The space sector is moving fast and skills sustainability will underpin its growth within the UK economy.

Doug Liddle created In-Space Missions in 2015 to develop new space enabled services and offer expert consultancy to industry, academia and government. Since its inception, In-Space Missions has variously run the UK’s rocket programme; led the technical development of a disruptive innovation centre; developed a commercial demonstration platform for space; and initiated a company delivering real time video and immersive experiences from space.

Liddle delivered a session on Driving UK Space Growth for Global Benefit at SpaceComm 2021. The session outlined how growing the UK’s space sector will provide the country, its allies and partners with world class secure satellite communications.

“Mental connections” help the sector work together

He said the event had helped the company to build on its virtual communications. “This is our first chance to be back in the community,” he said. “We’ve spent the last year and a half, thanks to the pandemic, doing everything remotely and while it’s good, you don’t get any of the serendipity. You don’t get any of the bumping into people over coffee, you don’t get people coming past your stand and making a mental connection about how we could work together. And also just catching up with old friends.”

For 2022, Liddle said he would like to see a larger conference with more great speakers. He said: “The sector is moving so rapidly at the moment and growing so quickly,I think it’s just more of the same. I think this is a great format and great venue.

Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter