UK aviation organisations are invited to apply for a share of £750,000 to fund aviation careers for young people through the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund.
Now in its fifth year, the fund has already invested more than £3 million in 46 organisations to inspire 16+ year-olds from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to explore careers, including piloting, engineering, aircraft maintenance, aerospace and aviation technologies.
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 £3m 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.”
The fund is vital to help tackle barriers that can prevent young people from entering the industry and includes providing access to industry networks, removing financial constraints and improving awareness of the careers available.
Skills England says it estimates that demand across sectors, including transport and construction will grow by 24% over the next decade, requiring 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.
A joint panel from the Department for Transport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority evaluate the applications. Sophie Jones, Head of Customer Experience & 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.”
Other countries are also implementing initiatives to recruit more aviation professionals. Aircraft manufacturer ATR announced last year that it has partnered with France Travail to support professional development in aviation with inclusive initiatives. One programme of the collaboration is directed to inclusivity, called Les Entreprises S’engagent, which actively seeks to encourage diverse hiring practices by leveraging France Travail’s knowledge in recruitment methods and skill transfers.
