The Government has announced the latest funding for outreach programme aimed at young people aged 4 to 18 from under-represented groups to help tackle the skill shortage in the aviation sector.  

 ‘Reach for the Sky’ is now in its third year and organisations can apply for a share of £750,000 to help deliver sector outreach programmes to attract the next generation of aviation professionals.

This new pot of funding will add to the £1.5 million already provided by The Department for Transport (DfT).

According to the Government, the outreach programmes will provide events, taster days, mentorship schemes and educational initiatives with schools and universities.

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.”

Previous recipients of DfT-funded schemes include 18-year-old aspiring pilot Joshua Merchan-Nicholls from Finchley, North London.

Since 2021, he has been tirelessly working towards a career as a commercial pilot, a dream he has had since seven years of age.

Joshua was recently awarded a gliding scholarship from the Air League as part of the DfT-funded Soaring to Success programme. 

Joshua Merchan-Nicholls said: “I was 7 when I first imagined myself as a pilot and I’ve followed this dream ever since. Thanks to the Air League, I received a gliding scholarship in 2022, which gave me my first experience of solo flying and made me even more enthusiastic!”

Challenges the industry faces that prevent people from joining the aviation sector include limited access to further education, financial constraints, and lack of exposure to career pathways.

The Government highlighted that only 5% of pilots are women and stressed that fewer black young people are being exposed to aviation opportunities than their white peers.  

The Royal Aeronautical Society reported that a new civil aviation professional will be needed every four minutes, including 300,000 more pilots, 300,000 more maintenance engineers and 600,000 more cabin crew over the next ten years.

This is according to estimates in a study by Glasgow University.

In February CILT UK spoke with Aviation Influencer and Department for Transport Aviation Ambassador, Mohammad Taher, who said one of the industry’s biggest challenges is the impending skills shortage.

Mohammad got the chance to speak to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh at the Farnborough Airshow last week where in a social media video she explained why it is important for young people get involved in the sector.

“We want young people growing up in this country to have a future in our aviation industry,” said the Transport Secretary.  

She highlighted there will be a lot of people retiring in the next few years and that the industry is not as diverse as it could be.

On social media Mohammad Taher said: “This conversation with the Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, was really refreshing as she was so transparent about the current state of the industry and the challenge ahead.

“Developing this talent will allow our industry to continue to grow, innovate and achieve our sustainability targets over the years to come,” he added.

To view CILT UK’s full interview with Mohammad Taher click here.

Relevant story: Aviation influencer and ambassador highlights skills shortage in industry

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