Organisations across the UK have been invited to apply for a share of 750,000 GBP through the latest round of the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund.
The fund, which for the last four years has been supplying grants to over 1 million young people and invested over 3 million GBP in 46 organisations, is intended to inspire young people aged 16 and over from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to explore careers, including piloting, engineering, aircraft maintenance, aerospace and aviation technologies.
Now entering its fifth year, the grants will continue to be provided to help organisations deliver outreach programmes, mentoring, careers events and interactive learning experiences that aim to supply young people with the confidence, skills and knowledge to pursue careers they might not have previously considered.
Aviation Minister, Keir Mather, said:Aviation careers should be open to every young person with the ambition and talent to succeed, regardless of background.
We’ve delivered more than £3 million to help over a million young Brits see aviation as a career they can be part of – whether that be as a pilot, an engineer, an air traffic controller or a ground handler.
With record passenger numbers last year and plans to grow our aviation sector across the UK, our funding will help bring in the skilled workforce of the future to drive economic growth.
Skills England has estimated that demand across sectors including transport and construction will grow by 24% over the next decade, necessitating the employment of up to 1.8 million additional skilled workers and underlining the importance of encouraging more young people into highly-skilled jobs that drive economic growth.
Previous recipients of the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund have gone on to deliver a wide range of innovative projects to inspire young people from every background to consider a career in aviation – including Fantasy Wings, which uses immersive technology and interactive experiences to introduce young people to the wide range of opportunities available across the aviation and aerospace sectors.
Other projects have delivered hands-on STEM workshops, mentoring programmes, careers events, coding activities and employability support.
Applications will be assessed by a joint panel from the Department for Transport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which administers the fund on the department’s behalf.
Sophie Jones, Head of Customer Experience and STEM Sponsor at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:At the Civil Aviation Authority, we remain committed to enabling the next generation, regardless of background, to shape the future of the aerospace sector.
The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund plays a vital role in supporting organisations that inspire young people to explore opportunities across the sector. By raising awareness, building confidence and widening access to opportunities, these initiatives help break down barriers and empower more young people to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace.
Through programmes like this, we can help build a more diverse and talented workforce, bringing fresh skills, perspectives and innovation to the future of aviation and aerospace.
