London City Airport’s Women in Aviation challenge won by East London students

credit London City Airport, c: Andrew Baker

A group of east London students has won London City Airport’s Women in Aviation programme after taking part in a sustainability challenge.

The award, which was presented at the finale event held on Thursday 25 April at the Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Royal Victoria Dock, is part of the airport’s Women in Aviation Programme – a three-month education programme, where up to 300 young women from 10 schools across east London participated.

The winning group from Woodbridge High School, Redbridge, demonstrated innovative ideas on how to make London City Airport more sustainable using alternative fuels and architectural design of the airport’s terminal. Plashet School in Newham were runners up in the competition.

The students were joined by role models from across the industry who gave career talks, some of whom also sat on the judging panel, awarding the winning group with vouchers and a special airside tour of the airport. The judging panel included: Honor Puciato, an Aviation Ambassador from the Department for Transport’s Generation Aviation programme; Dr Holly Edwards, Senior Policy Advisor, Department for Transport; Claire O’Toole, Analytics & Insights Manager, British Airways CityFlyer; Lucy Craven, Head of Corporate Affairs, London City Airport; Maya Denin, Jet Centre Manager, London City Airport; Marie-Louise Phillipe, VP Sales & Marketing for Europe & Central Asia, Embraer and Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Community Leadership & Engagement, Barking & Dagenham.

credit London City Airport, c: Andrew Baker

“It was wonderful to see how engaged the students were throughout the programme and in finding solutions to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our sector,” commented Anne Doyere, Aviation Director at London City Airport.

“There is still so much work to be done to encourage more young women to pursue careers in the aviation sector and we hope our Women in Aviation programme continues to play a role in supporting this mission.”

Aviation Minister, Anthony Browne MP said: “As the aviation sector continues to grow and adapt, initiatives like the Women in Aviation Programme are vital for shining a light on this rewarding sector.

“Not only is it great to see one of our Aviation Ambassadors getting involved and encouraging young women to join the industry, but it’s also the kind of support that will help build a diverse and talented workforce fit for the future.”

The aim of the programme is to showcase how Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects can provide solutions to the challenges facing the aviation sector and encourage more local, young women into careers in the sector.

The ‘Women in Aviation’ programme, delivered by Inspire (formerly known as 15billionebp) is part of the airport’s wider programme to create a better gender balance across the business and show how the sector offers an attractive career path for young women, including those from BAME communities.

London City Airport is one of the London Borough of Newham’s largest single-site employers. Over two thirds of the airport’s workforce live within five miles of the airport from its location in the heart of London’s Royal Docks.