Breaking Barriers: How TECgirls Is Changing the Future of Aviation for Girls

There’s a big problem hiding in plain sight: in 2024, less than 7% of pilots in the UK are women. In engineering and tech, it’s not much better, only 15.7% of the workforce is female. These aren't just numbers. They’re warning signs. They show us who’s being left out of industries shaping the future and its girls.

That’s exactly why TECgirls created Reach for the Sky. This isn’t just a fun day out (though it is absolutely that too). It’s a bold and brilliant response to a serious issue: girls and underrepresented genders are missing from the skies, from the labs, from the design rooms and it’s time to change that.

Why Girls Need This Now

Far too many girls still grow up thinking careers in aviation, aerospace, or engineering aren’t “for them.” Not because they lack talent or curiosity, but because they don’t see women flying planes, fixing aircraft, or designing space tech. Without role models or hands-on experiences, these careers stay invisible.

TECgirls wanted to change that, so we built a festival full of female role models, exciting tech, and hands-on experiences that make these careers feel not just possible, but fun.

Last year, the idea took off (literally). The first Reach for the Sky Festival, held at RNAS Culdrose, completely sold out and welcomed over 650 people. This year, with support from the Department for Transport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the festival is taking things to a whole new level right beside the runway at Spaceport Cornwall. Families will enjoy a front-row seat as planes take off and land, all while discovering the fascinating science and technology behind ‘taking flight’.

From a front-row seat on the Newquay Airport runway to meeting 20+ female role models, the festival is packed with wow-moments. Kids Invest Stuff YouTube star and award-winning inventor Ruth Amos is set to join us for the day delivering an inspiring talk … workshop on the mainstage. There will also be a the Space for Good session that reveals how satellites are saving lives and the Awesome Engineering panel will dive into the jaw-dropping world of machines that fly, roll, and launch.

Between the talks, there will be the opportunity to play with tech, explore VR and loads of hands-on engineering activities. There’s even a picnic space right by the runway, where you can sit back, relax, and watch real aircraft zoom into the sky just metres away.

More Than a Festival

This year Reach for the Sky isn’t just a festival, it’s the beginning of something much bigger. Thanks to funding from the Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund, TECgirls has launched an expanded, county-wide programme that’s the first of its kind in the UK.

In the months following the festival, over 100 girls from Cornish secondary schools will take part in hands-on workshops where they’ll learn how aircraft are designed and build their own 3D-printed model planes. Meanwhile, ten primary schools will host after-school Take Flight Clubs, where girls will complete flight-themed design challenges, learn about the pioneering women who shaped aviation history, and build their confidence as young engineers and inventors.

For older girls aged 16 to 18, the programme also includes an incredible opportunity to take part in a week-long work experience with The Parnall Group. A small group will spend the week restoring a real-life Spitfire, learning real engineering skills in a professional aviation workshop and seeing first-hand where a future in flight could take them.

There’s a huge world of opportunity out there, filled with exciting, future-focused jobs. From drone design and satellite systems to aircraft maintenance and space exploration, the aviation and aerospace industries are growing fast. But if girls don’t see themselves in those spaces, if they don’t get the chance to try, learn, and lead, they risk being left out of that future.

The Future of Flight 

From building model planes in the classroom to restoring vintage aircraft in a workshop, Reach for the Sky is building confidence, connection, and a community of girls who know the sky isn’t the limit, it’s just the beginning.

The world is changing fast. Drones, electric aircraft, satellite systems, space tourism, it’s all happening, right now. But the future of flight won’t be fair unless everyone is invited on board. TECgirls is making sure girls everyone is invited! 

Are You Ready for Take-Off?

Pack your imagination. Bring your questions. And prepare to see your future take flight.

The Reach for the Sky Festival lands at Spaceport Cornwall on Saturday 5th July.