What Space Wales does

Space Wales is a private trade association established around 2021 to support and promote organisations operating in the Welsh space sector. It functions as the designated cluster body for Wales under the Welsh Government's space strategy, 'Wales: A Sustainable Space Nation' (published 2022), and operates as a sibling entity to its parent organisation, Aerospace Wales, sharing the CEO (Rachael Blackburn) and back-office staff. Space Wales works with over 100 member organisations spanning advanced materials and manufacturing, defence, earth observation, launch and propulsion, optics and photonics, and secure communications.

Its core deliverables are not commercial products but ecosystem-coordination assets: the Wales Space Capabilities Catalogue (an interactive mapping tool built on Satellite Applications Catapult technology and funded by the Welsh Government), the annually refreshed Space Wales Capability Matrix (a PDF directory of Welsh space companies), published strategy documents, and the Wales Space Cluster Catalyst Fund (a £247,000 grant programme administered in partnership with the UK Space Agency and Welsh Government in 2025). The organisation also convenes members and partners at major industry events including the Farnborough Airshow, Space Tech Expo Europe, and the UK Space Conference.

Space Wales does not earn revenue through commercial pricing. Funding flows from UK Space Agency grants (e.g., Devolved Administrations Programme, Wales Space Cluster Catalyst Fund), Welsh Government programmes (including Agile Cymru), and corporate sponsorship (e.g., Northrop Grumman as Platinum Supporting Partner). The go-to-market is event-driven and government-partnership-driven: the association uses industry exhibitions, capability catalogues, direct member engagement, and digital channels (LinkedIn, newsletters, website) to surface Welsh capabilities to international partners and to channel public funding into cluster projects.

Name

Space Wales

Legal name

Space Wales

Website

https://spacewales.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Space Wales is the trade association for the Welsh space sector, supporting 100+ member organisations and administering public funding in partnership with the UK Space Agency and Welsh Government to grow Wales' space ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace and Space Trade Association

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (927)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

Keywords

• Space sector advocacy
• Aerospace trade association
• Cluster development services
• Space capability mapping
• Industry coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgend

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Cluster Development Services: Space Wales functions as a trade association funded through partnerships with UK Space Agency and Welsh Government to support the development of the Welsh space ecosystem. Revenue is derived from grant funding, membership support, and collaborative project delivery rather than commercial product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Space Wales is the trade association for the Space Sector in Wales. It coordinates and advocates for over 100 Welsh space-sector organisations across Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, Defence, Earth Observation, Launch & Propulsion, Optics & Photonics, and Secure & Resilient Communications. Its deliverables include the Wales Space Capabilities Catalogue (interactive), the Space Wales Capability Matrix (2025), strategy documents aligned with 'Wales: A Sustainable Space Nation', and the £247,000 Wales Space Cluster Catalyst Fund delivered with the UK Space Agency and Welsh Government.

