New government funding for an aviation skills and outreach programme aims to help young people from underrepresented groups take up careers in the sector.
Organisations can apply for a share of £750,000 that will help them deliver events, taster days, mentorship schemes and educational initiatives with schools and universities.
The ‘Reach for the Sky’ initiative, now in its third year, aims to overcome barriers such as limited access to further education, financial constraints, and lack of exposure to career pathways.
The new pot of funding will add to £1.5 million already provided. Outreach programmes supported by the Department for Transport (DfT) have already helped more 100,000 young people to discover a career in aviation.
Applications are open until September with decisions agreed by a joint panel of the DfT and Civil Aviation Authority, which administers the fund on the transport department’s behalf.
New aviation minister Mike Kane said: “Our aviation industry is one of the best in the world and it’s the talented people within it that makes it so successful – the primary purpose of leadership is to create new leaders.
“Having a diverse workforce that can effectively address future challenges – from growing passenger demand to decarbonisation – is crucial and our Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund is inspiring the next generation to be part of this ever-growing travel sector.”