BWPA opens applications for 2025 scholarships

The British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA) today opens the applications window for its 2025 aviation scholarships.

The BWPA offers scholarships to support women in the UK of all ages and backgrounds in achieving their flying dreams, reinforcing one of its key aims, of promoting women’s training and employment within aviation.

This is a special year for the BWPA as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. Since its founding in 1955, the organisation has championed women in aviation, offering support, inspiration and practical assistance to help them achieve their ambitions in the air.

2023 BWPA award winners

This year, at least 35 scholarships and 15 other awards are available for all levels of experience and all types of flying. The awards will help scholarship winners in various ways, including gaining their first qualifications, building upon existing qualifications, or working towards a first paid flying job.

Applicants will be asked to submit information on their current aviation experience, what they enjoy most about flying, why they believe they deserve the award and how they would use the award if successful. They will be shortlisted by a panel of judges who will determine which of the candidates show the most promise for their future flying.

Lily Sanders-Page, winner of the 2023 BWPA Gerry Cook Flying Start Scholarship, has been making good use of her funding to attend gliding courses with Devon & Somerset Gliding Club. Photo: BWPA

Lily Sanders-Page, winner of the BWPA Gerry Cook Flying Start Scholarship in 2023, said, “I am very grateful to have been awarded a BWPA scholarship. The generous support enabled me to glide regularly and attend a residential gliding course. The kindness and guidance from other BWPA members have been invaluable.”

The BWPA actively works with partner organisations to extend what scholarships they are able to offer, and so help to raise awareness and increase opportunities available.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said, “Empowering the next generation of women in aviation is not just about breaking barriers, it’s about opening the skies to new talent, ambition and possibilities. The CAA STEM Programme is proud to support the British Women Pilots’ Association in their mission to help aspiring female pilots achieve their first qualification and take flight towards a future without limits.”

Annabel Cook, BWPA Deputy Chair, added, “As we celebrate 70 years of supporting women in aviation, we are proud to offer more scholarships than ever before.

“These awards are a vital part of our mission to encourage and enable more women to take to the skies, whether as a hobby or a career. We hope our scholarships during this milestone year will encourage even more women to be part of the future of aviation.”

Click here to apply

The 35 BWPA scholarships available for 2025

Starter scholarships

• Seven BWPA Flying Start Scholarships, including one sponsored by the Civil Aviation Authority and one by the family of Gerry Cook, to help new pilots gain their first qualifications.
• One BWPA SkyDemon Flying Start Scholarship, as above, to include a one-year subscription to SkyDemon.
• One BWPA BGA Members Flying Start Scholarship, for new pilots to gain their first gliding qualifications.
• Two BWPA Flight School Wingman Scholarships, for access to the online Wingman Academy.
• ·One BWPA Bristol Groundschool Scholarship, for a PPL ground school course.
• Two BWPA Easy PPL Scholarships, for Platinum PPL(A) starter kit study packages.

Advanced scholarships

• Five BWPA Flying High Scholarships, including one sponsored by the family of Oriana Pepper, for licensed pilots who wish to gain further qualifications.
• Two BWPA SkyDemon Flying High Scholarships, as above, to include a one-year subscription to SkyDemon.
• One BWPA Flight School Wingman Scholarship, for access to the online Wingman Academy.
• One BWPA Flight Deck Wingman Scholarship, for the Airline Assessment Preparation Course.
• One BWPA CATS Aviation Scholarship, for the ATPL(A) modular distance learning ground school course.
• Two BWPA Bristol Groundschool ATPL Scholarships, for 50% off either online or in person ATPL ground school courses.
• One BWPA Bristol Groundschool Video Scholarship, for a 12-month subscription to BGS Video Library.
• One BWPA Bristol Groundschool BGSonline Scholarship, for a 12-month subscription to BGSonline.
• Six BWPA Aviation Insider Scholarships, for the Airline Interview and Assessment Preparation course.

Other

• One BWPA 624squadron.com Scholarship, for an aviation enthusiast, for a special mission and flying adventure.

In addition, the 15 highest scoring scholarship winners will be awarded a choice of a Pooleys starter kit or £100 voucher and the 15 highest scoring non-winners will be awarded a £20 Pooleys voucher.