The UK space industry is fighting a losing war for talent. That is the takeaway from a high-profile visit by a SpaceX co-founder who claimed to be 'employee number one' in a speech to Westminster insiders.
The insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, painted a grim picture. British start-ups are offering stock options and excitement. But they cannot match the sheer heft of Musk's machine. Or the allure of launching from Cape Canaveral.
One government source admitted: 'We are haemorrhaging PhDs to the States. It is a quiet crisis.' The numbers back this up. Official figures show a net loss of aerospace engineers to the US for three consecutive years.
The visit was timed to coincide with a new £1bn government fund for space. But industry figures are sceptical. 'Money is not enough,' said a senior executive from a UK rocket firm. 'We need a culture shift. We need to be allowed to fail spectacularly.'
Cabinet ministers are listening. There is talk of a 'space visa' for skilled workers. A minister told me: 'We are looking at fast-tracked residency for foreign graduates in STEM. The message has been received.'
But the clock is ticking. The US is dangling $1m salaries for top talent. The UK cannot compete on pay. So it must compete on purpose. That means backing ambitious projects like the proposed Sutherland spaceport.
Backbench MPs are restless. A group of 20 Tories has written to the Prime Minister demanding action. They warn of a 'brain drain' that will cripple the sector.
The SpaceX co-founder's visit was a wake-up call. He spoke of the early days in a garage. The scrappy ambition. The willingness to blow things up. That spirit is alive in the UK. But will it last?
The answer depends on Downing Street. If they move quickly, Britain can be a contender. If not, the next Musk will be an American. And they will have taken the best British minds with them.
