UK Space Agency Launches 50 Paid Internships To Boost Space Careers

The UK Space Agency has unveiled a new nationwide internship programme aimed at helping young people break into the fast-growing space sector.

Branded Skills for Space, the initiative will offer 50 paid placements across the UK, giving undergraduates and Further Education students the chance to gain hands-on experience within space-focused organisations.

The eight-week programme will run during July and August 2026, with successful applicants working on real-world projects that directly contribute to the UK space economy.

The scheme comes as the industry faces mounting recruitment pressures. The latest Space Skills Survey found that 80 per cent of space organisations are struggling to recruit, up from 61 per cent in 2020.

More than half reported skills gaps within their current workforce, while 61% identified gaps among job applicants. Overall, 95 per cent of organisations said they were experiencing skills-related challenges.

Skills for Space is designed to help address those shortages by giving students early exposure to the sector and building practical experience in key areas such as engineering, software development, data science and wider professional skills. The programme also aims to improve diversity and inclusion within the industry by widening access to space careers.

The UK space sector already supports more than 55,000 jobs and contributes £18.6 billion annually to the economy. Alongside apprenticeships, graduate schemes and entry level roles, internships are seen as an important route into long-term careers in the industry.

Announcing the new placements, the Chief Executive Officer of the UK Space Agency, Dr Paul Bate, said: “The UK space sector is growing rapidly and we need talented, diverse people to help us seize the opportunities ahead. Skills for Space will give young people from all backgrounds the chance to gain real-world experience and develop the skills our industry needs.”

Chair of the Space Skills Advisory Panel at UKspace, Ben Stern, also commented, saying:

“The space sector employs people from a variety of backgrounds in diverse roles across the whole of the country - but it is not always easy for students to realise that there are exciting opportunities open to them to follow a career in the space sector.”

“This scheme will help to raise awareness of the fantastic roles available in the UK space sector and break down barriers to entry. Experience shows that successful internships can be an opening to longer term employment as companies and the intern already know each other. We welcome the UK Space Agency’s support through this new scheme.”

Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society, David Edwards FRAeS, welcomed the announcement, saying:

“The Royal Aeronautical Society welcomes the UK Space Agency’s Skills for Space internship programme and strongly supports its ambition to widen access to careers across the UK space sector.”

“The Society has a long-standing commitment to tackling the skills shortage across the aerospace sector. Initiatives like Skills for Space will help to inspire the next generation of talent, and give young people practical experience and support pathways for a future career in space.”

“The Society looks forward to continuing its work with partners across government, industry and academia to strengthen the future space workforce,” added Mr Edwards.

Applications for the 2026 internships are now open, with successful placements due to be announced in May 2026. The UK Space Agency says the programme will help strengthen the talent pipeline and ensure the UK remains competitive in the global space economy.

You can find out more about this great opportunity by visiting the Skills for Space website here.