2025 Shortlisted nominee
SOCIAL MOBILITY PROJECT AWARD
British Airways, the UK’s flagship airline, has been connecting people, places, and cultures for over 100 years. With more than 30,000 colleagues worldwide and Heathrow as its main hub, BA continues to innovate, from pioneering the fully flat bed in business class to reshaping the future of flying through inclusion. Recognising barriers in aviation, such as high training costs, limited diversity, and lifestyle challenges, BA launched the SpeedbirdPilot Academy, a fully funded training programme guaranteeing successful candidates a flying career. Complementing this, BA created Your Flying Future, interactive workshops inspiring students aged 14–25 with the skills and confidence to pursue aviation careers. To date, 1,554 students have attended, with 32% female and 62% from ethnic minority backgrounds. Through this work, BA is making aviation accessible to all, building a more diverse, representative pilot community for the future.
