Space Days Shine Spotlight on North East's Next Generation of Space Talent
The next generation of North East space talent has been getting a glimpse of future careers among the stars, thanks to Lockheed Martin Space UK’s annual Space Days programme.
Now in its fifth year, Space Days brought together around 60 pupils from Year 6 and Year 12 across Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland for four days of hands-on activities, industry insights and career inspiration at Northumbria University.
The event, organised by Lockheed Martin Space UK, is designed to encourage young people to explore the wide range of opportunities available within the growing space sector, from engineering and technology to science, manufacturing, project management and mission operations.
This year’s programme also marked a significant milestone in efforts to improve gender representation in the industry, with – for the first time – 51 per cent of those attending being young women, as opposed to the previous best of 40 per cent.
Participants heard from professionals already working in the sector, including Paul Benfield, Artemis Mission Manager at Lockheed Martin Space and a member of the team supporting the recent Artemis II mission, who shared first-hand insights into lunar exploration, alongside a series of practical challenges and experiments that gave students the opportunity to experience elements of real-world space engineering.
Chris Spicer, Regional Director for UK and Europe at Lockheed Martin Space, said:
"The North East is building a strong reputation as a hub for space innovation, and the future success of the sector depends on developing a skilled and diverse workforce.
“Space Days gives young people the opportunity to meet professionals, experience real-world challenges and see firsthand where a career in space could take them.
“Being able to try activities themselves, speak directly to people working in the sector and even experience things like trying on a spacesuit can have a huge impact on how young people view their future career options.
“It's fantastic to see increasing participation from girls across both age groups this year, demonstrating the broad appeal of the opportunities available."
Space Days is one of Lockheed Martin Space UK’s many commitments to supporting the growth of the North East space sector, alongside its involvement in the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST) at Northumbria University, which is set to open officially next year.
For many students, the experience helped turn a general interest in science and engineering into a tangible career aspiration.
Sixteen-year-old David Chabin from Walbottle Academy said the programme had helped him think more seriously about a future in the sector.
“The amount of information we have received has been really useful and has helped me seriously think about a career working in space,” he said.
Fellow student Josh Lakey agreed, describing the experience as both educational and inspiring.
“Space Days has really expanded my knowledge and just listening to the speakers as well as carrying out some of the experiments we’ve done has been fantastic,” he said.
Younger attendees also embraced the opportunity to learn through practical activities, with Year 6 pupil Toria Gilbert from Highfield Community Primary School praising the week’s rocket-building challenges and interactive sessions.
“We have learned so much about space that we didn’t know before,” she said.
“We loved making rockets and then trying to see how far we could fire them and just enjoyed everything we’ve done.”
As the UK space industry continues to grow, programmes such as Space Days are helping ensure the North East develops a strong and increasingly diverse pipeline of future talent ready to seize the opportunities ahead.
