Space Days Programme Inspires Next Generation of North East Space Talent
The next generation of North East space talent has been getting a glimpse of future careers among the stars, with a record number of young women taking part in 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. Lockheed Martin has consistently sought to achieve an equal gender balance across participating students and, while previous programmes reached around 40% female participation, this year young women made up 51% of attendees. The increase was seen across both age groups, with particularly strong participation from Year 12 students.
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. Students also took part in a series of practical challenges and experiments designed to replicate aspects of real-world space engineering.
Chris Spicer, Regional Director for UK and Europe at Lockheed Martin Space, said:
Space Days forms part of Lockheed Martin Space UK's long-term commitment to supporting the growth of the North East's space ecosystem. Alongside programmes such as Space Days, the company is involved in the development of 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.
Meanwhile, younger attendees 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.
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.
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