Inspiring the next generation of aviation talent
At Artemis Aerospace, we are proud to continue our commitment to nurturing future talent and supporting initiatives that drive innovation and sustainability across the aviation sector. One such initiative is our ongoing partnership with The Air League, a charity dedicated to making careers in aviation and aerospace accessible to young people from all backgrounds.
So we were pleased to support the 2026 Global Innovators’ Challenge for a second consecutive year; an inspiring competition that empowers young people aged 11 to 25 to develop ideas that will help the aviation, aerospace and space industries achieve Net Zero by 2050.
Driving innovation for a sustainable future
The Global Innovators’ Challenge was created in response to the growing urgency around sustainable aviation. As the industry explores solutions ranging from hydrogen-powered aircraft to sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), The Air League recognised the importance of involving young people in shaping the future.
Speaking about the competition, the charity’s CEO, Janine Hornsby, highlighted how the challenge encourages participants to think beyond traditional boundaries. From biomimicry-inspired aircraft design to operational innovations such as airport infrastructure and flight path optimisation, entrants are encouraged to explore both near-term and long-term solutions for decarbonising aviation.
Industry expertise meets emerging talent
A key strength of the Global Innovators’ Challenge is its close connection with industry leaders, who mentor and assess participants throughout the process. This year, the judging panel brought together experts from across the sector, including Neil Turnbull, who shared insights on electric aircraft developments, Andrew King, who discussed innovations in carbon-neutral air display technologies and David Debney, who explored next-generation engine technologies.
Alongside these industry voices, we are especially proud that Deborah Scott represented Artemis Aerospace as a judge in this year’s competition.
Her involvement reflects Artemis ongoing commitment to supporting innovation, sustainability and skills development within the aviation sector. As CFO, Deborah brings a
strong commercial and strategic perspective to the judging process, helping assess not only the creativity of ideas but also their feasibility, scalability and potential real-world impact.
From ideas to industry impact
The competition challenges entrants to submit a 1,000-word proposal outlining feasibility, implementation and collaboration opportunities. Finalists are then invited to present their ideas in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch to the judging panel.
The most promising concepts are showcased at the Sustainable Skies World Summit, providing young innovators with an exceptional platform to present their ideas directly to industry leaders and potential employers.
Over the years, entries have demonstrated remarkable creativity. Previous projects have included:
- Converting waste materials into sustainable aviation fuel
- Producing SAF from algae-based systems
- Generating airport electricity using kinetic energy from passenger movement
This year’s winning entries continued that trend, with first place awarded to Oscar Noone (UK) for “Refuel – Waste to Fuel,” which explored converting pharmaceutical waste solvents into sustainable aviation fuel.
Tackling the skills gap in aviation
Beyond innovation, The Air League also plays a critical role in addressing one of aviation’s most pressing challenges – the skills gap.
The industry faces a growing shortage of skilled professionals, particularly as experienced engineers approach retirement. At the same time, young people often struggle to access training opportunities, work experience placements and clear pathways into aerospace careers.
As Janine Hornsby highlighted during her speech, this disconnect risks losing highly talented individuals to other sectors such as Formula 1, pharmaceuticals or technology, simply due to lack of access and opportunity within aviation.
Initiatives like the Global Innovators’ Challenge help bridge that gap by giving young people direct exposure to industry professionals and real-world problem solving.
Why this matters to Artemis
At Artemis, we recognise the future of aviation depends not only on technological advancement, but also on the development of a diverse, skilled and motivated workforce.
By supporting The Air League and participating in programmes such as the Global Innovators’ Challenge, we are helping to:
- Encourage sustainable thinking from an early age
- Provide access to industry expertise and mentorship
- Bridge the gap between education and employment in aerospace
- Support the next generation of engineers, innovators and leaders
Looking ahead
The ideas emerging from this competition demonstrate the future of aviation is in capable hands. Young innovators are not only imagining more sustainable flight, but actively designing it.
Through continued collaboration with The Air League, Artemis is proud to play a part in empowering these future leaders and helping turn bold ideas into real-world solutions for a net-zero aviation industry.
