+44(0) 116 454 1220
As the UK continues to develop its space-faring abilities, Leicester is drawing on its interstellar reputation as the UK’s Space City.
Perfectly located in the centre of the UK to form part of the UK’s ‘Space Spine’ and drawing on the University of Leicester’s 60 years of research into space science, Space City is clustered around the National Space Centre, the UK’s leading space-related visitor attraction.
Space City includes the research and development centre Space Park Leicester and the flexible working space and high-tech business incubator facilities at Dock and Dock 2. This will be expanded to include the Dock 3 innovation workspace and newer industrial and business incubator facilities at Abbey Court, creating one of the largest and most connected enterprise zones for space-related activities in the UK.
While other locations in the UK focus on one or maybe two elements of the space sector, Leicester has been identified by the Government’s National Space Strategy as a strategic location for the sector, along with being marketed globally by the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) as a “High Potential Opportunity Zone”.
In 2020, the space sector accounted for 15% of the UK’s economic activity and is growing faster than any other part of the economy. Practically every piece of modern technology we use either has applications in the space sector or is driven by space-related technology or information, from the GPS in our phones and fitness watches to weather forecasting and communications networks.
Space City will focus the skills development and economic growth provided by this sector on Leicester and its economy, gaining a significant share of the predicted £490 billion global space economy by 2030. This will in turn boost the local economy and provide high quality jobs in the region, while positioning Leicester and the East Midlands as a strategically important asset in the delivery of the UK’s industrial competitiveness and space strategy.
What exactly will Space City do?
As a lightning rod for space innovation, the University of Leicester’s Space Park, which opened in 2022, works alongside top companies including Rolls Royce and Airbus to develop new technologies. Their academics have a world leading reputation for the analysis and interpretation of space-related data and information. It also builds on the success of the University’s space manufacturing expertise, which has seen a piece of Leicester-built equipment operating in space every year since 1967. Using this knowledge it will be driving a step change in the efficiency and speed of development of satellites and space equipment.
Why should you choose to locate in Leicester and at Space City?
But mostly you’ll be in a place where you can develop and grow your business alongside other like-minded high-tech businesses with a direct line to the University of Leicester, Space Park Leicester, the National Space Centre and National Space Academy.
Welcome to Space City.
£100m Space Park Leicester - the heart of the UK’s space industry
200 academics, 29,000 employees and 20,000 students in space-related fields
Every single year since 1967 has seen a Leicester-built instrument operating in space
.png)
.png){kind=icon}
