North East NESST event marks milestone for space skills, jobs and innovation
The creation of NESST – the North East Space Skills and Technology centre – took one step closer to completion last week, with the traditional topping out ceremony taking place.
The building, a venture between Lockheed Martin, Northumbria University and the UK Space Agency, is on schedule for its opening this autumn, marking the culmination of a £50m project at Northumbria University’s Newcastle campus.
Representatives from local government, local politicians, the university and from Lockheed Martin were present for the traditional ‘Topping Out’ celebration which marks the placement of the highest structural beam and signifies the completion of the structural framework.
The topping out ceremony included the nailing of an evergreen tree for good luck, with the traditional ale given to the head of the building team, to signify a job well done.
As a key partner in NESST, Lockheed Martin played a role in the ceremony, with Robert Lightfoot, President of Lockheed Martin Space, attending the event, alongside Paul Livingston, Chief Executive UK & Nato at Lockheed Martin.
It further cemented Lockheed Martin’s on-going commitment to the North East and the company’s excitement about the future.
His words were echoed by Mr Livingston, who said the topping out ceremony “was a real milestone.”
“There is such a long history in the region of manufacturing and that, combined with the technology we can bring, make for a very exciting future.
“The impact the space industry will have on the future economy of the North East will bring real growth, particularly in the light of the £100m worth of investment opportunities we are looking at in the region.
“This would include a potential £85m to create a satellite manufacturing facility in County Durham which would produce UK sovereign systems to be used both in the UK and to export.”
Lockheed Martin’s investment and commitment were also recognised on the day with Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council, adding that “Lockheed Martin has been a tremendous advocate, not just for the NESST building but for the city and the region as a whole.”
The topping out ceremony cemented Lockheed Martin’s commitment to the North East, not only through its involvement in NESST but with its proposed creation of an £85m satellite factory near Durham.
Lockheed Martin’s investment in space in the UK will bring coveted jobs and economic growth.
*Data from independent economic impact assessment carried out on behalf of Lockheed Martin
Once the green light has been given by the Government, this ambitious scheme planned for the science hub NETPark at Sedgefield, County Durham would lead to a facility which would build and test satellites and could initially create around 500 jobs.