London Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry

Following their respective completions of a seven-month program developed for purpose of exposing public school students to careers in the aviation and aerospace sectors, upwards of forty pupils hailing from state schools across Hertfordshire and North London took triumphantly to the skies at Watford Hertfordshire, England’s London Elstree Aerodrome (ICAO: EGTR).

Organized by the Air League, the U.K.’s leading aviation and aerospace charity, 42 students participated in a series of Air Experience Days at the London Elstree Aerodrome—taking part in team-building and communication workshops prior to experiencing half-day flying lessons in powered aircraft.

The July 2023 event marked a graduation ceremony of sorts for participants in the Air League’s Soaring to Success program—a career enrichment initiative for public school children aged 13-17. By dint of equal-parts education and inspiration, the program’s architects endeavor to bridge the often abstruse gap between academia and industry, thereby compelling children to pursue careers in the aviation, aerospace, and related STEM fields.

The charity was joined by representatives of the program’s key industry sponsors, to include Boeing, the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Careers and Enterprise Company.

Students from Edmonton Academy in North London, Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood, and Birchwood High School in Bishop’s Stortford took part in the charity’s flagship seven-month program. Additionally, students from schools in Yorkshire and the West Midlands took part in the program. In all, some two-hundred young people participated in the free undertaking.

Air League CEO Ian Morrison stated: “Our Soaring to Success program is the best way to engage and inspire young students who might not have previously thought a career in aviation was possible. Seeing the development of these students over a seven-month period, from their confidence to their ability to work constructively with one another, has been a real treat.”

Mr. Morison added: “The opportunity these students have been given would not be possible without our partners and sponsors. Each and every one of them has contributed to their future endeavors, and to them we are very grateful.”

U.K. Civil Aviation Authority head of organizational capacity and STEM sponsor Sophie Jones remarked: “Soaring to Success plays an important role towards enriching students with the right knowledge to pursue a career in aviation and aerospace. Through the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund, organizations are able to provide outreach and deliver targeted projects to students … who are gaining opportunities to develop the essential skills needed for the sector.”

Ms. Jones continued: "We hope the work being done through the program will continue to inspire young people to use their talent to lead the future of aviation and aerospace.”

Birchwood High School careers leader Judith Crimes enthused: "It’s been brilliant; the whole day has been extraordinary, and the amount of time people have given up to interact with the students and show them all the different opportunities there are within aviation, it’s just fantastic.

Ms. Crimes concluded: “For those students who had a narrow idea of aviation just being about the pilots, they’ve had their eyes opened to all the different roles there are. We’ve had students also being really interested in the engineering side and we’ve been able to introduce them to the different aspects and areas having been joined by the ambassadors and volunteers from all areas of aviation."

Founded in 1909, the Air League is the U.K.’s leading aviation and aerospace charity. The organization aims to promote realization of the oft poorly-understood fact that opportunities in the aviation and aerospace sectors are accessible to most.

FMI: https://airleague.co.uk