Supplying Scottish towns and rural communities with sustainable hydrogen gas will be the focus of a landmark partnership announced today between gas distribution company SGN and renewables generator RWE.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two companies to investigate the development of electrolysers, powered by RWE’s 10 onshore wind farms in Scotland which have a combined capacity of 213 megawatts, to supply homes and businesses with hydrogen gas via Scotland’s gas network.
Hydrogen has a crucial role to play in achieving net zero and is an essential component to decarbonise sectors like industry, heavy load transport, aviation and heat. Published in April 2022, the UK Government’s Energy Security Strategy doubled its ambition for low carbon hydrogen production capacity to 10GW by 2030. Similarly, the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Action Plan aims to create 5GW of hydrogen by 2030 and 25GW by 2045.
The partnership will investigate the decarbonisation of homes and businesses connected to the networks of Campbeltown, Stornoway, Oban, Thurso and Wick, which are not connected to the mains gas network.
These networks are currently supplied by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), which when swapped with hydrogen could save 21,000 tonnes of carbon each year and decarbonise around 9,500 properties.
The partnership will define how much hydrogen is needed, the requirements to convert these networks to hydrogen, and the supply of green electrolytic hydrogen from RWE’s renewable onshore wind farms nearby. In doing so, the project could also unlock onshore wind farm developments in grid-constrained* areas, by providing a use for the green electricity generated.
A feasibility study will also be conducted over the coming months into a 100-megawatt (MW) electrolyser at RWE’s Markinch CHP biomass plant.
This could produce green hydrogen from local and grid connected renewable energy, to connect into SGN’s gas network in Fife. It would build on the work SGN is already undertaking in Levenmouth on their world-first H100 Fife project.
Steve Boughton, RWE Director Hydrogen Development, said: “This MoU is a perfect partnership to develop options for the decarbonisation of domestic and business gas networks, and to help Government achieve its ambitions for 10GW of hydrogen production.
Hydrogen will play an essential role in the pathway to net zero, particularly in industry and homes which are hard to decarbonise, and RWE is perfectly positioned to support the development of the UK hydrogen economy.”
Fergus Tickell, SGN System Transformation and Business Development Lead, said: “We’re delighted to partner with RWE which shares our belief that hydrogen gas has a leading role in the decarbonisation of homes, businesses and industry in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“We’ll explore how hydrogen produced locally can be delivered through the world-class networks we’ve been operating for decades, to all of Scotland’s communities, including in Fife, Campbeltown, Stornoway, Oban, Thurso and Wick. We also look forward to investigating more opportunities across the UK.”
The knowledge and experience gained from these initial studies will enable a better understanding of the practicalities and economics of the entire hydrogen cycle and will be an important precursor to a potential funding application under the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
Setting out the fresh case for Scotland to become an independent country began today as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared ‘It’s time’ and published new analysis showing the prize of independence is a wealthier, fairer Scotland.
The Scottish Government analysis – Independence in the Modern World. Wealthier, Happier, Fairer: Why Not Scotland? – details how neighbouring countries such as Sweden, Ireland, Denmark and Finland use their powers of independence to achieve economic success, business dynamism and fairer societies.
The evidence shows that:
the comparator countries are all wealthier – some a lot wealthier – than the UK
income inequality is lower in all the comparator countries
poverty rates are lower in all the comparator countries
there are fewer children living in poverty in all the comparator countries
the comparator countries all have higher productivity – often significantly higher – than the UK
business investment tends to be higher in all the comparator countries
It is the first in a series of papers called Building a New Scotland that will together form a prospectus for an independent Scotland to enable people to make an informed choice about Scotland’s future before any referendum takes place.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Today, Scotland – like countries across the world – faces significant challenges. But we also have huge advantages and immense potential. The refreshed case for independence is about how we equip ourselves to navigate the challenges and fulfil that potential, now and in future.
“In their day to day lives, people across Scotland are suffering the impacts of the soaring cost of living, low growth and increasing inequality, constrained public finances and the many implications of a Brexit we did not vote for. These problems have all been made worse or, most obviously in the case of Brexit, directly caused by the fact we are not independent.
“So at this critical juncture we face a fundamental question. Do we stay tied to a UK economic model that consigns us to relatively poor economic and social outcomes which are likely to get worse, not better, outside the EU? Or do we lift our eyes, with hope and optimism, and take inspiration from comparable countries across Europe?
