- government commits £750,000 to inspire future generations of
aviators
- funding will grow the economy by boosting employment and
ensuring that the aviation industry has a workforce fit for the
future
- part of the Generation Aviation initiative, a
government-industry collaboration aiming to support the aviation
industry to address issues like sustainability and new
technologies
Aviation Minister Baroness Vere has announced £750,000 of
additional government funding to encourage young people to
consider a career in aviation during a visit to Norwich Airport
today.
The funding is part of the Reach for the
Sky Challenge Fund, first announced in 2022, and is designed
to break down barriers for those who have previously struggled to
get a foothold in the aviation industry. It targets those schemes
which provide an entry point for people who are from
underprivileged backgrounds or under-represented groups, building
on our mission to spread opportunity and help people of all ages
and groups into work.
The scheme is one strand of the government’s Generation Aviation
initiative, which aims to support the industry by delivering
sustainable aviation and growing the economy.
By making sure the workforce is open to people of all
backgrounds, the initiative will bring fresh perspectives and
innovative solutions to the table, enabling the industry to adapt
and thrive.
Aviation Minister Baroness Vere said:
I want the aviation sector to be an inclusive and inviting one,
and I am committed to ensuring that young people have
opportunities to pursue rewarding careers in this sector.
This investment is crucial to help make the UK the best place in the world for
aviation and grow the economy, with a diverse workforce that can
effectively address challenges today and in the future.
The government is dedicated to working with the industry to
ensure that jobs in the aviation sector are accessible to
everyone.
Sophie Jones, Head of Organisational Capacity and STEM
Sponsor at UK Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA),
said:
The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund is playing a key role in
removing barriers for those who want to pursue a career in
aviation and aerospace.
The fund will help give young people the knowledge and training
they need to develop essential skills for the sector.
Investing in diverse mindsets is an important part of developing
an innovative future for aviation in the UK.
Richard Pace, Managing Director of Norwich Airport, said:
We’re committed to building a sustainable aviation industry and
we’re delighted to be showcasing with our partners some of the
exciting work already happening in and around Norwich Airport.
From the use of sustainable fuels to the electrification of
aircraft, it’s vital that we have the skills for the future. This
announcement from the Minister will be warmly welcomed by the
industry and help inspire the next generation about careers in
aviation.
This pot of funding will be allocated to a variety of outreach
programs and events across the UK to educate young people about the
opportunities available in the sector, growing the workforce by
removing barriers, helping to grow the economy.
Last year’s winners included Flight Crowd’s one-week boot camp,
where young people aged 14 to 18 designed future electric
aircrafts and Resilient Pilot’s virtual mentoring scheme, which
mentored, coached and provided competency-focused career pathway
programmes for students to achieve their dreams of flying.
Widening the reach of the aviation industry to potential aviators
will bring together new ideas and new thinking to help overcome
the major challenges that face the industry like decarbonisation.
That is why as part of this announcement, Baroness Vere is
visiting Norwich Airport, which is fast becoming a centre of
excellence for sustainable aviation.
The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund allocated £130,000 for a
summer school at the airport’s academy, with the Norfolk-based
social Enterprise NUNCATS, where students made aviation history
by building the first ever British electric light aircraft.
Furthermore, the Department for Transport will be working closely
with the UK Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA) to
deliver the programme, building on outreach programmes, like the
recently announced Virtual Work Experience Scheme, to encourage
the uptake of STEM
subjects. The CAA
will work with hopefuls through its STEM
team allocating the funding among the winning applicants.
