming years, UK space employers expect growing demand for expertise in manufacturing & materials, robotics, propulsion, cyber security, and AI. Advanced manufacturing and digital technologies will play a key role in shaping the future of the UK space industry, bringing both new opportunities and recruitment challenges.
Our DWP funded Advanced Manufacturing Skills Bootcamps covers a range of sought-after Industry 4.0 subjects, ensuring you or your team can master the latest methods and technologies used in the space sector. You can enrol in the complete Bootcamp or choose individual fast upskilling courses if you need more focused learning.
Advanced computer-aided design is central to UK spacecraft and propulsion development.
3D CAD and simulation technologies underpin modern space engineering, enabling teams to model, review, and optimise systems before production begins. Airbus Defence and Space relies on advanced CAD to design satellite platforms and missions like the Rosalind Franklin Mars rover, where tight constraints on weight and durability require precision engineering from the outset.
At the Satellite Applications Catapult, LIA Aerospace used CAD tools to digitally model new thruster chambers for 3D printing, running simulations to improve cooling performance and structural strength. These digital workflows are increasingly standard across propulsion and satellite manufacturing.
Reaction Engines depends on detailed CAD and simulation to develop its SABRE engine’s precooler, where precision tolerances are critical. Finite element analysis and thermal modelling are used alongside CAD to virtually test component performance and identify potential issues early.
CAD is one of the most widely adopted digital skills in the sector, with many UK aerospace graduates entering the workforce with strong design tool experience. But with the rise of digital twins and model-based systems engineering, demand is now shifting towards more integrated CAD expertise that links with analysis and data environments.
Additive manufacturing is accelerating rocket and satellite hardware production in the UK.
UK space companies are using additive manufacturing (3D printing) to speed up production, improve part reliability, and reduce assembly complexity. Orbex employs Europe’s largest precision metal 3D printer – the custom AMCM M4K – to print entire rocket engines in one piece. By removing welds and joints, Orbex improves engine performance and cuts production time to just a few days. In partnership with SLM Solutions, the company also revealed the world’s largest single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine at its Forres facility in Scotland.
Skyrora has built its own additive manufacturing platform, Skyprint, which reduces production time on certain engine components by over 60%. At the Satellite Applications Catapult’s Westcott Innovation Centre, LIA Aerospace redesigned thruster chambers using 3D-printed Inconel. They completed and tested three engines in under a month, using complex internal cooling channels that would be impossible to machine traditionally.
Beyond Earth, Cranfield University contributed to the UK’s early steps in in-orbit manufacturing by helping demonstrate the first metal part 3D-printed in space. This points to a longer-term vision where components could eventually be manufactured directly in orbit, reducing the need for Earth-based resupply.
As the sector expands its use of additive manufacturing, skills in AM design, materials science, and process validation are in growing demand. The Aerospace Technology Institute forecasts that the aerospace AM market could reach £10 billion by 2033 but only if the UK can grow its talent pipeline to match.
Industry 4.0 is transforming satellite manufacturing through smart factories and digital workflows.
Industry 4.0 introduces connected systems, automation, and real-time data into space manufacturing. A flagship example is the OneWeb satellite production approach, which has been described as a “SpaceFactory 4.0.” OneWeb’s model uses modular work cells, automated component delivery and continuous digital monitoring to drastically reduce the time and cost of building each satellite.
While the OneWeb factory is in the US, Airbus UK applies these principles in its Eurostar Neo telecom satellites programme, operating a fully digital factory where each stage of satellite assembly is planned, monitored and improved using simulation and live data. This model helps avoid bottlenecks and ensures consistency in builds.
At the AMRC in Sheffield, space-focused projects use VR to simulate workflows, allowing teams to optimise factory layouts and train staff in digital environments before production begins. These tools reduce physical rework and improve factory planning.
Engineers with expertise in digital production, systems integration, and data monitoring are vital to realising the benefits of Industry 4.0. Organisations such as AMUK and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult are supporting companies in bridging the gap between legacy production and digitally enabled workflows.
Automated assembly lines and robotic systems boost quality and increase output speed.
Robotics and automation are key to both in-space and ground-based activities. The UK has built a strong reputation for planetary robotics, exemplified by the Rosalind Franklin Mars rover. Designed by Airbus in Stevenage, it carries scientific instruments to detect biosignatures on the Mars terrain and navigates autonomously. An example of British expertise in integrating mechanical, software and sensor systems.
Earth based automation is growing in satellite production lines, where robots now assist in repetitive assembly tasks. This shift accelerates output, helping firms adapt to higher demand for small satellite constellations. Some manufacturers aim to produce satellites at rates similar to mass-market industries. For instance, Airbus’s satellite assembly facility in Portsmouth uses automated guided vehicles and robotic arms to assist in the precise placement of satellite components, improving throughput and consistency
The UK is also developing in-orbit robotics and satellite servicing solutions, with projects focusing on debris removal, maintenance and eventual assembly of large structures in space. These efforts increase the need for mechatronics, control systems and AI skills. Although the country has robust robotics research in certain universities, many companies note a shortfall of engineers who combine robotics knowledge with hands-on space experience. Initiatives in places like North Wales and Harwell aim to bridge these gaps by training more automation specialists.
