About The Hazels - the UK Space Skills Awards

The UK Space sector is growing, but the talent pipeline isn’t. We must act now.

With fierce competition for talent from global employers and other high-tech industries, how do we attract skilled people and shift perceptions about careers in space? It starts with celebration.

The Hazels is a bold new event spotlighting the people, skills, and innovation driving the UK space industry. From STEM to creative disciplines, The Hazels recognises unsung heroes through our unique CREATES© framework, showcasing what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. But we can’t do it without you.

We’re building this with the industry, for the industry. Become a sponsor or partner. Let’s shape the future of UK Space together.

Join our growing network of sponsors and strategic partners.

Our Vision

‘To inspire and nurture others to enjoy adventure in the space industry while shaping a positive future by attracting, inspiring and nurturing diverse talent from across the UK.’

At The Hazels, we strive to inspire, nurture, and attract diverse talent from across the UK.

Having an event like The UK Space Skills Awards ceremony unites exceptional individuals from the industry, celebrating the unsung heroes whose contributions shape the sector from behind the scenes.

We believe in fostering a spirit of adventure within the space industry, encouraging innovation, and building a brighter, more inclusive future by championing talent from all backgrounds

Our Mission

‘To inspire, support, recognise, and celebrate diverse talent and skills necessary for the long-term success of the UK space industry.’

The UK Space Skills Awards ceremony will shine a spotlight on the vast array of skills the space industry requires and the exciting opportunities it offers. By celebrating the achievements of the individuals and organisations that make dreams a reality, we aim to raise awareness among investors, businesses, and the wider public.

Together, we can showcase how collaborative and creative efforts in the space sector benefit not only our planet and its people but also inspire advancements that extend far beyond Earth.

We are committed to shaping a positive future by attracting new talent from a wide range of backgrounds and communities across the UK, while fostering a sense of fun, adventure, and innovation in the space sector.

The UK Space Skills Awards ceremony will shine a spotlight on the vast array of skills the space industry requires and the exciting opportunities it offers. By celebrating the achievements of the individuals and organisations that make dreams a reality, we aim to raise awareness among investors, businesses, and the wider public.

Together, we can showcase how collaborative and creative efforts in the space sector benefit not only our planet and its people but also inspire advancements that extend far beyond Earth.

We aim to shape a positive future by attracting new talent from diverse backgrounds and communities across the UK, whilst nurturing fun and adventure in the space industry.

The Awards ceremony will raise awareness of the multitude of skills needed by the space industry and of the opportunities the industry can offer to investors, to organisations and to the amazing individuals who make dreams happen. It will showcase how we can work creatively together for the benefit of our planet, its people, and beyond.

Celebrating success to a wide audience will help attract and retain skilled professionals and inspire talented young people to join the space industry.

The UK is one of the most promising destinations for private investment in space, by offering prospects for economic growth and solutions to climate change, food security, textile development, communications, robotics, and much more.

It is imperative that the UK space industry aligns education, training, technology, and business strategies whilst developing improved collaboration and sustainability initiatives to deliver a truly responsive industry that energises the UK space economy and contributes to upskilling UK plc.

This can only be achieved with a diversely skilled and valued workforce and an industry culture that embraces difference and creativity.

Why are the UK Space Skills Awards called the Hazels?

Hazel Fellows was an experienced seamstress, photographed at work in 1968, sewing an Apollo spacesuit.

Though the image became an iconic representation of the numerous skilled women behind the suit - seamstresses, pattern cutters and assemblers - very little is known about these women, many of whom were working class and African American, who played a vital role in the design and construction of the spacesuits worn by all twelve men who have walked on the Moon.

The Hazels honour pioneering women who include Hazel Fellows, Iona Allen, Eleanor Foraker, Henrietta Crawford, Roberta Pilkengton; and Aylene Barker.

Iona Allen constructed Neil Armstrong’s lunar boots, whilst Roberta Pilkenton’s emergency repair enabled Apollo 17’s launch.

Aylene Baker’s swift sewing of a replacement heat shield helped save the Skylab mission in 1973.

Largely overlooked by history, these women’s contributions deserve recognition. The UK Space Skills Awards hopes the Hazels name helps to go some way to redress this omission, by honouring every individual, regardless of their backgrounds and circumstance, that shape space exploration.

The contributions of Hazel Fellows and her many unnamed, long forgotten and mostly overlooked colleagues are a salutary reminder that the skills needed by the space industry are broader and wider ranging than engineering skills alone.

The Hazels Icon

The Hazels Award’s icon is a witch hazel flower, which serves as a symbol of dreams, joy, possibilities, and hope.

