Organisations across the UK are being invited to apply for a share of £750,000 to encourage more young people into aviation and aerospace careers.
The latest round of the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund opened today, with government saying the money will support projects that inspire future pilots, aviation engineers, air traffic controllers and others in the sector.
Over the past four years, the fund has invested more than £3 million in 46 organisations and has inspired more than one million young people, according to the Department for Transport. The scheme is aimed at 16-year-olds and above from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.
In its fifth year, the fund will support outreach programmes, mentoring, careers events and interactive learning experiences. The government said these activities are intended to give young people the confidence, skills and knowledge to consider careers they may not previously have explored.
The announcement follows Farnborough International Airshow in the South East last week, which the government said drew an estimated 100,000 exhibitors and showcased UK aviation. Ministers linked the fund to wider plans for jobs, investment and growth in the aviation sector.
Aviation Minister Keir Mather said aviation careers should be open to young people with ambition and talent, regardless of background. He said previous funding had helped young people see careers including pilot, engineer, air traffic controller and ground handler as options.
The government said young people from lower working-class backgrounds are more likely to be not in education, employment or training. It also cited Skills England estimates that demand across sectors including transport and construction will grow by 24% over the next decade, requiring up to 1.8 million additional skilled workers.