British Airways

“At British Airways, we have been at the forefront of commercial aviation for the past 90 years and have inspired generations of young people to take to the skies in pursuit of their dreams.

I started my career as a 17 year-old cadet pilot and have loved every minute of my 30 years in aviation. It is often a slightly crazy industry but if you want a never-ending challenge where no two flights are ever the same then get involved.

This month we will welcome our largest intake of graduates since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. They will complete a three-year programme with a variety of placements around the airline and will develop into our future senior managers.

We are involved in a Get Ready for Engineering scheme at our hangars in Glasgow. This is a joint partnership with Rangers Football Club, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Glasgow Science Centre and University of the West of Scotland. The scheme is aimed at 13 to 16 years at Govan High School and builds on the area’s strong engineering heritage.

We also offer work experience places to local schools for 15 and 16 year-olds to spend time with the airline at Heathrow each year.

In the past ten years more than 50,000 children from local boroughs around Heathrow have attended a wide range of courses in our Community Learning Centre. Some of these will no doubt become inspired to be our pilots, engineers, cabin crew and customer service staff of the future.

Even with the aviation industry facing its toughest ever trading conditions it is vital that we still invest our time, money and experience in young people who will rise to the challenges facing airlines in the decades ahead.”

Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, British Airways