Witch hazel blooms in winter, bringing unexpected beauty and hope that brighter days will come.

The hazel tree, often called the ‘tree of knowledge’, symbolises wisdom, protection and poetic inspiration.

Hazel and witch hazel branches have long been used to uncover hidden water sources and treasures.

The knowledge, wisdom, healing properties, and the ability to represent light that the witch hazel and the hazel tree bring, together inspires discovery; the pursuit of hidden potential; unexpected colour; and the promise of a brighter future - much like the UK Space Skills Awards.

Industry Impact

The Hazels challenge traditional views on space careers, by highlighting the diverse skills and people who are vital to the success and longevity of the UK space industry.

The Hazels seek to inspire talent, attract investment, and showcase possibilities through inclusivity, cross-disciplinary expertise, and by celebrating success stories.

Founder: Jan Morgan MSc FRSA

Inspired by the Apollo Moon landings as a child, Jan developed a lifelong passion for space. Her career in skills development, alongside her experiences as a disabled woman in the workforce, has made her a powerful advocate for diversity, inclusion, and skills development in the UK space industry.

Jan has led numerous transformative initiatives throughout her career, spanning international experience with Big 4 firms (Deloitte and PwC), universities (The Open University and Coventry University), and consultancy practices, including Atkins SNC-Lavalin. Her expertise covers sectors such as education, defence, security, and educational technologies. With over a decade of board-level experience, she has served as an independent advisor to the UK Cyber Security Council Formation Board, contributing to strategic planning, business development, and qualification pathways and is a member of the Independent Advisory Group for the VIVO Hub, based at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

Jan’s story is one of resilience and determination. After surviving a life-changing brain haemorrhage, she was told she would never walk again. Yet, through immense dedication, perseverance, and the unwavering support of her “village” - family, friends, and occupational therapists - she defied the odds. Just three months later, she walked out of the hospital with the aid of splints and a stick. Within 18 months, she achieved a remarkable victory, winning gold and setting British and European records at the 2012 British Indoor Rowing Championships in the Women’s LTA category.

Her experience has deeply shaped her belief in the power of skills and community. It also perfectly aligns with The Hazels’ mission: to inspire, nurture, support, recognise, and celebrate diverse talent and inclusive organisational cultures. Jan’s leadership exemplifies how resilience and collaboration can drive positive change, not only for the UK space industry but also for the planet.

Founding Friends

Jan has been supported in the development of The Hazels through the insights, critiques and practical support from:

  • Elise Lewis

    Programme Director

    Elise is a dynamic, driven and focused interim Programme Delivery Director. She is an expert in improving front line services and maximising efficiencies in the public and private sectors, including commercial, charitable and Whitehall environments. Elise Implements robust governance and quality assurance and benefits strategies to all programmes and improves productivity and secures return on investment by defining deliverables vs. corporate strategy.

  • Georgie Holmes and Karen Thomas

    Pemberley Events

    The Pemberley Team have worked with an extensive list of global corporate and private clients, along with ambassadors, political leaders, sports professionals, medical experts and celebrities.  Their rigorous attention to detail and bespoke touches ensure that they always go the extra mile to deliver a magical experience for all attendees, nominees and winners.

  • Charlie Young

    Founder of Upstream

    Charlie is a mechanical engineer with a background in spacecraft propulsion, launch system heavy engineering, and launch campaign management. He has the ambition of ensuring NewSpace is a successful business sector in the UK by focusing on safety, quality and productivity improvement. 

  • Dr Sara de Freitas

    Co-founder of Weypoint

    Sara is an international expert, specialising in the innovative use and development of digital and immersive technologies and online education. Sara has held Professorships in immersive environments, digital education, and digital technologies (in 8 universities in UK and Australia), and has  authored 40 books and over  100 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers. She has also held roles in industry, including as a Company Director in an AIM-listed PLC and has worked with a wide range of governments, universities, and businesses. Sara is currently Governor at Sunderland University where she sits on the Board and Audit and Risk Committee, with special responsibility for the London Campus. She also holds several active honorary roles, including visiting Professorships at the Open University and South Wales and as an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of London. She holds fellowships at the Royal Society of Arts, Business Excellence Institute and is Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

  • Helena Traill FRSA

    Creative Director and Founder of nooh Studio

    Graphic designer, healthcare designer and visual storyteller with a fresh perspective on design. Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Art graduate. Helena also writes The Ideas Machine - a weekly blog discussing what it’s like to be a young female founder, explaining how she’s built her business around her brain, and sharing ideas to push your own creative practices.