The UK Space Agency has published a comprehensive set of GovBridge training resources designed to help space startups and SMEs sell into government, aiming to accelerate public sector adoption of space technology and position the UK government as an anchor customer. The materials are drawn from the Unlocking Space for Government – Civil (USG‑C) and Defence (USG‑D) programmes, delivered in financial year 2024/25 under the UK Space Agency Accelerator. The page was published on 30 September 2025.
What the GovBridge package includes
The resource hub consolidates slide decks, toolkits and case studies that explain government buying processes, with a particular focus on Ministry of Defence (MoD) routes to market. Key components include:
- Cyber Resilience in Space
- GovBridge Defence Boot Camp Slides – Day 1
- GovBridge Defence Boot Camp Slides – Day 2
- Government Stakeholder Engagement
- MoD Portals and Bidding Tips
- MoD RFI and PQQ Case Study
- MoD Toolkit
- Social Value in MoD Procurement
Most items are available in PDF and HTML formats, with accessible versions offered on request via the UK Space Agency.
Who it targets and how it is structured
GovBridge was delivered to two cohorts: a General pathway for civil government opportunities and a Defence pathway focused on MoD procurement. The content is tailored for founders and business development leads at early and growth-stage companies seeking to convert innovation into contracts rather than grants. Modules cover upstream and downstream use cases, mapping opportunities from Earth observation and PNT to space-enabled communications and services.
Why it matters for the UK space market
Government remains one of the largest potential customers for space-enabled capabilities, yet procurement cycles and compliance requirements can be challenging for smaller firms. By demystifying gateways such as RFIs and PQQs, addressing cyber resilience expectations, and clarifying social value considerations in defence procurement, GovBridge lowers barriers to entry and can shorten sales cycles. The initiative is intended to:
- Improve bidder readiness for civil and defence competitions.
- Increase the quality and compliance of proposals from startups and SMEs.
- Expand public sector adoption of space technology across departments and agencies.
- Support revenue diversification beyond grants and pilots.
Practical takeaways for startups
- Build a pipeline: align capabilities to departmental needs early and track upcoming procurements.
- Engage stakeholders: identify decision-makers and influencers across government and plan phased engagement.
- Strengthen assurance: baseline cyber, safety and quality processes before bidding.
- Tailor value: address mission outcomes and social value criteria alongside technical performance.
- Learn MoD specifics: understand documentation expectations, portals and security constraints in defence.
Access the resources
The full set of materials can be accessed via the UK government website: Unlocking Space – GovBridge resources. The page will be updated as additional resources become available.
