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Become a volunteer aviation ambassador: application guidance

Updated 8 September 2023

We are no longer accepting applications for volunteer positions. We will be in touch with all applicants in due course.

Introduction

The aviation ambassador role is a voluntary role that helps meet the goals of the Generation Aviation programme.

This programme sees the UK government, industry and others, including the aviation ambassadors, work to help build an aviation workforce fit for the future, attract diverse and talented people and prepare for new technologies.

Our aviation ambassadors play an important role in championing the sector, inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals, and acting as role models for prospective aviation workers from all backgrounds.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity for you to share your skills and experience, particularly with young people and underrepresented groups, to highlight the wide range of opportunities available in aviation. There are 10 volunteer positions available.

As part of your role, we’ll ask you to help:

• promote aviation as an exciting and accessible career
• support efforts to champion diversity, accessibility and social mobility
• the Aviation Skills team in the Department for Transport (DfT) to develop, test and promote policies and initiatives that tackle barriers to aviation careers

You could become involved in:

• presentations and keynote speeches 
• aviation events 
• outreach at schools, colleges or universities 
• writing blogs and articles to share the exciting opportunities that the aviation sector has offered you 
• using social media to raise the profile of aviation careers
• working with stakeholders to identify and understand the issues and trends of the sector to better understand the barriers to entering a career within the aviation sector, and the barriers for access and progression within the sector 

Objectives

The Aviation Ambassador Group has 3 main objectives:

1. Raise the profile of the aviation industry

Our aviation ambassadors will use social media and communication platforms to improve the visibility of all available opportunities. For example, they will showcase the wide variety of roles that are on offer in aviation such as those that are less understood or are overlooked.

2. Develop and deliver outreach programmes

Our aviation ambassadors develop and deliver bespoke outreach activities to young people and underrepresented or marginalised groups. This includes attending events designed to educate, inspire and engage young people who may not otherwise pursue opportunities within the sector.

3. Improve career pathways

Our aviation ambassadors support the development or promotion of new learning and development opportunities. This includes considering where pathways into the aviation sector can be created, improved or signposted – which will also support the mobility and retention of skills within the sector.

Criteria

As this is a voluntary role, you will not be paid. However, expenses incurred while conducting pre-agreed activity as an aviation ambassador may be claimed, in line with Civil Service guidance.

We expect you to be able to demonstrate you are involved in the aviation sector (job or hobby, for example). You will also be expected to commit to:

• the role of aviation ambassador during 2024 and 2025
• attendance at quarterly board meetings in the months of February, May, August and December during 2024 and 2025
• attending outreach activities on a regular basis – for around 3 hours per month – and monitoring the activities you participate in using tools and methods provided by DfT
• a one-day induction session in January 2024 (expected 15 January 2024)
• being predominantly based in the UK for the next 2 years

You will be expected to pass a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check. If you do not pass this, we will have to withdraw your application.

If you have already served 2 years in the aviation ambassador role, you will be ineligible to apply.

This is to ensure sufficient opportunity is provided to a broad range of dedicated individuals to champion the sector, inspire the next generation of aviation professionals and act as role models for prospective aviation workers from all backgrounds through an ambassadorial role.

Timeline

We are no longer accepting applications for volunteer roles.

The following dates are indicative only and are subject to change:

• applicants will be informed of first-stage outcome on 18 September 2023
• telephone interviews will be held on the week commencing 25 September 2023
• applicants will be advised of the outcome in December 2023
• induction date: 15 January 2024

Marking criteria used to assess your application

The aim of the Aviation Ambassador program is to gain a wide range of aviation professionals with different roles, experience levels and relationships to the sector. For this reason, it is important to remember that while the assessment process is done on an individual basis, final selection should consider the variety of a cohort as a whole.

This is to ensure the ambassadors are promoting the industry rather than just their specific role. For example, if the top 10 scores were all achieved by pilots, the top-scoring individuals in other positions may be selected despite achieving a lower score, since their selection will enhance the breadth of positions the ambassadors cover.

Individuals will be assessed individually and scores will then be moderated to ensure that a breadth of aviation roles are represented. There will not be an appeals process following moderation.

