16 December 2025
Projects to inspire the next generation of aviators across the UK are set to get a £750,000 boost in the latest round of Reach for the Sky funding.
They include TEC (Tech, Engineering, Creative) Women, which will be awarded nearly £100,000 to deliver STEM career festivals in Cornwall, aimed at encouraging more girls into the sector.
More than £50,000 will also be awarded to East London Advanced Technology Training (ELATT), to inspire young people from deprived communities in East London into aviation careers through employer visits, workshops, clubs, and creative projects. Neurodivergent school children in Manchester will also be encouraged into aviation through the Mason Foundation, thanks to a £30,000 grant.
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather, said, “The UK has a proud history in aviation which we are determined to continue by inspiring more young people to see the sector as a place where they can build their careers.
“Reach for the Sky plays a vital role in that mission, helping to break down barriers to opportunity and encouraging the next generation to aim high.
“Alongside securing the future of the aviation industry, this is about ensuring young people from all backgrounds can see and learn about the varied and often highly skilled jobs and future opportunities that will deliver growth across the country.”
The full list of projects to benefit:
Lightyear Foundation £28,000
The Lightyear Foundation will host in-person, inclusive workshops for neurodivergent young people including industry visits (National).
Jon Egging Trust £40,122
An aviation and aerospace careers roadshow, raising aspirations for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by connecting them to real-world opportunities in the sector. (Cornwall, Dorset, East Anglia, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, West Midlands, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire).
Flight Crowd £54,040
A three-month virtual programme focussed on career skills and sector specific challenges. Paired with a specialist, application only, programme which includes a two-day immersive experience at Norwich Airport. (South England).
Get With The Program £54,020
A project which delivers the organisation’s bespoke ‘Moon Landing Coding Adventure’ – an introduction to coding and aerospace for key stage 2 students (National).
The Mason Foundation £30,000
A 12-month pathway of workshops, in partnership with the Air League which teaches employability for aviation careers to neurodivergent people age 13-25 (Manchester).
Aerobility £60,589
Supports a pathway into aviation and aerospace for disabled people through virtual simulators, online careers sessions, industry visits and introductory flight in a bespoke, accessible aircraft (Surrey, Staffordshire, Cornwall, Kent).
TEC Women £95,848
Festivals for girls age 7-12 exploring STEM activities and careers in the sector, to align with Women in Engineering Day. Programme also contains work experience programmes (Cornwall).
ELATT £55,914
Employer visits, workshops, clubs, and creative projects to show young people living in poverty in East London who are excluded from mainstream education that it is possible for them to succeed in STEM career pathways (London).
Brighter Futures Social Investment CIC £46,000
Connecting young people ages 16-25 with employers while teaching soft skills and employability skills to build confidence to pursue a career in aviation (Kent and London).
Cranfield University £32,376
Careers talks from members of the National Flying Laboratory Centre and visits to the university interactive facilities, which include a Boeing 737, for students eligible for free school meals between years 5 and 8 (Cranfield).
Springpod £69,875
Virtual aviation and aerospace work experience facilitated by all members of the Aviation Industry Skills Board for students from underrepresented backgrounds (Virtual).
Big Ideas £38,336
Provides students from underserved communities access to aviation pathways, combining digital workshops, industry role models and in-person enrichment to build aspiration from the experience (London).
Martian Supersonic Jets £45,000
A unique year-long competition programme for university students to design, build and fly a solar aircraft, complimented with college and school outreach (National).
Bright Futures UK £11,789
Providing virtual reality workshops to children in hospital who are missing out on education due to long term illness, preventing them missing out on learning key skills and being inspired while receiving treatment (London).
Seadream Education CIC £5450
Introduces primary school age children to the concept of flight using wind tunnels and models to show how lift is created and how design influences efficient flying (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset).
Fantasy Wings £79,860
Careers workshops for young women and individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds designed to create pathways into the industry. Includes discussions with role models, flight simulator sessions, and networking opportunities (Birmingham, Manchester, London).
