Ever wanted to do something out of this world? Help to launch a career in the UK’s thriving space sector is now being offered as part of an exciting initiative at the Edinburgh Space Hub.
The Space Bridges programme offers short, data-driven courses that aim to both upskill and inspire the future space sector workforce. The training caters to everyone, from office professionals to tradespeople, with a special focus on supporting those who have taken career breaks, such as maternity or care leave.
One of the course leaders, Dr Matjaz Vidmar, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering, said:
For a number of years I had been involved in research trying to understand the skills need in the Scottish and UK space industry. Working with organisations such as Space Scotland, Space Network Partnership and UK Students for the Development and Exploration of Space, we built evidence of what is needed.
The UK Space Agency also recognised a UK-wide skills gap and offered funding for training. Led by the Bayes Centre team and DDI Space Sector lead, we put forward one of five successful bids in a competitive field. Importantly, this is a joint project between Bayes, the Schools of GeoSciences and Engineering and Fife College, which is also offering space sector upskilling.
Space Bridges received £520,000 from the UK Space Agency in 2024 and the team welcomed the first learners that December, with a second intake in 2025.
Space Bridges conisted of five courses:
Dr Vidmar said:
We have a number of close collaborators from industry who helped develop the courses and worked with experts from Schools across the university. There are five to six weeks of content and courses require four or five hours of study a week. We have created videos, interactive graphics and text, plus weblinks to a lot of further information. There’s a half-hour quiz every week plus an hour-long live session, when learners meet the experts, network and work on mini group projects. If a learner passes all the quizzes, they get a digital badge.
Course participants have come from a variety of organisations – from leading space companies and space agencies to economic development bodies. Dr Vidmar added:
We also had learners from very early stage start-ups and individuals with little or no experience but who are keen to enter the space sector. “We are working hard to make the courses accessible to people with non-technical skills or from lower-skilled backgrounds.
Thanks to the UK Space Agency funding, the courses were offered free to learners in the first year, with all courses oversubscribed. Short courses fees now apply but the team is hoping that a funding model can be developed to allow for some scholarships, especially for unwaged career changers and career returners.
Dr Vidmar said:
We are also looking to add more courses. We are exploring opportunities to bring in colleagues who, for example, can offer spacespecific operations management, as well as space law and regulations.
The Space Bridges team is happy to hear from companies that want to learn more about the courses. Dr Vidmar said:
We’re keen to hear from organisations – big and small – to discuss how we can offer bespoke training to fit their needs. “Space Bridges is a great example of digital education done well. Through a meaningful but relatively short amount of time with learners and good use of interactive, engaging digital content, we are delivering training that is accessible and transformative for learners. Crucially, they can learn at their own pace, around other life commitments.
Space Bridges – a finalist in the 2025 British Data Awards – also supports Edinburgh’s ambition to be Europe’s Space Data Capital.
Dr Vidmar said:
The course has been a huge success for the DDI initiative and Edinburgh Space Hub. It follows concerted activities over a number of years in development of the space and satellite portfolio across the University. DDI and the Bayes Centre in particular have been a big catalyst for that.
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