Cornwall Space Cluster launches £15k legal support programme for space SMEs

Cornwall Space Cluster has launched a £15,000 legal support programme to help space businesses across the region protect their innovations and prepare for growth.

Delivered in partnership with South West law firm Stephens Scown, the initiative will provide up to 20 cluster members with three hours of specialist legal advice each.

The programme is administered by Cornwall Space Cluster and backed by Cornwall Council and the UK Space Agency. It aims to help smaller businesses access expertise that might otherwise be difficult to obtain without dedicated in-house legal resources.

Legal support for Cornwall’s space businesses

The programme will offer advice on intellectual property, commercial agreements and corporate governance, helping space and deep tech businesses establish the legal foundations needed to attract investment and scale their operations.

Support can include intellectual property reviews, legal health checks and assessments of key documents such as terms and conditions, articles of association and shareholders’ agreements.

Stephens Scown brings experience in the regional aerospace and space sectors. Partner John Catchpole previously advised Spaceport Cornwall ahead of the UK’s first orbital launch attempt from Cornwall and worked with AeroSpace Cornwall to support more than 40 space and aerospace businesses.

Nathan Coe, Cornwall Space Cluster lead, said: “Cornwall is home to a vibrant and fast-growing community of space-related businesses, with many operating at the forefront of innovation.

“Access to specialist legal support can make a significant difference as these businesses seek to commercialise new technologies, attract investment and scale. We’re delighted to be working with Stephens Scown to help businesses access this expertise.”

Cornwall is recognised as one of the UK’s strategic regional space clusters in the 2025 Modern Industrial Strategy, with the sector also identified as a growth priority in the Cornwall Good Growth Plan 2024–2035.

How Cornwall Space Cluster members can apply

The legal support programme is available to up to 20 Cornwall Space Cluster member businesses.

Advice will focus on reviewing legal agreements and documentation, together with non-transactional and non-contentious matters. Transactional, regulatory and dispute-related work is excluded.

The programme will draw on expertise from Stephens Scown’s commercial, corporate and intellectual property teams.

John Catchpole, partner at Stephens Scown and chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Data and Space Steering Group, said: “Cornwall has built an impressive reputation as a centre for space and aerospace innovation, with businesses attracting national and international attention.

“This programme will help those businesses access specialist support that can strengthen their foundations, protect their innovation and position them for future success.”

Eligible businesses can apply through the Cornwall Space Cluster application form.