UK's first space degree apprenticeship launched in the Space South Central region
BAE Systems and Space South Central founding partners, the University of Portsmouth, have launched the UK’s first degree apprenticeship in Space Systems Engineering – and applications for the programme’s first intake are open now.
Successful applicants for the four-and-a-half-year course will earn while they learn, studying for their degree, while working alongside some of the most talented people in the industry on exciting projects like Azalea.
Apprentices will gain on-the-job critical skills at BAE Systems sites in Alton and Guildford, including system and mission analysis, software development, AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System) and electronics.
At the University of Portsmouth, the apprentices will study for a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Space Systems Engineering, learning the very latest skills in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), telecommunication systems, space science, space mission design and materials and manufacturing.
The launch of the new degree apprenticeship came at the start of 2024’s National Apprenticeship Week, an annual event from the Department of Education to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships for employers, apprentices and the economy.
The Space Systems Engineering programme was influenced and designed with insight from an advisory group comprising government representatives, space sector leaders and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Doug Liddle, Director, Space at BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, said:
“The launch of the UK’s first space degree apprenticeship is a vital step to attract the next generation of talent into our growing space sector.
“The skills gap faced today poses a significant challenge to the future of the sector. So it’s critical that we encourage and invest in future space engineers to support the UK‘s ambition to become a space science and technology superpower and ensure we stay ahead in the New Space Age. The sky is no longer the limit.”
Professor Djamel Ait-Boudaoud, Executive Dean for the Faculty of Technology at The University of Portsmouth, said:
"Collaboration between educational institutions and industry is essential to meet both national and regional skill demands.
“The University of Portsmouth has identified space technology as a strategic priority for the future, and we are passionate about driving forward space initiatives building on the successes of our world-leading astrophysics and cosmology research, and our expertise in the use of satellite data for solving global challenges.”
The partnership between BAE Systems and the University of Portsmouth is the latest example of Space South Central businesses, universities and FE colleges working together to equip the space sector’s current and future workforce with the skills employers need.
Dr Louise Butt, Director of the Space South Central Enterprise Network, said:
“This new degree apprenticeship marks an exciting new chapter in tackling the UK space sector’s skills and recruitment needs, while providing an attractive new entry route into space careers.
“Along with Alton College’s new Space Technologies programme, SpaceCraft at the University of Surrey and the University of Portsmouth’s Space Mission Incubator, our region is taking the lead to create innovative training opportunities to help businesses grow and upskill people at all career levels.
“The Space South Central region – Hampshire, Surrey and the Isle of Wight – has a thriving space sector full of opportunities, and being home to the UK’s first degree apprenticeship in Space Systems Engineering will help attract the space talent of the future to the region.”
The closing date for applications to the degree apprenticeship in Space Systems Engineering is 28 February 2024. Find out more and apply here.