“Comparable neighbouring countries with different characteristics. Countries that, in many cases, lack the abundance of resources that Scotland is blessed with. But all of them independent and, as we show today, wealthier and fairer than the UK.
“Today’s paper – and those that will follow in the weeks and months ahead – is about substance. That is what really matters. The strength of the substantive case will determine the decision people reach when the choice is offered – as it will be – and it is time now to set out and debate that case.
“After everything that has happened it is time to set out a different and better vision. It is time to talk about making Scotland wealthier and fairer. It is time to talk about independence – and then to make the choice.”
Scottish Government Minister and Scottish Green Party Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said: “This paper sets out a detailed, evidence-based assessment of how the UK performs in comparison to a group of European countries.
“It shows how we are being held back environmentally, socially and economically by a UK Government that does not have the interests of the people of Scotland in mind. And it shows that with the powers of independence we could make different decisions than those made by the UK government, and build a more prosperous, equal and greener Scotland.
“As we seek to deliver the transition to a net-zero economy and address a cost of living crisis that is being turbo-charged by Brexit, there could not be a more important time to give the people of Scotland a choice over our future.
The Building a New Scotland papers will help ensure that choice is an informed one, and I hope that everyone will join us in a positive and constructive national debate about Scotland’s future.”
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has teamed up with Scotmid, for Men’s Health Week (13th – 19th June 2022).
The leading community retailer invited Shedders into their stores to help raise awareness of Men’s Sheds at a community level and to broaden awareness of the wealth of benefits Sheds bring to men’s overall health and wellbeing.
In the UK, men aged 40-49 have the highest rates of suicide*. The Men’s Shed aims to encourage men to have open and honest conversations around mental health, to help tackle loneliness and wider challenges they face and feel unable to talk about.
Carluke Men’s Shed popped up in Scotmid’s Law store and recruited three new members before lunch! Shedders were on hand to chat to customers and answer any questions they had about the charity and the products they produce.
Shirley MacGillivray, Head of Communities and Membership at Scotmid, said:“We are delighted to team up with the SMSA to raise awareness of Men’s Sheds during this important week.
“We recognise the part we can play to improve the health and wellbeing of our employees and the communities that we serve, and this is the perfect way to mark and support Men’s Health Week in our Scottish stores.”
Scotmid has previously been a SMSA award sponsor, supports many sheds across Scotland and welcomes Community Grant applications from individual Sheds.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Chief Executive Officer, said: “The SMSA is working in partnership with Scotmid to offer this excellent opportunity for Sheds to showcase the services and facilities that they have to offer men aged 18 and over.
“It’s important that we encourage men to get together within their local community and connect with each other. After all, conversation is hugely important for our health and wellbeing.”
The SMSA now has over 129 sheds open across Scotland, with 72 further sheds proposed or in development.
One of the charity’s core objectives is to put an emphasis on how important it is for men to connect with their local community.
A series of portraits of Falklands veterans has been released to tell their stories as Scotland marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict today (14th June.
Award-winning Glasgow photographer Wattie Cheung worked with leading military charities Poppyscotland and Legion Scotland to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces in the 1982 war.
The work has been released ahead of a national remembrance parade and service in the centre of Edinburgh on Saturday (JUNE 18th). Hundreds of current and former servicemen and women and their families are expected to take part. They will be joined by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, representatives of the Scottish Government, and heads of all three Armed Services in Scotland.
Veterans and a military band will march from Charlotte Square along George Street on Saturday morning, before a service of remembrance and wreath-laying in St Andrew Square, followed by musical entertainment.
Pipers around the world will also join in playing the Crags of Tumbledown Mountain in tribute to the fallen at 11am that morning. The tune was composed by Scottish soldier, Pipe Major James Riddell, during the final battle on the back of a ration packet. More than 110 have already signed up, from as far away as Canada, Peru, and the Falklands.
The conflict began on April 2nd, 1982, when Argentina invaded the British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. Argentina surrendered on June 14th, as British forces approached the capital, Stanley. In total, 255 British servicemen, 649 Argentine military personnel, and three civilians died, while many more were wounded.
As part of the charities’ commemorations, Mr Cheung photographed seven veterans across Scotland using a Graflex Super D large format film camera made in the USA in the 1940s. Each one said that the 10-week conflict had impacted the rest of their lives, with many losing close friends and struggling to come to terms with their experiences.
