Young people from underrepresented groups will be able to pursue
a career in aviation thanks to new Government funding for an
aviation skills and outreach programme.
Launched today (26 July) by Aviation Minister , this latest round of funding
for the skills and outreach programme, Reach for the Sky,
serves as a way for young people aged four to eighteen from
under-represented groups that may not otherwise have had the
opportunity to pursue a career in aviation, to do so.
Now in its third year, organisations can from today apply for a
share of £750,000 that will help them deliver outreach programmes
which will provide events, taster days, mentorship schemes and
educational initiatives with schools and universities - building
on the Government's promise to secure the long-term future of
aviation and give young people the opportunities they
deserve.
Aviation minister said:
“Our aviation industry is one of the best in the world and it's
the talented people within it that makes it so successful - the
primary purpose of leadership is to create new leaders.
“Having a diverse workforce that can effectively address future
challenges - from growing passenger demand to decarbonisation -
is crucial and our Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund is inspiring
the next generation to be part of this ever-growing travel
sector.”
Several barriers hinder people from joining the aviation industry
– including limited access to further education, financial
constraints, and lack of exposure to career pathways.
With only five per cent of pilots being women, fewer black young
people being exposed to aviation opportunities than their white
peers, and almost three quarters of airline staff based in London
and the South West, both Government and industry are working
together to ensure the industry is open to everyone.
Reach for the Sky brings fresh perspectives and innovative
solutions to the table, and this new pot of funding will add to
the £1.5 million already provided. Outreach programmes supported
by the Department for Transport have already helped over 100,000
young people to discover a career in aviation.
Previous recipients of DfT-funded schemes include 18-year-old
aspiring pilot Joshua Merchan-Nicholls from Finchley, North
London. Since 2021, he has been tirelessly working towards a
career as a commercial pilot – a dream he's had since he was
seven years old – and was recently awarded a gliding scholarship
from the Air League as part of the DfT-funded ‘Soaring to
Success' programme.
The Air League, aimed at breaking down barriers into the aviation
industry, offers a range of scholarships, volunteering programmes
and events for people of all backgrounds, and has recently
celebrated its 12,000th recipient. Not only is Joshua
hoping to start a pilot training course, but he has also set his
heart on helping young people from similar backgrounds achieve
rewarding careers in aviation.
Joshua said:
“I was seven when I first imagined myself as a pilot and I've
followed this dream ever since. Thanks to the Air League, I
received a gliding scholarship in 2022, which gave me my first
experience of solo flying and made me even more enthusiastic!
“I'm grateful that these organisations exist because they open
opportunities for people like me who always wanted to fly and
they show the possibility of a career to people who hadn't
considered it before. It's great that the Government is
supporting young people like this.”
Claire MacAleese, Chair of the Air League,
said:
"For 115 years the Air League has been inspiring the aviators of
tomorrow. The Department for Transport's Reach for the Sky
programme is an important part of keeping that momentum going.
Reach for the Sky has been pivotal to our Soaring to Success
programme over the past two years and more than 12,000 state
school students have engaged in learning about a career in
aviation and our flying days as a result.”
As the industry undergoes a revolution driven by technology,
decarbonisation and passenger experience, creating a more
inclusive and accessible pathway into the exciting world of
aviation is crucial to its continuing success.
Sophie Jones, Head of Organisational Capability and STEM
Sponsor at UK Civil Aviation Authority said:
“The aerospace sector will stall without young people with new
ideas and innovations joining it.
“The Reach for the Sky Challenge fund brings in people from
diverse backgrounds to gain skills and pursue fantastic careers
in aerospace.
“As the regulator we are committed to inspiring the next
generation to get their feet off the ground and Reach for the Sky
helps fund our extensive STEM program.”
Applications for the fund
are now open until September and decisions will be agreed by
a joint panel of the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA) – which administers the fund on DfT's
behalf.
