LONDON, July 29 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
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money willdeliver projects which inspire the next generation of pilots, aviation engineers and air traffic controllers
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Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund has already inspired more than a million people, backing projects thatopen upaviation careers to young people from allbackgrounds, helping break down barriers to opportunity and build Britain's future workforce
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fundingunveiled as Farnborough Airshowshowcasedthe best of UK aviation, driving jobs and investment last week
Thousands more young people will be encouraged to consider careers in aviation,as organisations across the UKaretoday (29 July 2026)invited toapplyfor a share of £750,000 through the latest round of the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund.
Over the last4 years, thefundhas inspired over 1 million young people and invested more than £3 million in 46 organisations, toinspire16+ year-oldsfrom disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to explore careers, including piloting, engineering, aircraft maintenance, aerospace and aviation technologies.
Initsfifth year, grants willcontinue tohelp organisations deliver outreach programmes, mentoring, careers events and interactive learning experiences that give young people the confidence,skillsand knowledge to pursue careers they may never have previously considered.
The investment comes following an estimated 100,000 exhibitors attending Farnborough International Airshow in theSouth Eastlast week - driving investment in UKaviation andsealing the deals that will bring highly-skilled jobs to communities across the country.
Aviation Minister, Keir Mather, said:
Aviation careersshould be open to every young person with the ambition and talent to succeed, regardless ofbackground.
We'vedelivered more than £3 million 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 acrosstheUK, our funding willhelpbring inthe skilled workforce of the futuretodrive economicgrowth.
Young people fromlower working-class backgrounds aremore likely to be NEET(not in education,employmentor training)- so the fund isvital tohelp tackle barriers that can prevent young people from entering the industry.This includes providingaccess to industry networks, removing financial constraints, and improving awareness of the careers available.
Skills England estimatesthat demand acrosssectors,including transport and constructionwill grow by 24% over the next decade, requiring up to 1.8 millionadditionalskilledworkers,andunderlining the importance of encouraging more young people intohighly-skilledjobs that drive economic growth.
UK airports handled a record 302 million passengers in 2025, with demand forecast to rise to around 465 million passengers a year by 2050 -thenext generation will play avitalroleinkeeping the UK's aviation sector growing.
Previousrecipients of Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund have delivered innovative projects to inspire young people from every background to consider careers in aviation.
Successful initiatives includeFantasyWings, which uses immersive technology and interactive experiences tointroduceyoung people to the wide range ofopportunitiesavailable across the aviation and aerospace sectors.
Other projects have delivered hands-on STEM workshops, mentoring programmes, careers events, codingactivitiesand employability support, helping thousands of young people build the skills,confidenceand ambition to pursue careers in the industry.
Applications will be assessed by a joint panel from the Department for Transport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which administers the fund on the department's behalf.
Sophie Jones, Head of Customer Experience and STEM Sponsor at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:
At the Civil Aviation Authority, weremaincommitted 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, buildingconfidenceand widening access to opportunities, these initiatives help break down barriers and empower more young people to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace.
Through programmes like this, we can help build a more diverse and talented workforce, bringing fresh skills, perspectives and innovation to the future of aviation and aerospace.
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