Among them is David Cruickshanks, from Fife, who at the age of 17 was the youngest Scot to serve in the Falklands with the Royal Navy. He remembers the constant threat of air attacks, accidentally walking through a minefield, and losing six crewmates from his ship, HMS Fearless.
Former Scots Guards Donald McLeod, Willie Urban and Graham Hopewell were involved in the final battle to take Mount Tumbledown on June 13th, before the Argentinian surrender the following day.
Mr McLeod described nine hours of hand-to-hand fighting through the night, during which eight of his comrades were killed.
Mr Cheung said he had always been fascinated by the stories of veterans, and he was inspired to capture the portraits following similar projects to mark the 75th anniversary of D Day in 2019, and VE Day and VJ Day in 2020.
Wattie Cheungsaid: “Meeting veterans is always humbling and a good opportunity to learn about the harsh realities of war from those who have first-hand experience.
“They were all young men, no matter which war, sent into situations that they had never experienced. I don’t think they see themselves as heroes but just ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances doing a job they were trained to do.”
Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland are organising this weekend’s commemorative events in partnership with the Armed Forces and the Scottish Government. Falklands veterans and bereaved relatives will also be traveling to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire today (JUNE 14th) for a UK-wide service.
Dr Claire Armstrong, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland, said: “These stunning portraits pay tribute to the incredible efforts and resilience of those who served in the Falklands. They encourage us to reflect on the sacrifices they made 40 years ago and remember those who paid the ultimate price.
“Today will be a poignant day for thousands of veterans, servicemen, women, and their families, as we mark the anniversary of the ceasefire. Although the conflict lasted for just 74 days, it had a profound impact, with many veterans struggling with the physical and mental scars for decades afterwards.
“We’re pleased to be working with Poppyscotland, the Scottish Government, and Armed Forces to hold national commemorations and encourage the public as well as the Armed Forces community to get involved. We’ve also been impressed by the enthusiastic response to our call for pipers to take part, and join us in playing on streets, hillsides, and gardens across Scotland and the world.”
Saturday’s parade will start at 10am from Charlotte Square, led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums.
The service, led by Revd Dr Karen Campbell, will be followed by performances by both military bands, Legion Scotland Sweetheart Amy Hawthorn, Stuart McLean, Juniper 3 and Ellyn Oliver.
Police Scotland has commented on the sentencing yesterday of Stephen Charters at the High Court in Edinburgh for a series of non-recent sexual offences, including rape.
Charters, 57, was found guilty of the offences against four women in Edinburgh, committed between November 1984 and October 2015, at the High Court in July 2021.
He was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday and given an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) – one of the most unique sentences that can be given for non-murder cases. This means he will be subject to conditions and monitoring for the rest of his life.
Detective Inspector Jonny Wright said: “I would like to commend the victims for coming forward. Despite the passage of time, they were able to give us information which allowed detectives to carry out this investigation. Had it not been for their bravery in coming forward and giving evidence in court, Charters could have gone unpunished.
“Charters denied these crimes, but extensive work carried out by officers and partners, including the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), means that he has now been brought to justice.
“This case is an example of no matter when the incident happened, Police Scotland will always thoroughly investigate and we are here to listen and support victims and have specially trained officers to carry out enquiries.
“We continue to be committed to bringing all perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice and time is no barrier for our enquiries. I would urge anyone who wishes to report sexual crime, regardless of when it happened, to contact us so we can conduct a thorough and professional investigation.”
Some institutions in Scotland have had a stable year in the Complete University Guide’s rankings with notable universities holding their rankings from previous years. These include St Andrews holding its position in 4th place and the University of Edinburgh holding its 12th place for another year.
In the overall league tables, the University of St Andrews is 4th sitting just below the London School of Economics. Naturally, within the region St Andrews came top for Student Satisfaction, Academic Services Spend and Graduate Prospects.
Within Scotland, there are pockets of subject-level excellence. Despite the following universities performing below 40th in the overall table, there are some examples of high-quality subject rankings reinforcing the importance of looking below the overall ranking. The University of Dundee (49th) ranks 1st nationally for Forensic Science as well as 2nd for Medical Technology & Bioengineering and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (93rd) ranks 1st for Complementary Medicine.
