Funding will break down barriers and get more young people into aviation jobs

The next generation of pilots and engineers will benefit from new £750k funding to inspire them, support them into jobs, and break down barriers to the sector.

Organisations can from today (Friday 20 June) apply for the latest Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund to help deliver aviation outreach programmes targeting disadvantaged young people, including those from ethnic minorities, who may not have considered a career in the sector before.

Now in its fourth round, the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund has already delivered £2.5m to 40 organisations and has reached over 100,000 young people across the country.

Funding can be used to deliver a range of programmes from career events, mentorship schemes, interactive demonstrations, and educational initiatives with schools and universities.

This builds on the Government’s promise to secure the long-term success of aviation by growing the workforce of the future. It will also break down the barriers that prevent people from joining the industry, including limited access to education, financial constraints, and lack of exposure to career options.

To launch the funding, Aviation Minister Mike Kane visited a careers workshop being held by current funding recipients, The King’s Trust, in a Liverpool youth centre.

Young adults, ranging from 16-30, met aviation specialists, learning about the job opportunities locally in the industry and how to apply. They also took part in employability workshops focused on developing the practical skills needed for work.

Aviation Minister Mike 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.” 

Such DfT-funded schemes have already supported over 100,000 young adults across the country to consider joining the industry.

Aspiring aerospace engineer James, 24, from Bath, has struggled to find work since finishing school. Challenges with his mental health impacted his studies and confidence, and he left without the qualifications he wanted. 

After completing a King’s Trust ‘Get Ready with Aviation’ programme last November, he successfully applied to study Science, Engineering and Maths at Bristol University and starts in September.  

He said: “Before the programme I felt lost and uncertain about my future. I’d always been interested in space, but didn’t know where to start or what my options were. It felt out of reach. The programme helped me realise working in the industry is possible and inspired me to apply for university and pursue my dream.” 

Applications for the fund are now open until Friday 12 September 2025 and applications will be reviewed by a joint panel of DfT and the CAA – which administers the fund on DfT’s behalf.  

Sophie Jones, STEM Sponsor at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

“As the aviation regulator, we are dedicated to inspiring the next generation who will take the sector forward.

“The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund helps reach people making the first step.

“By reaching and empowering diverse communities and creating a lasting impact we are inspiring young people across the UK to explore exciting careers in aviation.”

Julia Beaumont, Chief Technology and Programmes Officers at The King’s Trust said:

“During the past two years, this funding has been vital in raising awareness of the job opportunities available for young people in the aviation industry, alongside equipping them with the confidence and skills to pursue these roles.  

“With a rapidly changing jobs market, supporting this generation to overcome the barriers they face in accessing these opportunities is crucial, not only benefitting them, but their local communities and economy.” 

Jeni Trice, CEO and ‘Chief Coding Adventurer’, at Get with the Program, said: 

“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 5–8 to become the aerospace tech innovators of the future.

“We know that higher aspirations, skills development, and social mobility opportunities are all vital for the UK’s future economic success, and through this grant funding we’ve been able to deliver initiatives, such as our Moon Landing Coding Adventure, which exposes children to exciting STEM careers in aerospace.”