The next generation of pilots and engineers will benefit from new
£750,000 funding to inspire them, support them into jobs and
breakdown barriers to the sector.
Organisations can from today (Friday 20 June) apply for the
latest Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund to help deliver aviation
outreach programmes targeting disadvantaged young people,
including those from ethnic minorities, who may not have
considered a career in the sector before.
Now on its fourth round, Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund has
already delivered £2.5m to 40 organisations and has reached over
100,000 young people across the country.
Funding can be used to deliver a range of programmes from career
events, mentorship schemes, interactive demonstrations and
educational initiatives with schools and
universities.
This builds on the Government's promise to secure the long-term
success of aviation by growing the workforce of the future. It
will also break down the barriers which prevent people from
joining the industry, including limited access to education,
financial constraints and lack of exposure to career
options.
To launch the funding, Aviation Minister visited a careers workshop being
held by current funding recipients, The King's Trust in a
Liverpool youth centre. Young adults, ranging from 16-30, met
aviation specialists, learning about the job opportunities
locally in the industry and how to apply. They also took part in
employability workshops focused on developing the practical
skills needed for work.
Aviation Minister said:
“This is exactly what this Government is all about – breaking
down barriers to opportunity so that everyone, no matter their
background, has a decent shot at getting a good career and
building a good life.
“This funding will enable organisations like The King's Trust to
reach out to disadvantaged kids and support them into careers in
aviation.
“It also delivers on our promise to help the sector grow, by
delivering the pilots, engineers and technicians of the future,
boosting jobs and growth across the country as part of the Plan
for Change.”
Such DfT-funded schemes have already supported over 100,000 young
adults across the country to consider joining the industry.
Aspiring aerospace engineer James, 24,
from Bath, has struggled to find work since finishing
school. Challenges with his mental health impacted his studies
and confidence, and he left without the qualifications he
wanted.
After completing a King's Trust ‘Get Ready with Aviation'
programme last November, he successfully applied to study
Science, Engineering and Maths at Bristol University and starts
in September.
He said: “Before the programme I felt lost and
uncertain about my future. I'd always been interested in space,
but didn't know where to start or what my options were. It felt
out of reach. The programme helped me realise working in the
industry is possible and inspired me to apply for university and
pursue my dream.”
Applications for the fund are now open until Friday 12 September
2025 and applications will be reviewed by a joint panel
of DfT and the CAA – which administers the fund on DfT's
behalf.
Sophie Jones, STEM Sponsor at the UK Civil Aviation
Authority, said:
“As the aviation regulator, we are dedicated to inspiring the
next generation who will take the sector forward.
“The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund helps reach people making
the first step.
"By reaching and empowering diverse communities and creating a
lasting impact we are inspiring young people across the UK to
explore exciting careers in aviation.”
Julia Beaumont, Chief Technology and Programmes Officers
at The King's Trust said:
“During the past two years, this funding has been vital in
raising awareness of the job opportunities available for young
people in the aviation industry, alongside equipping them with
the confidence and skills to pursue these roles.
“With a rapidly changing jobs market, supporting this generation
to overcome the barriers they face in accessing these
opportunities is crucial, not only benefitting them, but their
local communities and economy.”
Jeni Trice, CEO and 'Chief Coding Adventurer', at Get
with the Program, said:
"We're already so pleased by the fantastic impact of our 2024
Reach for the Sky grant, which is helping us inspire 18,000
children aged 5–8 to become the aerospace tech innovators of the
future.
“We know that higher aspirations, skills development, and social
mobility opportunities are all vital for the UK's future economic
success, and through this grant funding we've been able to
deliver initiatives, such as our Moon Landing Coding Adventure,
which exposes children to exciting STEM careers in aerospace.”
Notes to editors
- The King's Trust is a charitable organisation that helps
young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the
greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and
skills to live, learn and earn.
- Their courses, resources and other support help people aged
11 to 30 to develop essential life skills, get ready for work and
access job opportunities.