Every year the Complete University Guide releases UK university and subject league tables to support prospective students in making informed decisions about their future. The regional league tables help people find the right university for them in their area and are also informative for local employers to know what skills people are coming to the area to develop.
The Complete University Guide follows on from last month’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards, building on the information available to prospective students to help them make the right decisions as they consider their higher education options.
Having eight of the nation’s universities ranking in the UK’s top 50 in this year’s Complete University Guide demonstrates how the area is on track for another year of high-quality education and training provision for students and employers alike. The University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow join St Andrews in the UK’s top 25 universities.
Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said: “Congratulations to the University of St Andrews for achieving the top position in this year’s Complete University Guide regional rankings. The tight rankings show just how high the standards are among Scotland’s top universities.
“Many prospective students in Scotland are keen to find the best university in the local area. Complete University Guide’s regional league tables are a valuable source of information to give local prospective students a greater understanding of what higher education options there are in Scotland.”
Simon Emmett, Chief Executive Officer of IDP Connect, said: “With more prospective students actively researching their options each year, the 2023 Complete University Guide league tables will serve as an important guide. We believe these rankings help them to make the right decisions as they consider their next steps into higher education.
“The independence of the Complete University Guide remains a critical part of our organisation. The tables’ independence from our other operations ensures that students, parents, and advisors can trust the results and make informed choices based on them.”
bill ‘ensures the delicate balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement is protected in all its dimensions and provides robust safeguards for the EU single market‘
introduces durable solutions to fix the four key issues with the Protocol
legislation will remove unnecessary costs and paperwork for businesses
The government has introduced legislation to fix parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol – making the changes necessary to restore stability and ensure the delicate balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement is protected.
The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will allow the government to address the practical problems the Protocol has created in Northern Ireland in 4 key areas: burdensome customs processes, inflexible regulation, tax and spend discrepancies and democratic governance issues.
These problems include disruption and diversion of trade and significant costs and bureaucracy for business. They are undermining all 3 strands of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and have led to the collapse of the power-sharing arrangements at Stormont. The UK government is committed to seeing these institutions back up and running so that they can deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.
Following 18 months of discussions with the EU, the UK’s preference remains for a negotiated solution to fix these problems which are baked into the Protocol. But the EU must be willing to change the Protocol itself. Ministers believe that the serious situation in Northern Ireland means they cannot afford to delay.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “This Bill will uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and support political stability in Northern Ireland. It will end the untenable situation where people in Northern Ireland are treated differently to the rest of the United Kingdom, protect the supremacy of our courts and our territorial integrity.
“This is a reasonable, practical solution to the problems facing Northern Ireland. It will safeguard the EU Single Market and ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.
“We are ready to deliver this through talks with the EU. But we can only make progress through negotiations if the EU are willing to change the Protocol itself – at the moment they aren’t. In the meantime the serious situation in Northern Ireland means we cannot afford to allow the situation to drift.
“As the government of the whole United Kingdom, it is our duty to take the necessary steps to preserve peace and stability.”
The legislation enables the government to bring forward durable solutions in each of the 4 key areas. The solutions are:
green and red channels to remove unnecessary costs and paperwork for businesses trading within the UK, while ensuring full checks are done for goods entering the EU
businesses to have the choice of placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland according to either UK or EU goods rules, to ensure that Northern Ireland consumers are not prevented from buying UK standard goods, including as UK and EU regulations diverge over time
ensure Northern Ireland can benefit from the same tax breaks and spending policies as the rest of the UK, including VAT cuts on energy-saving materials and Covid recovery loans
normalise governance arrangements so that disputes are resolved by independent arbitration and not by the European Court of Justice
These changes are designed to protect all 3 strands of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, including North-South cooperation, and support stability and power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
They will provide robust safeguards for the EU Single Market, underpinned by a Trusted Trader scheme and real-time data sharing to give the EU confidence that goods intended for Northern Ireland are not entering its market. The legislation also ensures goods moving between Great Britain and the EU are subject to EU checks and customs controls.
The UK’s proposals protect the elements of the Protocol that are working, such as the Common Travel Area. It also contains a provision for it to be replaced by a negotiated settlement, if one is agreed with the EU.
It is consistent with international law and further information on the government’s legal position has been published today.