Product overview

Space Wales is a trade association for the Space Sector in Wales, not a software product company. Its core offerings consist of the Wales Space Capabilities Catalogue (an interactive catalogue powered by the Satellite Applications Catapult), the Space Wales Capability Matrix (a PDF document listing Welsh space companies), Space Strategy Documents (outlining Wales's space ambitions), and the Wales Space Cluster Catalyst Fund (a £247,000 funding programme). Space Wales works with over 100 organisations spanning Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, Defence, Earth Observation, Launch & Propulsion, Optics & Photonics, and Secure & Resilient Communications capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wales Space Capabilities Catalogue Interactive online catalogue powered by Satellite Applications Catapult that maps space-sector capabilities across Wales, enabling users to explore and identify space-related expertise, companies, and collaboration opportunities.
• Space Wales Capability Matrix 2025 Comprehensive matrix document listing companies currently operating in the Space Sector in Wales, providing a clear view of Wales's evolving space-sector capabilities and innovation.
• Space Wales Strategy Documents Strategic documents including the Space Wales Report and Executive Summary outlining Wales's ambition to become a Sustainable Space Nation, with goals to secure 10% of the global space sector by 2030.
• Wales Space Cluster Catalyst Fund £247,000 funding programme in partnership with the UK Space Agency and Welsh Government to support space-related projects across Wales, from early-stage innovators to established cluster partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Welsh space sector contributes £345 million annually to the economy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Satellite Applications CatapultcoreTechnology or Integration · 22 November 2025International collaboration project funded by Welsh Government Agile Cymru programme. The partnership includes the Wales Space Capabilities Catalogue (powered by Satellite Applications Catapult technology), cluster-twinning with Baden-Württemberg, and international promotion of Welsh space sector.
• UK Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025UK Space Agency provides £247,000 funding through the Devolved Administrations Programme to support Wales space sector development in alignment with Wales: A Sustainable Space Nation strategy. The partnership enables funding calls for Welsh space businesses and supports the broader UK goal of building a connected national space ecosystem.
• Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025Welsh Government partners with Space Wales on the Wales Space Strategy 'A Sustainable Space Nation' and co-funds the Wales Space Cluster Catalyst Fund. The government has invested in developing Llanbedr Airfield as a spaceport and aerospace hub in Snowdonia.
• Wales Space Academic Partnership (WASPrad)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWASP brings together leading Welsh universities and research institutes to advance innovation, skills and collaboration across the space sector. The partnership supports cutting-edge research, drives commercial opportunities, and strengthens Wales' position in the global space economy through The Arc of Innovation.
• Aerospace WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Wales is the trade association for the Space Sector in Wales, linked closely to parent company Aerospace Wales. The organizations share leadership (Rachael Blackburn is CEO of both) and collaborate on events, member services, and industry representation.
• Northrop GrummanflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthrop Grumman joined as Platinum Supporting Partner of Aerospace Wales and Space Wales, representing a significant enterprise-level partnership for the Welsh space ecosystem.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA is referenced as a key resource partner on the Space Wales Resources page, providing guidance and support for Welsh space organizations seeking European collaboration and funding opportunities.
• Compound Semiconductor Applications CatapultsupportingTechnology or IntegrationListed as a resource partner providing access to compound semiconductor expertise relevant to space applications and satellite technology development in Wales.
• AMRC CymrusupportingTechnology or IntegrationAdvanced Manufacturing Research Centre Cymru provides manufacturing research facilities and expertise supporting space sector advanced materials and manufacturing capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• UK Space Agency: UK government agency funding and overseeing the UK space sector, including the £247,000 Wales Space Cluster Catalyst Fund. Functions as a primary funder and policy counterpart to Space Wales rather than a peer trade body.

Broad incumbents

• Tech UK: UK trade association representing the technology sector, including space-adjacent companies. Comparable as a broader sector trade association with overlapping policy, funding access, and member services functions.
• UKspace: The UK-wide trade association for the space sector, representing the broader industry to government. Comparable as the national-level equivalent of Space Wales's regional trade association role.
• European Space Agency (ESA): Intergovernmental space organisation explicitly referenced as a Space Wales resource partner. Comparable in coordinating and enabling space-sector activity across multiple member states.
• Satellite Applications Catapult: One of the UK's Catapult centres focused on satellite and space applications; Space Wales directly partners with and uses its technology to power the Wales Space Capabilities Catalogue. Overlapping remit in promoting UK space commercial capabilities.
• ADS Group: UK trade body representing aerospace, defence, security, and space companies. Comparable as a higher-level industry association that Space Wales would coordinate with on policy and advocacy.

Direct peers

• Northern Space Consortium: UK regional space cluster coordinating space-sector organisations in the North of England. Directly comparable to Space Wales as a similarly structured trade/cluster body promoting a regional space ecosystem with government backing.
• Aerospace Wales: Parent organisation of Space Wales covering the broader aerospace sector in Wales with shared leadership. Operates as a sister trade association under the same CEO, with overlapping member companies and events.

Regional players

• AMRC Cymru: Welsh branch of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, a Space Wales resource partner providing manufacturing research infrastructure. Comparable as a Welsh-based ecosystem enabler supporting advanced manufacturing relevant to the space sector.
• Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult: UK Catapult centre focused on compound semiconductors, listed as a Space Wales resource partner. Comparable as a regionally-relevant enabling ecosystem organisation supporting Welsh space-relevant technology capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spacewales

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Space Wales