IT’S time to aim for the stars as you look for a job, with investment rocketing in the SpaceTech sector.

In the Sixties, America saw off Russia to become the first to land a man on the moon.

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Aspire for a career in space tech[/caption]

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Londoner Zamzam Hersi is a Spacecraft Controller at Inmarsat[/caption]

But this time around new countries, including India and China, are joining the space race to develop reusable rockets, create space-age defence systems and launch commercial satellites.

Industry insiders are predicting a surge in Space-Tech investment, creating tens of thousands of jobs worldwide.

At the heart of this is the UK space sector, employing 52,000 people and generates more than £7billion to UK GDP.

Elon Musk found inspiration for his low-cost rocket launches while serving on the board of small UK firm Surrey Satellite Technology.

Demand for new staff in the UK sector is growing fast.

Currently, four in five employees have a degree in a science, technology, engineering or maths background, known as STEM.

Top jobs include in-orbit servicing and satellite data analysis, spaceport operations management, software engineers and AI experts.

Londoner Zamzam Hersi is a Spacecraft Controller at Inmarsat.

Zamzam, who grew up interested in science-fiction and outer space, had been thinking about a career in medicine after her A-levels but instead took a gap year and then went to study aerospace engineering, going on to graduate from the University of Leicester.

She said: “It was the perfect choice for me as I could combine my love for problem solving and designing with a focus on space systems. To break into the space industry, you have to be proactive. I emailed 50 professors asking for work experience and eventually secured a role.

“I also used SpaceCareers.uk, UKSEDS and LinkedIn as resources for keeping in the loop of opportunities in the industry.”

There are also many more standard roles, including HR, commercial management, project managers and even space lawyers.

These don’t require STEM qualifications.

Ingmar Kamalagharan of the UK Space Agency says: “Most people are not aware of how much they use space in their everyday life, from making a bank transaction to navigating and being able to call anyone around the world or access the internet.”

Ready to launch your space career?

If so, be sure to do your research on possible roles.

The sector is developing fast, with new jobs coming on board.

For help to decide what is right for you, see Spacecareers.uk and nationalspaceacademy.org/careers/careers-advice-and-information.

If you are at school, college or are planning on changing career, then take part in competitions and challenges.

These will help you stand out on applications for jobs or work experience.

STEM.org offer challenges, and education project Esero gives opportunities to engage with space sector role models.

It’s vital to ensure you have the right skills for your chosen role.

See spaceskills.org, which offers more information on what you will need to know.

And network.

At ukspace.org you will find a calendar of events.

Manage being a leader

THIS year Gen Z are predicted to make up 27 per cent of the global workforce – but if you’re young and ambitious, you can end up managing someone much older than yourself.

Business coach and TikTok sensation Kate Waterfall Hill said: “I was promoted to MD in a marketing agency aged 29, overseeing other directors who had been on the board when I arrived as a graduate.

Vicki Knights

“It was a challenge to lead people older and more experienced than me.”

Here, Kate shares her advice:

1. EMBRACE A LEARNER’S MINDSET: Don’t come in with all the answers – come in with questions.

The temptation to prove yourself can be overwhelming when you’re a younger manager.

Resist it.

Your experienced team members often carry insights that no management book will ever capture – and you need to listen and build trust.

Show you value their experience.

2. LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE, NOT EGO: I’ve watched countless young leaders stumble not because they lacked ability, but because they felt compelled to be the expert in everything.

Your role isn’t to be the authority on all matters – it’s to be authoritative in bringing out the best in your team.

3. SHARE YOUR OWN LEARNING PROCESS OPENLY: When faced with new challenges, articulate your approach.

Say: “Here’s what I’m thinking, I’d value your perspective on this.”

It will create space for your experienced team members to contribute without feeling like they’re correcting you.

4. DRAW ON EVERYONE’S UNIQUE TALENTS: View yourself as the conductor, not the soloist.

The most effective teams are united by complementary abilities.

5. FOCUS ON PURPOSE AND VISION: When purpose is clear, experience and age become secondary.

Focus on building a narrative that draws on both innovation and experience.

6. KNOW YOURSELF: Understanding your values and strengths provides a quiet confidence.

This self-knowledge creates a natural authority that transcends age.

One to tech out

FASCINATED by AI? Then dust down those brain cells to net yourself an exciting new career.

A US-based firm has launched a scholarship for young people with innovative ideas about how to boost cybersecurity using artificial intelligence.

Vectra AI, which specialises in detecting online threats, says its scheme aims to inspire the next generation of AI leaders.

