Presentation from Young (science) apprentice at the 2013 Science Communication Conference organised by the British Science Association - slides by Kierann Shah

2. Programmes include:
•GCSE, A Level, Pre-U and BTEC intensive masterclasses for students
•Continuing Professional Development for Teachers
•Careers events for GCSE and A Level students
•Space Engineering course (full-time)
•Development of the National Higher Apprenticeship framework for UK space sector
National Space Academy
Delivered by a network of
outstanding teachers and
space scientists that uses space
as a context within which to
teach GCSE, A Level and BTEC
student and teacher
programmes
Delivered on behalf of ESA,
STFC, UK Space Agency, industry
sponsors and further supported
by the Ogden Trust and NCEO
nationalspaceacademy.org

3. UK Space Sector
£9.1 billion turnover
Employs 29,000 people
“Upstream” and “Downstream” aspects
World leaders in satellite design, building and operation
Space for Technicians – Paul Lewis, Department of Political Economy, King’s College London
Space Employers Engagement, HE STEM Research Project - Kathie Bowden, University of Reading
Direct discussions with employers:
Magnaparva | QinetiQ | ComDev | SSBV | Avanti
Astrium | Infoterra | SSTL | Inmarsat | Telespazio VEGA

4.  Developed by Loughborough College and the National Space Academy to address UK space sector demand
for high-level technician skills
 Shaped by a range of UK space sector companies and including a Foundation Engineering Degree validated
by the University of Leicester
 Aimed at existing or new employees in the space sector (focus on 19-24 year olds)
 Teaching through a combination of College-based placements, online learning and Company-based projects
 Delivered over a two-year period through blocks of release time provided by space sector companies
 Initial delivery through 3-4 Colleges across England where sector demand is greatest
Higher Apprenticeship for the Space Sector

5. Research scientists at the University of Leicester, key partners in development of the Higher Apprenticeship
framework, have a long and distinguished record of discovery in space science.
Every year since 1967 has seen a Leicester-built instrument operating in space. The Space Research Centre (SRC) has held
significant roles in many space missions for space agencies including NASA, ESA, UKSA, ISRO (India) and JAXA (Japan),
covering astronomical, planetary and Earth Observation Science missions
Current and future missions with significant SRC involvement include
•James Webb Space Telescope
•Mars Science Laboratory (“Curiosity”)
•BepiColumbo
•Astrosat
•ExoMars
www.le.ac.uk

6. Magnaparva is a Leicester based firm, started in 2005, which researches and
develops engineering solutions for “hostile environments” including space.
As well as problem solving for spacecraft and satellites, Magnaparva take
on aerospace, defense, automotive and manufacturing problems.
The company takes
on and trains
apprentices to fulfil
its need for new
engineers who are
technically capable,
able to learn quickly,
and driven.
“Magnaparva values are
resolute: PARTNERSHIP,
AGILITY and DISCIPLINE”
Companies like Magnaparva are setting the demand for the Higher Apprenticeship for the Space Sector
– a framework designed to meet the need for high level technical entrants to the UK space industry.
Projects include instrumentation for the
ESA BepiColombo mission

8. •Opened June 2001 as a Landmark
Millennium Project
•Located in Leicester
•The brainchild of the University of
Leicester
•UK’s largest visitor centre devoted
solely to space and astronomy
• Quarter of a million visitors every
year including families and school
groups
•Registered charity – in receipt of no
government funding
•In-house creative team NSC
Creative develop full-dome animated
films used in digital planetaria
worldwide
•Astronaut visits including Piers
Sellers, Mark Kelly, Helen
Sharman, Michael Foale and Buzz
Aldrin
• Sir Patrick Moore planetarium
opened by Sir Patrick Moore in
2012
•Special events throughout the
year
•Corporate hire and weddings
•Educational programme
including in-house workshops and
activities
•Outreach including school visits
and stardome

9. nationalspaceacademy.org
KierannS@spacecentre.co.uk
space.loucoll.ac.uk
Jath.Pathmanathan@loucoll.ac.uk
www.spacecentre.co.uk
info@spacecentre.co.uk
education.spacecentre.co.uk
bookings@spacecentre.co.uk

10. nationalspaceacademy.org
KierannS@spacecentre.co.uk
space.loucoll.ac.uk
Jath.Pathmanathan@loucoll.ac.uk
www.spacecentre.co.uk
info@spacecentre.co.uk
education.spacecentre.co.uk
bookings@spacecentre.co.uk