The Hazels - the UK Space Skills Awards will

  • Celebrate success

  • Showcase the wide range of skills and roles used in the UK Space Industry

  • Expand STEM subjects to also embrace the creative arts and trades essential for success through the CREATES (c) framework and the 5 STAR Award Categories

  • Provide industry with peer recognition and validation

  • Promote the work of the UK Space Industry to a wider UK and global audience

The CREATES (c) Framework and the 5 STAR AWARD CATEGORIES

The Hazels - the UK Space Skills Awards recognises the unsung heroes of the UK space industry through the C.R.E.A.T.E.S (c) awards framework which goes beyond the constrains of STEM subjects, by encapsulating traditional crafts, creativity and expression.  C.R.E.A.T.E.S (c) recognise and celebrate excellence across disciplines by capturing the ideas of innovation, hands-on creation, delivery and multidisciplinary learning, which are vital to the long-term sustainability of the space industry. Sitting under the C.R.E.A.T.E.S (c) framework lies the 5 STAR Award categories which together provides a high-profile platform to showcase how diverse skills, individuals, teams, and organisations are contributing to the UK’s National Space Strategy.

The Hazels awards categories are:

Award 1: - Technical and Creative and Mastery

  • Crafts, Construction, Arts, Textiles, Trades, Technicians, Technology, Experimentation, Expression, AI

Award 2: - Infrastructure and Systems

  • Applied Data, Applied Maths, Engineering, Ecosystems, Energy, Science, Security, Place based Regeneration, Sustainability

Award 3: - Leadership and Human element

  • Play, Communication, Collaboration, Standout Project/Programme Leader, Support Services, Hospitality

Award 4: - Security and Safety

  • Coding, Capacity building, Cyber Security, Transdisciplinary solutions

Award 5: - Regulation and Risk

  • Regulation, Risk, Legal, Insurance, Realisation

Separate APPRENTICESHIPS Awards will be presented to the:

Space Industry Apprentice of the Year

This award recognises those on an active levy funded space or space related apprenticeship Nomination Criteria:

Nominations should be based on one or more of the following:

  • their application of learning

  • their potential

Space Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year

This award is open to training providers who have apprentices in the space sector

Nomination Criteria:

  • Training providers whose programmes are making a demonstrable contribution to advancing excellence, inclusion and innovation in the UK space industry through practical training

Space Apprenticeship Employer of the Year

This award is open to those employers who are utilising their apprenticeship levy to create up skilling for existing and new entrant opportunities through apprentices. 

Nomination Criteria:

  • Employers who are utilising their apprenticeship levy to upskill their existing workforce and to create new entrant opportunities to the UK space industry

Additional Categories

  • Our strategic Partner, ORBITEER will hold a public vote for the SPACE MENTOR OF THE YEAR. This award celebrates mentors who inspire, nurture, guide and empower others through their knowledge, experience, encouragement and example.

  • Our Sponsor FISTRAL TRAINING will host the HAZEL AWARD for the most inspirational woman of the year in the UK Space Industry, by celebrating an inspiring woman who positively influences the Space sector in the UK through their exceptional contribution or outstanding achievement.

  • The final award of the evening will be the SEREN awards to 4 unsung heroes, working in the UK space industry, each drawn from all four corners of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who are recognised for their performance or outstanding achievements despite their own challenging or exceptional circumstances. This category is deliberately broad.