The UK has engaged extensively with the EU to resolve the problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol over the past 18 months. In the recent intensive discussions between October and March, the negotiating team held more than 300 hours of official and ministerial discussions and spent hundreds more examining the EU’s non-papers in detail.
However, it has become clear the EU proposals don’t address the core problems created by the Protocol. They would be worse than the status quo, requiring more paperwork and checks than today. The EU have said they will not allow changes to the Protocol within its current negotiating mandate.
Scottish Ministers are calling on the UK Government to withdraw legislation aiming to abandon parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiated with the European Union.
Following the publication of the legislation, External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson has reiterated the danger that disregarding parts of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement could lead to a trade war when the UK is already close to recession and in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
Mr Robertson said: “It is extremely reckless and frustrating that the UK Government has decided to bring forward this legislation. The UK Government has deliberately set itself on an entirely avoidable collision course with the EU.
“Brexit is forecast to cause more harm to the economy than COVID, and this action by the UK Government could trigger significant additional damage to our economy when we are already facing the worst cost of living crisis seen for decades.
“Scotland has direct interests at stake in the Protocol, particularly in trade and border control, and yet the UK Government has shown no willingness to engage us on these issues. It is also directly impacting other Scottish interests, such as participation in the flagship Horizon Europe research programme.
“We have repeatedly called for the UK Government to step back from this confrontational approach and focus instead on dialogue with our European partners, who stand willing to work in partnership to find a negotiated solution. Those calls have also been ignored.
“We urge the UK Government to return to the negotiating table and withdraw this Bill. It is inconceivable to think that the Scottish Government would recommend legislative consent for a bill that would negatively impact Scotland’s economy, that could be deemed to break international law and could risk sparking a trade war with our fellow Europeans, which is in no one’s interests.”
The TUC and NIC-ICTU yesterday issued a joint statement to condemn the UK government’s “reckless” decision to unilaterally suspend its obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The union federations warn the decision will threaten the peace process in Northern Ireland and lead to a potentially damaging trade war.
Commenting on the new legislation, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It says everything about ministers’ warped priorities that in the middle of a cost-of-living emergency, they announce legislation that could provoke a trade war and cause prices to skyrocket further.
“Working people must not pay the price for this reckless move.
“The government must drop this bill, honour the agreement they signed up to and put practical solutions ahead of posturing.
“Ministers need to get back around the table with the EU as soon as possible and come to an agreement that protects jobs, rights and the Good Friday Agreement.
“The government must show that it respects international agreements to repair its now-trashed reputation as a trading partner.”
ICTU Assistant General Secretary Owen Reidy said: “We all accept that there are practical issues with the protocol that must be addressed in the interests of all of the people of Northern Ireland.
However, the only credible way to do this is for the UK government to start to engage with the EU in good faith, as opposed to taking unilateral action which makes an agreement on the implementation of any protocol more challenging and difficult.”
The full joint statement from the TUC and NIC-ICTU reads:
We are deeply concerned that the UK government has stated an intention to unilaterally suspend its obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Trade unions played a critical role in the development of the Good Friday Agreement – but the government’s actions now threaten peace.
It is essential that the Good Friday Agreement is protected.
This reckless action also risks provoking a trade war with the EU.
In the middle of cost-of-living crisis, it is appalling for the UK government to suggest it will take actions that could see prices skyrocket even further.
Working people must not pay the price of the government’s reckless actions.
UK ministers must honour the international agreement they signed and put practical solutions ahead of ideological posturing.
They need to get back around the table with the EU as soon as possible and come to an agreement that protects jobs, livelihoods and the Good Friday Agreement.
And they must act in good faith to repair the UK’s reputation as a trading partner.
Join us on Saturday 25 June from 2—5pm to celebrate the opening of The Beast, a new work byRuth Ewan.
Ruth Ewan presents an unearthly moral tale centred on the obscured history of the iconic Scottish/American steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. This new installation tells the story of Carnegie’s ruthless accumulation of wealth and the place he bought in history via an uncanny encounter with his palaeontological namesake, Diplodocus carnegii.
The Beast comprises of a new animation and archival material which explores intersecting ideas around ecology, extinction, wealth, power, time and the history of capitalism.
The script for the new animation has been developed with Marxist magician Dr Ian Saville. The conversation – featuring the voices of Dave Anderson as Carnegie and Keeley Forsyth as Diplodocus carnegii – reveals a provocative and layered history.
