Northrop Grumman funds JET expansion

Image courtesy Jon Egging Trust (JET)

This major new funding boost for JET’s youth programmes was announced by Northrop Grumman on Monday 8th November at the VIP JET Space Forum at the Wellcome Collection in London, which brought together space industry leaders and government officials to help shape a collaborative approach to tackling youth inequality in the UK.

The forum was chaired by JET CEO Dr Emma Egging (above) and co-hosted by JET Patrons Professor Brian Cox and Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth, Director Space UK MoD. Over 70 of the UK’s space industry leaders and key government officials gathered for the closed-door event during which the charity called on the burgeoning sector to work together to help inspire and raise-up the next generation.

Northrop Grumman's new funding will help support JET’s planned programme for 2022 and build on the seven-year partnership between Northrop Grumman and JET. The partnership has included collaboration on youth programme delivery and a new STEM digital resource hub for teachers and youth leaders and offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for students to experience the Northrop Grumman sponsored Summer Time Advanced Aerospace Residency at RAF Cosford and Space Camp USA.

The new funding will help JET to deliver its core STEM programmes in three UK regions, Norfolk, North Wales and Oxfordshire, reaching up to 6,000 young people per year.

The two organisations will work together to develop an enhanced version of Northrop Grumman’s existing UK STEM programme. This collaboration will see a mixture of JET’s inspirational mentors, speakers and industry experts from Northrop Grumman delivering sessions as part of JET’s intensive early intervention programmes, ensuring the greatest number of schools and communities’ benefit from these unique opportunities.

“We have deep roots across the UK and a passion to help young people continue their education and find inspiration in the wonder of science and engineering,” said Nick Chaffey, chief executive, UK, Europe, Middle East. “As a long-time JET partner, we are pleased to announce this new funding to help young people to succeed.”

Dr Emma Egging OBE, CEO, Jon Egging Trust said: “We are extremely grateful to Northrop Grumman for their generous ongoing support. We are only just beginning to understand the true impact of Covid -19 on the communities we work with, and we know that there has never been a more pressing need to fight inequality and support young people from vulnerable backgrounds. Thanks to this funding, we will be able to reach more young people through our early intervention, STEM-based, competency-building programmes, giving them the best possible chance of a bright future.”

The Jon Egging Trust was founded in memory of Red Arrows Pilot Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging who tragically lost his life whilst completing a display at the Bournemouth Air Festival in 2011. The charity realises his dream of inspiring young people to overcome adversity, identify their strengths and work towards their ambitions. The Trust’s accredited programmes increase young peoples’ self-confidence, self-esteem and other vital life skills and competencies and empowers them to become role models within their own communities.

Northrop Grumman is focused on global security and human discovery, with solutions that underpin capabilities required to connect, advance and protect the US and its allies.