Chief Hitesh Sheth said: “The next generation will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cybersecurity. We hope to empower young minds to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the fight against threats.”

The scheme is open to senior school pupils and graduate and undergrad students.

One winner will get $10,000 (about £8,000) to support their education.

Two runners-up will receive $5,000 each, and all three winners will be mentored by Vectra experts.

Apply by March 31 at vectra.ai/ai-scholars.

Better brains

ALMOST half of Brits want to learn new skills this year but more than two thirds admit they would find it easier to lose weight or get fit than achieve “brain gains”.

A new survey also reveals 57 per cent want to achieve career goals by switching jobs, getting a pay rise or working towards a promotion.

Now the Skills For Life campaign, which conducted the survey, has joined forces with wellbeing charity Better in a bid to boost “learning health”.

The charity runs more than 240 leisure centres nationwide.

Better’s Joseph Rham said: “We are delighted to be supporting Skills for Life in 2025 with several of our leisure centres and gyms across the country hosting free personal development – or ‘PD’ sessions – with career advisers from the National Careers Service.”

You can find out more at better.org.uk/healthy-communit ies/skills-for-life.

DOMINIC SOLANKE has been ruled out for “six weeks” with his knee injury worse than first feared.

The England striker, 27, twisted it while taking a shot on his own in training on Saturday.

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Ange Postecoglou had initially expected the blow to rule the forward out for “a few weeks” – but that has now been upgraded to a month and a half.

It puts Solanke in a race against time to be fit for the Carabao Cup final on March 16, which Tottenham will be competing in if they can see off Arne Slot’s mighty Liverpool.

He will definitely miss the second leg of their semi-final at Anfield on February 6, into which Spurs take a 1-0 lead thanks to Lucas Bergvall’s goal which Solanke set up in the initial tie.

Postecoglou said: “With Dom, the information now is that we are looking at around the six-week mark. No surgery.

“Maybe we can get him back a little bit earlier, just see how he progresses. But at this stage it’s saying around six weeks.”

Six weeks from when the injury was sustained would take him until March 1.

That time frame would see the striker miss at least eight matches.

They include Premier League games against Leicester, Brentford, Manchester United, Ipswich and Manchester City.

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The Carabao Cup semi against Liverpool, an FA Cup fourth-round at Aston Villa and next week’s Europa League tie against Elfsborg take place in that period too – plus both play-offs if Spurs somehow fail to finish in the top eight of the European table.

Solanke was the most expensive Premier League signing this summer after joining from Bournemouth for £65million.

The club-record buy has 11 goals in 29 appearances, earning an England recall with his industrious displays.

Solanke was one of FOURTEEN players missing for Spurs, due to injury or ineligibility, for the 3-2 win at Hoffenheim in the Europa League.

It put the North Londoners into fourth spot, one point clear of United in ninth.

A Son Heung-min double and an early James Maddison strike did the business, with the hosts netting through Anton Stach and sub David Mokwa.

Boss Postecoglou added: “I could not speak highly enough of the players carrying us through. They will get some help hopefully soon with some players coming back.

“We are in a real good position in Europe. Get to the knockout rounds home and away, get our players back and we will back ourselves against anyone.

“The fact that these guys have got us to this position — Madders and all the players that have carried us through — credit to them.”

BRITAIN faces being shackled to EU rules again under a plan hatched by Brussels.

No10 repeatedly refused yesterday to rule out signing up to the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention trade club — saying it will not cross any “red line”.

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Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out signing up to the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention trade club[/caption]

PM Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “The arrangement that’s been discussed is not a customs union.

“Our red line has always been that we will never join a single market, freedom of movement, but we’re just not going to get ahead of those discussions.”

New EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic pitched the idea of Britain joining up at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week.

The convention — which facilitates tariff-free trade between Europe and parts of the Middle East and North Africa — was turned down by the Tories while in government.

They feared it would surrender Britain’s ability to strike independent trade deals and maintain regulatory autonomy.

But in a further sign Labour is prepared to give away hard-won Brexit freedoms, Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas- Symonds has refused to exclude tying Britain to EU rules.

He also failed to guarantee European judges would be kept out of British affairs. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel hit back, saying: “Labour’s programme of bending the knee to the EU is disgraceful.”

She said reports that ministers might “shackle” us to the EU are deeply concerning.

Ms Patel added: “Once again it is clear that Keir Starmer and his chums are all too happy to put their ideology ahead of our national interest, no matter the cost.”

The EU is also continuing to demand access to British fishing waters and freedom of movement for young people on a student scheme.

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