UK AVIATION MINISTER SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO RECRUIT MORE GIRLS INTO AVIATION

UK Aviation Minister, Liz Sugg, made a flying visit to Stansted Airport College last week to see some of the work the gateway is doing to encourage more girls into aviation careers.   

The Minister, who is calling on the aviation sector to address the shortage of women in aviation-related careers, was welcomed by college students as well as visiting girls from Thaxted Primary School.

Also in attendance were female apprentices and women on the MAG graduate scheme.

She spoke about career ideas with the younger children and met female students who are all studying aviation-specific courses at the newly-opened college on-site at London Stansted.

EasyJet pilot, Sarah Smartt, was also on hand to talk to the students about her career as a pilot and to answer their wide-range of questions.

Sugg said: “Aviation employs more than 230,000 people across the UK, but it’s vital that the sector makes the best use of talent in this country.

“There are already some great initiatives underway to attract more women into the industry, but we need to do more. 

“Last week I had the pleasure of seeing first-hand the work London Stansted does through its range of education programmes, which have helped inspire thousands of women and young girls over the last three years.

“Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day, we are calling on the aviation industry to pledge action to address this gap.”

Liz Austin, HR director at London Stansted Airport, said: “Encouraging more girls into aviation-related careers is something London Stansted fully supports, and we welcome the government’s drive to increase the number of women in these roles.

“Stansted Airport College was created to build pipeline of future talent and works hard to promote the many exciting opportunities open to girls in aviation, from engineering to cabin crew.

“Along with our Aerozone education centre for younger children, we’re proud of the part London Stansted is playing in inspiring the next generation of the aviation workforce and look forward to seeing an increase in the representation of women in all sectors.”