North East-based international B2B marketing company Horizon Works will be helping engineering and manufacturing companies explore space next month.

The company’s Space Opportunity event on 2nd July will show how businesses can diversify into the space sector, highlight supply chain opportunities and help businesses get to grips with the space technology landscape.

The event, which will take place at Horizon Works’ Event Space at Northumberland Business Park, near Cramlington, Northumberland, is being run in association with cluster organisation Space North East England, which is dedicated to growing the space economy and developing its ecosystem in the region.

The Space Opportunity will also shine the spotlight on North East England’s own vibrant space cluster: today, there are 40 businesses, including Raytheon UK and Airbus, working in the space sector in the region and Space North East England is aiming to increase the number of jobs in the industry to 10,000 by 2030, building on the last ten years of growth. Just last month, Sedgefield-based Filtronic, a leader in high-performance mmWave technologies, announced that it had signed a strategic partnership and commercial agreement with SpaceX.

Guest speaker Elaine Scott, Cluster Manager of Space North East England, will be presenting on the sector opportunities for engineering and manufacturing businesses, the evolution of the global space market is changing and the UK Government’s space strategy. She will also be providing an overview of the space economy and its market segments.

Elaine will be joined on the speaker line-up by Ralph ‘Dinz’ Dinsley, managing director of Alnwick-based 3S Northumbria, which provides sustainable space solutions grounded in the principles of a circular economy for space, and Mark Small, Area Sales Manager of Boyd Technologies, a leading innovator in sustainable engineered material and thermal solutions. They will be sharing first-hand experiences of engaging with the space sector.

The presentations will be followed by a panel session and Q and A. There will also be lunch and networking sessions, and the event is free to attend for North East England-based engineering and manufacturing companies.

EMN affiliate Horizon Works offers integrated marketing services including strategy, PR, design, digital, website development and SEO, and supports regional, national and global organisations. The Space Opportunity is the fourth event in the company’s Opportunities Series, a programme of workshops and seminars delivered for manufacturing and engineering businesses. Run in conjunction with industry partners, the series highlights regional and national opportunities for engineering and manufacturing companies. Previous events have featured speakers from Advance Northumberland, Make UK Defence and the North East Automotive Alliance.

Samantha Vassallo, Managing Director of Horizon Works, said: “After the success of our Northumberland Opportunity, Defence Opportunity and Electrification Opportunity events, we’re very much looking forward to welcoming engineering and manufacturing businesses to Horizon Works once again on 2nd July.

“Space North East England is at the heart of the space sector in our region, so we’re thrilled that Elaine Scott will be sharing her insights and knowledge with delegates.

“We’re also very excited to have Ralph Dinsley and Mark Small with us, who’ll be providing valuable business perspectives and guidance.

“There is a huge opportunity for North East companies in the space sector… and this event will no doubt spark off new ideas, conversations and connections.”

Working across industries such as engineering, manufacturing, renewables, defence and automotive, Horizon Works supports organisations including: Atlas Copco Rental UK, part of Atlas Copco Group; automotive component manufacturer Gestamp; Koch Technology Solutions, part of the global Koch Engineered Solutions organisation; hydraulic engineering specialist Industrial and Marine Hydraulics (IMH); Huddersfield-headquartered power transmission specialist Lancereal; de-icing, anti-icing and heat transfer fluid manufacturer Kilfrost; water analysis technologies provider Palintest; and intelligent train technology provider Petards Rail.

The company, which was founded in 2010, is an affiliate partner of EMN, a Fit for Defence partner of Make UK Defence, and is a member of the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA), NOF and the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

Space North East England supports pioneering advancements in space technologies and exploration as well as helping businesses to enter the sector by bringing together businesses, academia and institutions to unlock opportunities.

Providing both one to one support and events, Space North East England also helps businesses to exploit the use of satellite data, technology and applications to gain a competitive advantage.

Its vision is to build the best possible ecosystem to create North East England as a world-class, vibrant UK region for space businesses to grow.

Space North East England’s partners include Business Durham, Invest North East England, Durham University, Newcastle University, Northumberland University, the University of Sunderland and Teesside University.

The Space Opportunity will take place between 12 and 2pm on 2nd July at Horizon Works, Northumberland Business Park, Cramlington, NE23 7RZ.

To book for the event and more information, visit https://horizonworks.co.uk/events/the-opportunities-series-4-the-space-opportunity/

For more information on Space North East England, visit www.spacenortheastengland.com