The UK Government has launched the latest round of its Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund, making £750,000 available to organisations working to inspire young people from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in aviation.
Now in its fifth year, the fund supports outreach initiatives aimed at 16+ year-olds, helping raise awareness of careers across the sector, including piloting, engineering, aircraft maintenance, aerospace and aviation technologies.
More than £3 million has been invested through the scheme over the past four years, supporting 46 organisations and reaching more than one million young people through mentoring, careers events, STEM activities and interactive learning programmes.
The latest funding round follows last week's Farnborough International Airshow, where government said investment secured during the event will help create highly skilled jobs across the UK aviation sector.
UK Aviation Minister Keir Mather said: "Aviation careers should be open to every young person with the ambition and talent to succeed, regardless of background.
"We've delivered more than £3m to help over a million young Brits see aviation as a career they can be part of – whether that be as a pilot, an engineer, an air traffic controller or a ground handler.
"With record passenger numbers last year and plans to grow our aviation sector across the UK, our funding will help bring in the skilled workforce of the future to drive economic growth."
The government said the programme aims to address barriers that prevent young people from entering the industry, particularly those from lower working-class backgrounds who are more likely to be not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Funding will support projects that improve access to industry networks, provide practical learning opportunities and increase awareness of aviation careers.
According to Skills England, demand across sectors including transport is expected to grow by 24% over the next decade, requiring up to 1.8 million additional skilled workers.
The government also noted that UK airports handled a record 302 million passengers in 2025, with annual passenger numbers forecast to reach around 465 million by 2050.
Applications will be assessed by a joint panel from the Department for Transport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which administers the fund.
Sophie Jones, head of customer experience and STEM sponsor at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "At the CAA, we remain committed to enabling the next generation, regardless of background, to shape the future of the aerospace sector.
"The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund plays a vital role in supporting organisations that inspire young people to explore opportunities across the sector.
“By raising awareness, building confidence and widening access to opportunities, these initiatives help break down barriers and empower more young people to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace."
