An aviation and aerospace festival aimed at enticing girls into the industry will take place in Cornwall.
The event, named Reach for the Sky, is run by TECgirls, a Truro-based community interest company committed to inspiring young girls to explore technology, engineering and creative sectors.
The festival is set for June 22, 2024, at Europe's largest Navy base, RNAS Culdrose in Helston.
Reach for the Sky strives to highlight the opportunities within the aerospace industry, encouraging the pursuit of dreams among young girls.
The workforce in this industry has experienced a notable gender imbalance with less than 6 per cent of pilots and under 10 per cent of aviation engineers in the UK being women.
A projection by Boeing suggests 558,000 more commercial pilots will be needed to accommodate the growth of the industry by 2034.
This demand extends to engineers, air traffic controllers, and other roles.
For continual growth of aviation and space development, the representation of women in the sector needs to be substantially improved.
A survey conducted by the Women in Aviation Advisory Board in 2022 found that 54 per cent of the female respondents were positively influenced towards an aviation career due to their exposure to the industry during childhood.
Therefore, Reach for the Sky aims to provide early exposure, firing up girls with experiences in aviation and aerospace, and inspiring them to follow their dreams.
Festival attendees can look forward to meeting female pilots and seeing impressive aircraft such as an F22 jet.
Furthermore, the event provides opportunities to delve into engineering, launch rockets, build a space village, and interact with VR welding machines.
Attendees can also enjoy live science shows and gain inspiration from female role models in the industry.
Caitlin Gould, director of TECgirls, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be launching this unique event to Cornwall.
"Through Reach for the Sky festival, we hope to empower young girls to explore the exciting and diverse career paths available to them within this industry."
Attendance is free for children, with lunch included, while adult tickets are priced at £10 each.
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