Guidance

Growth Pathway Advisory Scheme

Updated 28 September 2026

Raising growth capital is one of the toughest challenges for scale-ups. As businesses move beyond Series A towards larger rounds, the pool of potential investors narrows, due diligence becomes more complex and associated transaction costs rise, all whilst leadership teams remain focused on delivery. ​  

The UK Space Agency’s Growth Pathway Advisory Scheme was established to support ambitious UK space businesses to strengthen investor readiness and unlock the capital required to catalyse their next phase of growth.  

Through tailored, subsidised advisory support and exclusive investor engagement opportunities, the scheme aims to help scale-ups bridge the gap between early investment and sustainable growth.​  

1. How it Works 

The Growth Pathway Advisory Scheme offers a combination of diagnostic, advisory, and investor engagement support to help space businesses prepare for investment or exit. 

1.1 Investor Readiness Diagnostic  

Participating businesses begin with a no-cost, no-obligation investor readiness diagnostic under NDA. This process benchmarks businesses against six major investor readiness barriers, identifying strengths, gaps, and areas of focus to improve fundraising outcomes. 

1.2 Specialist Advisory Services 

A bespoke customer advisory support plan will be shared that offers specialist advisory service from leading advisors and industry experts, including PwC and DLA Piper, alongside experienced space founders and other fundraising specialists, to address priority issues that have been flagged in the Investor Readiness Diagnostic.  

Businesses are not obligated to accept these services and will also have access to a range of specialist services that are aimed at improving investment readiness across areas such as:  

• Strategic & Commercial: business model, go-to-market, investor narrative  

• Financial: forecasting, valuation, capital strategy  

• Tax: tax governance and innovation incentive health checks  

• Legal & Risk: IP protection, regulatory readiness, governance  

• Leadership & Organisational: board structure, team development  

The UK Space Agency will fund up to 75% of the value of the total advisory services used, within a limit. The limit to the amount UKSA will pay is £100k including VAT. Your organisation will fund the remaining 25%. This means, for example, that if you chose to use services to a value of £80k, UKSA would pay £60k of that, and the £60k would have to include VAT.

1.3 Marketing materials review  

All successful participants will receive a review of their marketing materials (e.g. an investor deck) alongside the chosen Specialist Advisory Services at no extra cost.

1.4 Investor Engagement Opportunities  

Upon completion of the Specialist Advisory Services, the Growth Pathway team will offer an introductory meeting with an investor. This gives an opportunity to rehearse for future investor meetings and to get feedback on investment readiness. 

2. Who it’s for  

This scheme is designed for UK registered space businesses who within the next 18 months are raising Series A or later rounds, and/or preparing for exit. Companies in adjacent sectors with strong relevance to the UK space ecosystem may also be considered.  

3. Why it matters  

The UK space sector generates £18.6 billion in income each year and employs 55,550 people directly, supporting around 137,000 jobs including the supply chain. But too often, growth is held back by limited access to capital. By equipping scale-ups with the credibility, evidence, and insight investors demand, the Growth Pathway strengthens the sector’s ability to attract capital, accelerate innovation, and compete globally.  

4. Applications are now open  

The application window for business eligibility runs from 28 September to 25 October 2026. 

Please fill out the eligibility form here

Participating businesses must formally request selected advisory services before 1 January 2027, otherwise business eligibility will lapse.  

All services must be provided, and funding used before 31 March 2027.  

The Growth Pathway Advisory Scheme will be delivered through multiple cohorts over the duration of the programme. The UK Space Agency reserves the right to determine and, where appropriate, vary between application windows, the applicable eligibility criteria, funding allocations, subsidy rates, and programme priorities. Applications will be assessed solely against the requirements published for the relevant application window. Participation in, or application to, any cohort shall not confer any entitlement, expectation, precedence, or preferential treatment in respect of any future cohort.   

Further eligibility windows will open in 2027, 2028 and 2029. Details will be released nearer the time.  

For further information about the scheme, including eligibility and scoring, please see this model outcome letter.