This is an open event and all are welcome. Much of the event will take place outdoors in our ‘Play Shelter’ so please dress for the weather! Numbers inside the exhibition will be monitored so a short wait may be required. Drinks are generously provided by our neighbour Bellfield Brewery.
The Beast by Ruth Ewan was commissioned and produced by Collective, with funding and support from the University of Edinburgh Art Collection.
Aldi has transformed Scotland’s most-loved breakfast food into something even better with its Big Man Square Sausage, which is double the thickness of a regular square sausage.
Guaranteed to have Dads across the country clearing their plates, the Big Man Square Sausage is ideal for an indulgent Scottish fry up or in a morning roll.
Aldi worked with award-winning Scottish Butcher, We Hae Meat, to create the Lauchlan Burn Big Man Square Sausage, which makes for the perfect addition to a Father’s Day breakfast feast.
Aldi shoppers can pick up the tasty breakfast item, which is available at Aldi stores across Scotland from 16th June, for just £1.49 for a pack of two (260g), while stocks last.
Event is set to accelerate one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors
A NETWORKING event is calling on space experts in Scotland to share knowledge and expertise with businesses looking to level up within the sector.
The networking event – which will be taking place on June 24th – seeks to strengthen connections between space value chain companies and those interested in the sector’s opportunities in Northern Ireland, as well as facilitating new collaborations for those businesses across the wider UK.
Delivery partners for the event include the UK Space Agency and strategic space marketing firm AstroAgency, which is based in Edinburgh.
The event has been organised by the Space Research and Innovation Network for Technology (known as ‘SPRINT’), while the Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT) research group at Queen’s University Belfast is hosting the event.
SPRINT provides unprecedented access to the expertise and facilities at top UK space universities to help businesses accelerate the development of their products and services through the commercial exploitation of space data and technologies.
The UK’s space industry is targeting significant growth within the next decade, with the publishing of the National Space Strategy last year specifying an objective to level up the country’s space economy through supporting regional activity across the United Kingdom.
The ‘SPRINT Space Sector Update and Speed Networking Event’ is free to attend and has been shaped to ensure participants leave with knowledge on the latest market updates and a broad understanding of recently launched or upcoming initiatives, including funding support, from several speakers throughout the morning and early afternoon.
After lunch, a tour of the on-site facilities will then be followed by a speed networking session, organised by strategic space guidance firm AstroAgency, allowing participants to maximise their time at the event through quick-fire introductions, ensuring direct collaboration opportunities are presented and new connections forged.
National SPRINT Head of Programme, Dr Rain Irshad, said: “We’re excited about running this event and providing businesses in Northern Ireland with key updates on the sector’s progress, as well as enabling new commercial partnerships to be formed with companies from the rest of the UK in order to support the sector’s growth.
“As the UK moves quickly to achieve its ambitions in becoming a leading space nation, there is a huge role for businesses across the entire country to play that aligns well with the levelling up agenda”.
While the global space economy is projected to grow from an estimated £270 billion in 2019 to £490 billion by 2030, the recently published Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2021 report highlighted that UK space-related organisations produced £16.5 billion in income in 2019/20.
In terms of employment, space activities supported a total of approximately 190,000 jobs across the value chain, growing 6.7% from 2018/19 and demonstrating the exciting potential of a sector that covers satellite manufacture, launch vehicle and spaceport developments, cutting-edge scientific research and the analysis of data from space to support environmental protection, the economy and society at large.
With further growth projected as more companies move to capture their share in the market via supply chain opportunities and collaborations with universities, the UK space sector represents a huge opportunity for businesses to secure additional revenue streams and new insights to enhance the competitiveness of their commercial offering from a unique, ‘out of this world’ viewpoint.
Chris McQuire, Head of Local Growth at the UK Space Agency, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to forge valuable partnerships in the fast-growing space sector.
“Strengthening connections across the space value chain is a vital part of our mission to catalyse investment, and this event will promote new and exciting opportunities for regional collaboration within Northern Ireland, while extending links between Northern Irish businesses and those in the rest of the UK.”
The SPRINT Space Sector Update and Speed Networking Event will also offer a ‘hybrid’ format, allowing those who cannot join in person to log-in remotely and engage online with participants and speakers from the likes of the Satellite Applications Catapult and industry group ADS.
Registration is free and places at the session can be secured at:
