Job Description:

The Industrial Strategy sets an ambition to grow more £10 million companies in the UK. The Catapult holds substantial data on the UK space ecosystem through the Space Capabilities Catalogue (SCC), including econometric indicators. This project will use SCC data to identify UK space organisations with credible potential to exceed £10m revenue by 2030, and to recommend what forms of business support could help ensure that growth. The intern will develop a transparent, evidence-based growth model, validate results through structured profiling, and produce a report and prioritised recommendations.

The intern will:

• Model design: Build an interpretable, evidence-based growth model that estimates the probability and / or expected time to reaching £10m revenue by 2030 (e.g., a rules-based scorecard or regression-style approach using SCC indicators and / or supplementary data sources available both online or through other Catapult business segments). Clearly define assumptions and limitations.

• Validation and triangulation: Conduct structured desk research on a shortlist to validate inputs and outputs (Companies House accounts where available, press releases, credible databases, customer / contract announcements). Refine the model where evidence indicates systematic bias.

• Profiling and support needs assessment: For the prioritised organisations, create concise profiles summarising: growth drivers, constraints, and the most relevant support pathways (e.g., investment readiness, export support, certification / assurance, test and validation access, skills, partnerships, supply-chain positioning, procurement readiness; where possible, this should align with the Catapults Products & Services).

• Recommendations: Produce a final report and slide pack with (i) model method, (ii) shortlist outputs, and (iii) recommended Catapult interventions and the resources needed to support them for each organisation (what, for whom, and why), including quick wins and longer-term options.

The successful applicant should have the following qualities and abilities:

This internship will provide the applicant with a combination of technical and human skills applicable to research, analysis, and international collaboration in the space sector.

Technical Skills:

• Economic and growth modelling: Designing an interpretable model; handling assumptions, bias, and uncertainty; producing defensible outputs.

• Data handling and quality control: Extracting, cleaning, and documenting variables; identifying coverage gaps; maintaining an evidence trail for each judgement.

• Market and company research: Structured profiling using credible sources; triangulating conflicting information; summarising findings consistently.

• Insight writing: Converting analysis into executive-ready recommendations with clear logic and prioritisation.

Human Skills:

• Critical thinking and judgement: Separating signal from noise; challenging initial hypotheses; identifying where the model may mislead.

• Stakeholder communication: Regular updates; explaining methods simply; presenting findings to mixed technical / non-technical audiences.

• Ownership and delivery discipline: Working to milestones; managing ambiguity; maintaining clear documentation and version control.

By the end of the project, the intern will be equipped with a well-rounded skill set, valuable for both the space sector and broader industries.

Academic Requirements:

• Currently studying or recently graduated (undergraduate or postgraduate study) in computer science, economics, data science, statistics, finance, management science, public policy, business management, or a similarly analytical discipline.

Minimum Requirements:

• A desire to learn about the UK commercial space sector and its international market interactions.

• Comfort working with datasets and basic modelling concepts (e.g., regression, scoring, forecasting, or equivalent analytical methods).

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Strong communication skills (both oral and written), with the ability to engage effectively with individuals at various levels across organisations.

• Curiosity and resourcefulness, willingness to explore different options when required data is not immediately available, and the ability to document sources.

• Meticulous attention to detail, understanding the importance of data quality in project success.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently and take ownership of tasks.

Desirable Requirements:

• Prior research experience is desirable, but not essential.

Process details:

• 8 weeks minimum fixed term contract to be agreed with successful candidate

• 5 days holiday to be taken during the placement

How we work at Satellite Applications Catapult….

We strive to create a high trust, high performance and inclusive environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work – this helps to create the foundations of an innovation culture. Our shared values are critical to this:

• We care - for our people, our partners, and our planet

• We connect - and engage with people and ideas

• We learn - and grow, as people and as an industry

Underpinning this is our belief in great teams, our combined efforts will always deliver outcomes beyond that of anyone providing we are honest through debate, experiment and reflect, and create shared resolutions in support of our purpose. Live these values, work to our principles, take ownership to deliver, and we are certain you will thrive with us.

This job description set outs the skills and experience we think are needed to be able to perform in this job. However, if you believe you can deliver in this role then we want to hear from you.

Important notice for applicants: We use tools to detect plagiarism and the use of AI or chatbots for applicant answers. If plagiarism, AI use (such as ChatGPT) or similar software are found to have been used in your application you will not be considered for this or future roles within the Satellite Applications Catapult. If you need any additional support during the application process, please do reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.

At Satellite Applications Catapult, we're committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome candidates from all corners of the globe, but due to legal and logistical considerations, we want to be transparent about the potential visa-related challenges that could arise. Our ability to offer sponsorship will depend on the level of interest for our roles and salary level. Unfortunately we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

If you need any additional support during the application process, please do reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.