A brighter future is set to take flight as the UK government boosts the next generation of aviators with a significant £750,000 investment.
The additional funds, announced by Aviation Minister Baroness Vere during her visit to Norwich Airport, will inspire and empower future generations, boost employment, and cultivate an aviation workforce fit for the future.
The substantial investment is part of the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund, initially launched in 2022. This fund was designed to dismantle hurdles for individuals who have traditionally faced difficulties in entering the aviation industry. The focus is on those from underprivileged backgrounds or under-represented groups, reaffirming the government’s mission to distribute opportunities and assist people of all ages into work.
This scheme is a significant component of the Government’s Generation Aviation initiative. By ensuring the workforce welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, the initiative can stimulate innovative solutions, helping the industry adapt and flourish. The initiative is geared towards supporting the aviation industry in achieving sustainable aviation, driving economic growth, and incorporating emerging technologies.
“I want the aviation sector to be an inclusive and inviting one. I am committed to ensuring that young people have opportunities to pursue rewarding careers in this sector,” said Baroness Vere. She stressed the investment’s critical role in making the UK the ideal place for aviation, fostering a diverse workforce that can address present and future challenges.
The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund is pivotal in eliminating obstacles for those keen on an aviation or aerospace career, added Sophie Jones, Head of Organisational Capacity and STEM Sponsor at UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). “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,” Jones added.
The new funding will be distributed among several outreach programs and events across the UK to inform young people about the various opportunities in the aviation sector. By removing barriers, the initiative aims to grow the workforce and the economy alike.
Last year’s winners included Flight Crowd’s boot camp, where young people aged 14-18 designed future electric aircraft, and Resilient Pilot’s virtual mentoring scheme, which provided competency-focused career pathway programmes for students to realise their flying dreams.
Addressing the industry’s critical challenges like decarbonisation requires new ideas and innovative thinking, brought about by widening the industry’s reach to potential aviators. This perspective is highlighted by Baroness Vere’s visit to Norwich Airport, a rising hub for sustainable aviation.
The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund had previously allocated £130,000 for a summer school at the airport’s academy, in partnership with the Norfolk-based social enterprise NUNCATS. Here, students made aviation history by constructing the first-ever British electric light aircraft.
As part of this initiative, the Department for Transport will closely collaborate with the CAA to deliver the programme. This will build on the recently announced Virtual Work Experience Scheme to encourage the uptake of STEM subjects. The CAA will engage with potential aviators through its STEM team to distribute the funding among the winning applicants.