Virtual reality, augmented reality and digital twins are reshaping design, training, and testing on earth and in space
VR and AR are helping UK space teams simulate complex assembly procedures and improve technician training. The AMRC uses virtual environments to rehearse satellite integration processes, reducing the risk of errors during real builds. AR tools overlay instructions onto physical hardware, guiding engineers through tasks hands-free.
Digital twins (data-connected models of physical systems) are increasingly used to support design and manufacturing. Airbus builds digital twins of its telecommunications satellites, allowing engineers to simulate performance and optimise assembly. Reaction Engines uses a digital twin of its SABRE engine precooler to explore different test scenarios and refine the design.
Beyond manufacturing, digital twins are being applied to Earth observation and mission planning. Satellite Applications Catapult has demonstrated how combining EO data with digital twin models can support sectors like agriculture by predicting outcomes such as crop yields or flood risk.
These technologies require a mix of software, data science, and user experience design skills – areas where demand is growing fast. UK programmes are beginning to integrate AR/VR and digital twin training into aerospace apprenticeships and university engineering curricula.
AI, big data, and cybersecurity are now foundational to UK space operations and services.
AI is enabling smarter, faster analysis of the vast datasets generated by satellites. Earth Blox and Pixalytics use AI to extract insights from Earth observation imagery, helping sectors like insurance and agriculture respond to environmental change. Meanwhile, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has tested AI directly onboard small satellites to automate image capture based on content.
UK mission control centres are adopting AI for operations – using predictive models to forecast component failures and optimise communications between ground stations and satellites. AI is also used for scheduling, data prioritisation, and even orbital manoeuvre planning.
As more systems connect to the cloud, cybersecurity is becoming critical. Under the Space Industry Regulations 2021, UK launch and satellite operators must now have cybersecurity strategies in place. Major firms like Airbus and Thales maintain in-house cyber teams to protect space assets from jamming, spoofing, and malware.
According to the latest skills survey, software, data and cyber roles represent the most pressing gaps in the UK space workforce. With AI and digital systems becoming integral to both mission and manufacturing, attracting and training software engineers and data scientists is now a top priority for the sector.
IoT and Industrial IoT are driving smarter systems on Earth and in orbit.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is enabling new space services and improving ground-based manufacturing. Lacuna Space, based in Oxford, is building a constellation of nanosatellites to provide low-cost global IoT connectivity using LoRaWAN. Devices like agricultural sensors and wildlife trackers can now transmit data from remote areas without cellular coverage.
Spire Global in Glasgow manufactures satellites for Lacuna, an Oxford-based startup providing low-cost global IoT connectivity via nanosatellites. Lacuna’s satellites fly in low Earth orbit and pick up signals from remote IoT sensors (using protocols like LoRaWAN), allowing things like agricultural soil sensors or wildlife trackers to send data from anywhere on the planet.
On the factory floor, Industrial IoT (IIoT) is helping manufacturers monitor production in real time. UK rocket test facilities now use IIoT sensors to track engine performance metrics like vibration and temperature, improving both test reliability and safety. Satellite assembly lines are also using IIoT to log progress and trigger alerts when components are delayed or out of spec.
As IoT systems become more complex, companies need engineers who understand microcontrollers, connectivity standards, and data flow across cloud and satellite infrastructure. Training in IIoT integration is becoming essential for technicians working in space hardware production.
Training in additive manufacturing is essential to turning technical capability into commercial success.
Investments in advanced manufacturing and digital approaches are key to improving the bottom line for UK space firms. By cutting production times and lowering costs, companies can attract more business and expand into new markets. For example, Orbex’s extensive use of 3D printing and automation allows quicker and cheaper rocket production, boosting its competitiveness in satellite launch services. The same is true for other British startups that reduce engine costs and speed up builds.
Satellite manufacturers that adopt automated, digital workflows can tackle large constellation contracts. Winning orders to build dozens or hundreds of spacecraft was once out of reach for smaller companies, but digitalisation makes it more feasible. This results in major contract revenues, bolstering the UK supply chain and tax base. Advanced digital skills also open new service-based income. Firms offering data analytics, cybersecurity or in-orbit processing are turning technical capabilities into profitable services.
Positive spillover effects occur when space innovations find use in other industries. Reaction Engines, for instance, has leveraged its advanced heat exchanger technology for applications in energy and automotive. By developing next-generation solutions for space, British firms can sell that expertise far beyond the aerospace sector.
Industry roadmaps emphasise the importance of fully integrating advanced manufacturing to see genuine returns, warning that merely buying new equipment is not enough. Programmes help companies move from prototyping to full production and encourage training to ensure a workforce prepared for digital factory operations. Through these concerted efforts, the UK expects to translate its technology leadership into sustained economic gains, reinforcing its position in the global space market.
Get Started Today
By investing in these skills, you’ll be well-positioned to contribute to the UK’s ambitious goals in the space sector. You can choose from a range of funded and bespoke training courses.
For Individuals
Employed, Self-Employed & Unemployed learners - learn all core aspects of advanced manufacturing as part of a funded and comprehensive training programme
For Companies
Address urgent or impending workforce skills gaps with our ground-breaking Future Industries Rapid Skills Training (FIRST)
Skip to content
