Government investment to help disadvantaged young people into aviation careers

The Government has announced a £750,000 round of funding aimed at opening doors to aviation careers for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

This move was designed to strengthen the future of the country’s £20bn air transport and aerospace sector and its 240,000-strong workforce.

Applications are now open for the latest round of the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund, which helps organisations run outreach programmes that introduce young people to career opportunities in aviation.

With a deadline of 12th September 2025, this new round takes the fund’s total investment to over £3m since its launch, having already supported more than 100,000 young people nationwide.

Funds can be used for a wide variety of programmes, from school outreach and career fairs to mentorship schemes and hands-on STEM activities, with a specific focus on those who might otherwise face barriers to entering the sector, including limited educational access and financial hardship.

Launching the new round of funding, Aviation Minister Mike Kane visited a careers workshop in Liverpool, hosted by current grant recipients The King’s Trust.

The workshop introduced young adults aged 16 to 30 to local aviation professionals and offered employability training designed to build confidence and job-readiness.

Kane 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.”

The programme’s reach is being extended through a growing network of delivery partners, including Flight Crowd, Get with the Program, and others.

Jeni Trice, CEO of Get with the Program, said the initiative is already having an impact on the UK’s talent pipeline.

She added: “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 five to eight to become the aerospace tech innovators of the future.”