by Ann Fotheringham, Senior Features Writer
All image credits: Robert Perry

As he walks past the ship models, lovingly preserved in a large display cabinet, Steve Greenland pauses and taps on the glass.
“I walk past this every morning,” he says, with a slight smile. “My dream is to get a satellite in here, one of these days….”
Steve is managing director of Craft Prospect, an exciting, employee-owned space engineering firm working at the cutting edge of satellite technology on the banks of the Clyde.
Its Govan HQ, a funky, bright office with red rugs, hanging greenery and Lego rockets and jigsaws dotted about broad tables, was formerly home to the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Fairfield’s revolutionised sea transportation, building the largest and fastest vessels the world had ever seen. The building is now home to the Fairfield Heritage Museum - hence the ship models - and a variety of small business tenants.
Steve graduated in avionics and aerospace from Manchester University and was all set to start work at Rolls-Royce when he got the chance to visit Japan on a postgraduate course at the University of Tokyo.
“That’s where I first discovered cube satellites, and it was eye-opening,” he explains. “I learned a lot about the potential for small satellites and it completely changed what I wanted to do next.”
Steve outside the Fairfield HQ (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)

Steve moved to Glasgow, and after completing research at the University of Strathclyde and pioneering satellite firm Clyde Space (now AAC Clyde Space), he set up Craft Prospect in 2017.
“I wanted to look at how new technologies would impact on space in the future, and help people understand what small satellites can do,” he explains.
Cyber technology, or providing extra security as attacks become more sophisticated; climate imaging, or capturing information to help us understand more about the challenges facing the planet; experimentation, working with the European Space Agency – Craft Prospect’s list of innovative projects and stellar aims helped it win the Rising Star title at the ESA awards in Milan last year.
It has also helped place Glasgow at the heart of Scotland’s thriving space industry.
John Charlick is the company’s head of operations.
“Glasgow’s space industry is a burgeoning eco-system, we work closely with other local companies,” says John.
John Charlick (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)

“The often-quoted statistic that the city makes more satellites than anywhere else in Europe has been stretched a bit, but Glasgow certainly does have one of the most vibrant ecosystems in the industry.”
John’s family worked at the Fairfield yards.
“My dad, grandfather, uncles all worked here – I used to come here to children’s parties when I was small, which feels bizarre,” he says, smiling.
“Our main office now was where the draughtsmen did their drawings – the big windows bring in a lot of natural light, so it made sense.”
David Fitzpatrick (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest

David Fitzpatrick, operations manager, adds: “On Doors Open Day, we get a lot of visitors who have connections to the shipyard. One man actually pointed out his old desk, where he’d sit drawing blueprints for the ships.
“We are very aware of the heritage all around us, that we are following in the footsteps of some of Glasgow’s greatest engineers.”
Maura Allan (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)
Steve, who grew up in Stevenage, agrees. “Glasgow is an amazing city to live in, and there has always been a proud focus on engineering here.”
The company, which started off in one room, has expanded into two floors of the building.

Its biggest project at the moment is leading the €19m OPS-SAT VOLT satellite mission, funded by the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency, which is testing and demonstrating new optical and quantum communication technologies in a low Earth orbit environment.
Craig and Scott at work in the lab (Image: Robert Perry/Newsquest)

In the labs, Craig Colquhoun, the company’s quantum technology lead, Scott Nichol, VOLT project intern and control systems engineer Maura Allan are “putting the pieces together” as they discuss the ongoing programme. There is complicated talk of entangled photon sources, liquid crystal and lasers, and, excitingly, a telescope for the roof of the building.
“We are hoping to make that happen,” nods John, smiling. “It would be amazing as we could talk directly to our satellites from here.
"I’m sure the shipbuilders could never have imagined that one day a telescope, communicating with space, would sit on their roof….”
Scott, who is studying digital security and forensics at Glasgow Caledonian University while completing his Honours project at Craft Prospect, says it is "an amazing place" to work.
“You read about the kind of incredible work being done in the space industry without realising it is actually happening right here, in Glasgow, right now," he says. "That is pretty exciting.”