UK funding to help disadvantaged youngsters become pilots and engineers 

Funding worth £750,000 ($1 million) will be used to support disadvantaged youngsters to become the next generation of pilots, engineers and aviation professionals. 

The UK government is financing the program as part of its latest “Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund”, which aims to break down the barriers that prevent young people from entering the aviation sector. 

Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund helps deliver aviation outreach programs that target disadvantaged youngsters, including those from ethnic minorities, who may not have considered a career in the sector before. 

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

Now on its fourth round, Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund has already delivered £2.5 million ($3.3 million) to 40 organizations and has reached over 100,000 young people across the UK. 

“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 which prevent people from joining the industry, including limited access to education, financial constraints and lack of exposure to career options,” a spokesperson for the UK government said. 

Applications for the fund are being invited until September 12, 2025, with entrants set to be reviewed by a panel that includes the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which also administers the money. 

“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 organizations like The King’s Trust to reach out to disadvantaged kids and support them into careers in aviation,” said Aviation Minister Mike Kane. 

He added: “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.” 

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