Hampshire’s In-Space Missions launches recruitment drive for female coders

Key players in the UK defence and aerospace industry are seeking female coders as the sector prepares to make history by launching satellites into space from UK soil.

Hampshire-based In-Space Missions is teaming up with Reading technology firm Thales, missiles manufacturer MBDA, and defence multinational BAE Systems to sponsor free coding courses from Code First Girls in order to address the gender diversity gap among their staff.

In-Space Missions designs, builds, and operates satellites from its facilities in Alton. The BAE-owned company, whose partners include the UK Space Agency, BBC, and Lunar Mission One, will be funding Code First Girls software degrees for female engineers to communicate with its satellites and spacecraft on the ground.

Elizabeth Seward, Head of Space Strategy and Future Business at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, said: “To stay ahead in the New Space Age, building capacity and diverse digital skills are essential for ensuring continued secure innovation. Yet, the glaring digital skills gap poses a significant challenge to the future of the space sector.

“Our research found that 56% of senior aerospace decision makers said the combination of attracting and retaining the right talent is presenting a major challenge. What’s more, over a quarter cited a lack of diversity – including gender, ethnic background and age – when it comes to recruiting STEM talent, which is holding back their business.”

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A recent UN report confirmed that women remain underrepresented in the aerospace and defence sectors, having made up a fairly static 20 per cent of the workforce for the last 30 years.

This is despite the pioneering work of Helen Sharman, who became the first British woman to visit space in 1991, as well as the recent light shed on the crucial role played by women in the US Space Race.

Code First Girls was set up in 2012 to help swing the balance. The programme provides a pathway to tech industry employment through free education in STEM subjects, which in the past have typically been neither mentioned nor encouraged to girls at school.

A recent survey by Code First Girls found that the topics of most interest to women in tech include artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data, with clear implications for the aerospace and defence industries.

CEO Anna Brailsford said: “As the UK continues to build its reputation as a global centre of excellence for aerospace and defence, a diverse workforce will be the key to companies having a competitive edge, ensuring continued innovation and creative solutions.”

“Through our partnerships, we are helping women who may never have considered a career in STEM to break into the industry, whilst also providing companies access to the top diverse talent they need in order to flourish.

“If the UK space industry wants to continue to lead the way with pioneering space agencies and companies around the world, it will need to avoid groupthink and tap into this talent from people of all backgrounds, which In-Space Missions are working to promote.”

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