Trajectory, Preston 2024
On the 18th of June 2024, Trajectory took place at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. The Northwest has been involved with space from as far back as the 1600s when English astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks made the first recordings of the transit of Venus. Since then, the Northwest has been the home of rocket testing, the building of nuclear submarines and more recently turning nuclear waste into power sources for space travel. Therefore, it was only fitting to hold our summer edition of Trajectory here.
We were thrilled to see a room filled with current Leo and Geo cohort as well as alumni from the UK Space Agency Accelerator and shareholders from across the UK space sector. Additionally, we were pleased to welcome some of the members of our third Explore programme which is kicking off in July!
Connecting Entrepreneurs with Primes
Before the main event, we held our Meet the Suppliers session which is exclusive to the current cohort and alumni of the UK Space Agency Accelerator. Meet the Suppliers is a brilliant opportunity for entrepreneurs to have one-to-one conversations with some of the leading primes in the space sector including Airbus, Frazer Nash, and Mazar. Through these conversations, entrepreneurs can discuss how they can support them in their own business journey.
Key Notes and Celebrations
Alan Cross from the Northwest Space Cluster was our MC for the day. Opening the day with a burst of energy and welcoming the UK Space Agency Accelerator cohort, alumni and stakeholders to Preston. Next up was Jodie from Entrepreneurial Spark, who gave an overview of the day and got everyone even more excited about what was to come.
Robert Walsh, Professor of Solar Astrophysics at UCLan took to the stage next. UCLan is working closely with the aerospace industry and the SMEs within it to drive the space industry forward. From predicting solar flares to muscle degradation in space, he gave a fascinating overview of the innovative work UCLan is leading within the space sector.
The Key Notes were closed off with Ashleigh Dinter, a Business Growth Enabler on the UK Space Agency Accelerator. Every day, the cohort and alumni from the UK Space Agency are making strides within the UK space sector. Therefore, Ashleigh took a moment to showcase and celebrate the Leo and Geo cohort’s successes since starting the programmes.
Business Branding Workshop
Head of Marketing at Entrepreneurial Spark, Anki Koivumaki, gave an insightful workshop on brand archetypes and how these affect the relationship your customers will have with your brand. Referring to a framework originally inspired by the theory of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, the workshop was designed to help entrepreneurs understand the role their brand could play in their customer’s lives.
Entrepreneurs had the opportunity to analyse their own brands against the theory. This in turn could help them to shape how they communicate and convey their brand messaging in a powerful way.
Touring UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Centre
UCLan is a hub of engineering and innovation in the Northwest. Attendees of Trajectory were treated to a guided tour of UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Centre, exploring industry-leading engineering facilities and technologies. The highlight of the tour was the Flight Simulator Suite. Childhood dreams were realised as people were able to fly a Cessna C172, a Piper Seminole PA44-S, or even the Space Shuttle using state-of-the-art immersive simulators.
Inspirational Talk from Dr Vivek Koncherry
We were delighted to be joined by Dr Vivek Koncherry, CEO of Graphene Innovations Manchester who gave an insightful talk about his experience in building his business. He shared with us how his initial dream to build a space station has led him to harness the power of graphene for material production.
As he recounted his entrepreneurial journey through raising investment and growing a business, Vivek shared with our community three golden pieces of advice.
1. Focus on how your space innovation can be applied to solve current problems and achieve revenue
Vivek’s original vision was to use graphene to create a space station. However, he realised that space stations are essentially pressure vessels. Therefore, he is currently bringing his idea down to Earth and applying his innovation to creating hydrogen storage tanks.
2. Collaboration is the key to success
It’s important to collaborate and create partnerships so that when you need help, you can turn to those in your network.
3. Start telling stories that help investors be excited about your vision
If investors don’t understand the language you use or the application of your vision, they may lose interest. Therefore, share stories that will convince people and build trust in your business.
Inspiring Seasoned Entrepreneurs Panel
Following Dr Vivek Koncherry’s talk, we held our Seasoned Entrepreneur Panel. This was an open discussion with a selection of entrepreneurs who have a wealth of experience growing and scaling businesses in the Space sector. From navigating challenges to seizing opportunities and innovating in today's space market, attendees had the chance to learn from those who have been through the trials and tribulations of growing a business. Panellists included:
Dr Vivek Koncherry, CEO, Graphene Innovations Manchester
Ralph Dinsley, Managing Director, 3S Northumbria Ltd
Oren Smith-Carpenter, CEO, Aurora Avionics
Andy Grey, CEO, Exotopic
The panel covered a plethora of topics focused on growing and developing a business from the ground up from how to leverage connections to get started to balance secrecy and collaboration during partnerships. They provided entrepreneurs in the audience with insights specific to the space sector that will inspire their next steps.
Rooftop Drinks Reception
After an exciting day filled with inspiring talks, perspective-changing workshops and thrilling activities, we ended with a drink reception on the roof terrace. The perfect way to close the day, we were treated to nibbles and live music from the talented local band The Manouchetones. Whilst enjoying the music and evening sun, the cohort, alumni and stakeholders were about to solidify the connections they had made throughout the day.
Bringing the Space Sector Together
Trajectory brings entrepreneurs together from across the UK to celebrate their wins, share learnings, and find inspiration from each other. Through the UK Space Agency Accelerator, we are building a vibrant and diverse community of entrepreneurs and stakeholders. At Trajectory, people from across the sector come together to create fruitful connections that strengthen the space ecosystem.
There was a strong sense of collaboration at this event. Each break was a hive of activity as members of the cohort, alumni and stakeholders conversed to build new partnerships and strengthened established ones. Additionally, from all the talks from the speakers and the Seasoned Entrepreneur Panel, one piece of advice was clear: Collaboration is the key to success.
Leo and Geo Applications are Opening Soon!
Applications for the UK Space Agency Accelerator Leo and Geo programmes are opening soon. This is your opportunity to become a part of our space community and access dynamic events like Trajectory. Join the waiting list today!