UK Government invests in next generation of aviators
Image by Golden Dayz / copyright Shutterstock
From rocket building to roadshows, the projects benefitting from funding do not just promote more conventional aviation careers, they also raise awareness of the varied, technical and emerging routes into careers in aviation that are less visible and associated with the sector.
The Reach for the Sky funding will support a future workforce that meets the demands of a rapidly growing aviation sector, following the government approving expansion plans for Gatwick and Luton and pushing forward a third runway at Heathrow to create thousands of highly skilled jobs.
Projects set to benefit include TEC (Tech, Engineering, Creative) Women, which will be awarded nearly £100,000 to deliver STEM career festivals in Cornwall, aimed at encouraging more girls into the sector.
Over £50,000 will also be awarded to East London Advanced Technology Training (ELATT), to inspire young people from deprived communities in East London into aviation careers through employer visits, workshops, clubs, and creative projects.
Neurodivergent school children in Manchester will also be encouraged into aviation through the Mason Foundation, thanks to a £30,000 boost from the Government.
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather, said: “The UK has a proud history in aviation which we are determined to continue by inspiring more young people to see the sector as a place where they can build their careers.
“Reach for the Sky plays a vital role in that mission, helping to break down barriers to opportunity and encouraging the next generation to aim high.
“Alongside securing the future of the aviation industry, this is about ensuring young people from all backgrounds can see and learn about the varied and often highly skilled jobs and future opportunities that will deliver growth across the country.”
Other projects benefitting from the funding include:
- Fantasy Wings – encourages girls from ethnic minorities into the industry by providing interactive workshops in Birmingham, Manchester, and London, alongside flight simulator sessions.
- Aerobility – supports pathways into aviation for the disabled community by providing accessible virtual simulator sessions in counties including Surrey, Staffordshire and Kent.
- Get with the Programme – delivers a bespoke ‘Moon Landing Coding Adventure’ nationally, introducing coding and aerospace for students across the country.
Now in its fourth round, Reach for the Sky has backed dozens of projects across the UK to improve their offer of support for young people, including the Air League – a training provider based in London, aimed at unlocking aviation opportunities for underrepresented communities – and Codes4Drones who won the 2025/2026 STEM Provider of the Year’ award for presenting drone coding workshops to primary and secondary school pupils across the country.
Jackson Smith, CEO of Fantasy Wings, said: “We at Fantasy Wings are delighted to receive this funding from the Reach for the Sky Challenge, a fantastic initiative dedicated to powering the next generation into aviation.”
“As Europe’s largest diversity-focused aviation programme, we’ve seen firsthand how access and opportunity change lives. With over 5,000 graduates and 500 flying scholarships awarded in the last five years, this new support will allow us to expand our reach, enhance our programmes, and create even more pathways for young people across the UK to explore and build careers in aviation.”
Today’s announcement follows the launch of applications for the next cohort of Aviation Ambassadors in September, a group of industry professionals who work to raise the profile of aviation careers alongside undertaking their professional roles in the sector.
Alongside inspiring the next generation of aviation leaders, the Government is also backing the development of technologies to help futureproof the sector. This includes in greener aviation through the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, which will provide economic security for the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market by guaranteeing a set price per unit for UK producers.
An additional £63 million is also being invested to speed up construction on new SAF production plants, to unlock the opportunities of the green fuels sector in aviation to deliver growth and create skilled jobs on the journey to reach net zero.
Caitlin Gould, TEC Women CIC and TEC Girls Director said: “At TEC Women CIC we are thrilled that our TECgirls Reach for the Sky Festival and Take Flight Education Programme has been funded to help more girls explore STEM roles in aviation and aerospace. Our Take Flight Festival has been building year on year, with over 500 girls and 1,000 people attending last year, and our education outreach has provided practical hands-on-learning for over 200 girls across Cornwall, including a work experience week.
“In 2026 we plan to continue to grow this programme, working with more industry partners and reaching new audiences across rural and coastal locations. Without support from the Challenge Fund, ambitious events like our festival would not be possible. “
Tara Connelly, Programmes Manager at Bright Futures UK said: “We’re incredibly grateful to receive this funding. It will make a huge difference to the young people we support in hospital and help us provide tailored aviation outreach to a demographic that has previously been excluded.”
