National Centre for Social Research to lead evaluation of UK Space Agency Inspiration Programme

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has been commissioned by the UK Space Agency to carry out an evaluation of the £15 million Inspiration Programme, one of the UK Space Agency’s eight key priorities to support delivery of the National Space Strategy. The Inspiration programme aims to inspire young people to pursue STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics), attract top-tier talent to the UK space sector, and demonstrate the substantial benefits of space science, technology, and applications. 

NatCen will be conducting an evaluation into three separate workstreams, Space to Inspire, Space to Learn, and Skills for Space. These workstreams focus on young people at different stages of their journey in STEM engagement and learning and aim to encourage more people to consider a career in STEM, and the space sector specifically. The evaluation encompasses a multifaceted approach, incorporating interviews, comprehensive desk research, surveys and focus groups, as well as supporting ongoing monitoring and evaluation within the different workstreams. Fieldwork for the evaluation has begun and will be completed in Spring 2025. 

The key priority of the national evaluation is to measure if current investments are being maximised across the programme and in alignment with the overarching National Space Strategy. NatCen will also work with the team delivering the Inspiration Programme to further develop their Theory of Change, designed to be robust for future evaluations and ensure ongoing success and impact of the programme.

Gayle Munro, Director of NatCen’s Centre for Children & Families said: “The Centre for Children & Families are delighted to be working with the UK Space Agency on this crucial programme, to inspire our future workforce to engage with STEM education and employment. We have a strong track record of delivering rigorous evaluation research of a variety of programmes designed for children and young people and are thrilled to be expanding on our knowledge in the STEM sector.”

Harriet Kennedy, Head of Education and Future Workforce at UK Space Agency (UKSA) commented: “The Education & Future Workforce Programme goes beyond inspiring young people’s interest in space, to provide critical learning about space and exciting careers paths into the sector. This important evaluation work from the National Centre for Social Research will identify where we can make the greatest impact on skills shortages through our interventions, to grow a diverse and skilled workforce which can support the UK’s future ambitions in space.

"The UKSA believe evaluation is critical to understanding our impact, deciding how to allocate our resources and deliver value for money for the taxpayer. In recent years the UKSA have substantially increased our commitment to evaluation, and our vision is for evaluation findings to meaningfully inform programme design and spending decisions.”

For more information please contact:

Emileigh Spurdens, Communications Manager
t:020 7549 8506 e: emileigh.spurdens@natcen.ac.uk