London Luton Airport's (LLA) commitment to local skills development and education initiatives has been boosted with a significant grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). 

The funding will bolster LLA’s evolving ‘Classroom to Careers’ education programme that encompasses environmental education, essential skills development workshops*, apprenticeships, university partnerships and work experience placements. 

The £90,000 grant was awarded to LLA via the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund, a joint initiative between the DfT and CAA. The fund supports community outreach projects that seek to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals and create opportunities for groups currently underrepresented in the sector. 

Alberto Martin, Chief Executive Officer of London Luton Airport, commented: “The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund plays an important part in breaking down barriers and supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds looking to pursue a career in aviation. This funding from the DfT and CAA will shape the next exciting phase of London Luton Airport’s educational outreach activity and will significantly bolster the existing work we’re doing to inspire the next generation of aviation talent, particularly for those currently underrepresented in our industry.” 

Sophie Jones, Head of Customer Experience and STEM Sponsor at the Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We are proud to support London Luton Airport’s outreach programme through the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund. This initiative offers young people meaningful opportunities to explore the aviation and aerospace sector, with a particular focus on decarbonisation and the future use of hydrogen, both critical areas that will shape the industry's evolution and help address an emerging skills gap.” 

The Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund supports outreach programmes that inspire the next generation from all backgrounds to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace, helping to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of innovation and sustainable development.” 

Harnessing its long-standing partnership with Cranfield University**, LLA will also work alongside Cranfield’s National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) to provide unique and exciting learning opportunities which will be facilitated by the funding. 

LLA launched its Classroom to Careers programme in 2024, with an aim of reaching 2,000 individuals over the next three years. The programme offers a range of practical skills development and education initiatives for local pupils and aligns with Luton Council’s Luton 2040 vision of a healthy, fair, and sustainable town where everyone can thrive. 

Key LLA initiatives include: 

• Environmental education programme, delivered in partnership with the local charity, Forest of Marston Vale. The programme is relaunching this month to local and beneficiary schools of LLA's Greener Future Fund*** and provides local primary school age children with opportunities to gain from first-hand opportunities to learn about the environment and biodiversity 
• Essential Skills Workshops designed to equip young people in local communities with a fresh insight into skills development and career opportunities at the airport. The workshops have been delivered to over 100 pupils across seven local secondary schools this year to date 

 

Earlier this year, LLA also signed the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge, pioneered by one of its two charity partners, the National Literacy Trust. The pledge provides a framework for how organisations can play a leading role in improving literacy levels across the UK, placing literacy at the heart of the responsible business agenda and empowering children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the literacy skills needed to thrive. 

Further information about LLA’s Classroom to Careers programme can be found in its 2024 Sustainability Report.  

-Ends-  

Notes to Editors 

* Delivered in partnership with not-for-profit organisation Skills Builder, a global not-for-profit social enterprise that works with employers and educators to ensure that one day, everyone builds the essential skills to succeed. You can find out more about the initiative here: Essential Skills in Aviation Workshop.    

** In 2024, LLA and Cranfield University strengthened their long-standing association with a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The partnership provides a framework for environmental, operational and educational collaboration, joint project activities and combined research opportunities.  

*** LLA’s Greener Future Fund provides direct financial support to support local environmental and biodiversity projects and is partially funded through the Community Trust Fund grant funding process, managed by the Bedfordshire Luton Community Foundation (BLCF).  

About London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports, carrying over 16.7 million passengers in 2024. The airport is operated by a consortium, of which the majority shareholder is AENA, the world’s largest airport operator, and InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager. Airlines include Jet2, easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Tui, FlyOne, Sun Express and El Al.

The airport is owned for community benefit by Luton Rising, a company wholly-owned by Luton Council, which has invested more than £500m in front-line, voluntary and charitable services since 1998.

The Luton Airport Express is a new dedicated train service that allows passengers to travel from central London to the LLA terminal in around 30 minutes. The Luton Airport Express runs from St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station and connects seamlessly with the DART, an electrically powered people mover that connects to the airport terminal in less than four minutes.

In 2024, LLA was named European Airport of the Year (10-25 million passengers) by ACI EUROPE, and in 2025 LLA received the highest possible rating of 'Very Good' in the annual Airport Accessibility report published by the CAA, assessing assisted travel service performance.

Last year, LLA also became the third major UK airport to achieve Level 4 of the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, demonstrating that it is ‘transforming its operations to achieve carbon reductions in line with global climate goals’. With a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating, LLA has been ranked as a sector leader for three consecutive years in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) benchmark of sustainability governance management and performance of major infrastructure assets worldwide.

LLA continues to be a major employer and a key economic driver in Bedfordshire — supporting 28,000 jobs and contributing £830 million per year to the local economy. In 2024, LLA spent 60% of its supply chain costs with more than 300 businesses within a 25-mile radius of the airport, totalling £110 million.

To learn about the progress London Luton Airport is making across its sustainability programme please click here.

Further information on London Luton Airport can be found here: https://www.london-luton.co.uk/

Contact Details:

London Luton Airport Press Office
T: 01582 395333
E: pressoffice@ltn.aero

URL: https://mediahub.london-luton.co.uk/news/07102025/lla-education-programme-reaches-new-heights