1. How are you currently involved in the aviation industry (job or hobby, for example)? What was your pathway into this?

1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
The individual is not involved in the aviation industry, so would not serve as an inspiration for aspiring aviators	The individual has a minimal relationship with the aviation industry that would serve as minimal inspiration for aspiring aviators.	The individual has a relationship with the aviation industry that could be inspirational for aspiring aviators.	The individual either has a somewhat unique or exciting relationship with the aviation industry that would serve as inspiration for aspiring aviators.	The individual has a truly unique and exciting relationship with the industry that would serve as inspiration for aspiring aviators.

2. Why would you be a good fit for the objectives of the programme?

1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
The individual does not have a grasp of the Ambassador programme and they do not exhibit any qualities that portray them as skilled or passionate about the programme.	The individual has a minimal grasp of the Ambassador programme and/or they exhibit minimal qualities that portray them as skilled or passionate about the programme.	The individual has a good grasp of the Ambassador programme and they exhibit good qualities that portray them as skilled or passionate about the programme.	The individual has a very good understanding of the Ambassador programme and they exhibit very good qualities that portray them as skilled or passionate about the programme.	The individual has a very strong and clear understanding of the Ambassador programme and strongly exhibits qualities that portray them as skilled or passionate about the programme.

3. What would you like to achieve as part of the Aviation Ambassador programme?

1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
The individual has demonstrated no relevant goals for their time in the programme.	The individual has demonstrated minimal relevant goals for their time in the programme and/or they have demonstrated highly unrealistic goals.	The individual has demonstrated relevant goals for the programme but these are either too ambitious or not ambitious enough.	The individual has demonstrated multiple goals for the programme that are both achievable and would have a positive impact on the aviation sector.	The individual has demonstrated multiple ambitious and achievable goals for the programme that would have a lasting, positive impact on the aviation sector.

4. Provide details of any previous experience and/or skills in outreach and public speaking.

1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
The individual has no experience in outreach or public speaking.	The individual has limited experience in outreach or public speaking.	The individual has experience in outreach or demonstrated evidence for relevant transferrable skills.	The individual has demonstrated good experience in outreach or has demonstrated strong evidence of transferable skills.	The individual has demonstrated extensive experience in outreach over an extended period of time.

5. Do you have any prior experience that is similar to the ambassador role?

1	2	3	4	5
The individual has demonstrated no prior experience in a similar role or any transferable experience.	There is no direct experience in an ambassador or similar role, but they have showcased some of the skills necessary to perform in this role.	The individual has direct experience in an ambassador or similar role but they have demonstrated minimal impact.	The individual has direct experience in an ambassador or similar role or they have demonstrated some impact in that role.	The individual has direct experience in an ambassador or similar role and they have demonstrated strong impact in that role.

Contact us

Any questions on the application process should be directed to AviationAmbassadors@dft.gov.uk. We will only provide guidance on the application process. We cannot provide advice on individual applications.

Data protection

During the application process, you will be presented with a privacy notice, which reads as follows:

DfT is carrying out this application process to appoint the 2024 cohort of aviation ambassadors.

The data submitted to this application is given by consent of the applicant, if for any reason you decide to withdraw consent for your application to be held, email: AviationAmbassadors@dft.gov.uk and your data will be immediately deleted from our databases.

Please note that this will immediately withdraw your application and you will no longer be considered for the role of aviation ambassador.

As part of the application, we’re asking for your name and contact details. This is to ensure that we can inform you of the result of your application and perform due diligence checks if you are successful in your application. We will only use them for this purpose. In addition, we ask about your experience in the aviation industry and qualifications for this role. If your answers contain any personal information, DfT will, under data protection law, be the controller of this information.

DfT’s privacy policy has more information about your rights in relation to your personal data, how to complain and how to contact the Data Protection Officer.

Your information will be kept securely on a secure system within DfT and destroyed within 3 months after the assessment process has been completed.

In addition to the above privacy notice, you will be asked to give explicit consent for DfT to store any special category data which could be entered in response to the questions. You are not required to present this data and your application will not be judged based on it.