NATS and JET

As JET’s Premier Partner in Dorset and Hampshire since 2016, NATS have acted as a key delivery partner in the south for over nine years, offering JET students privileged access to the dynamic world of air traffic control.

JET Platinum Partner

Logo NATS
Partnership history

Since 2016, NATS has grown to become a crucial JET partner thanks to their generous funding, their delivery support for Blue Skies sessions, and their unwavering dedication to our young people. Initially focusing on our work in Hampshire and Dorset, NATS’ support has continuously expanded and now benefits all active JET regions across the UK.

Vital financial support

NATS has been a key funding partner for JET for over six years, and many of the NATS team also organise their own fundraising challenges in aid of our work each year. In 2025, NATS’ Early Careers Team held a fundraising month for JET which raised over £10,000!

Inspiring Blue Skies sessions

NATS is one of JET’s strongest delivery partners, winning the Corporate Team of the Year award at our 2025 JET Annual Dinner. In the 24-25 academic year alone, professional role models from NATS hosted six Blue Skies sessions in our Dorset and Hampshire regions, totalling 185 hours of volunteering support.

Money can't buy

The NATS team are strong advocates for JET, with support from their Early Careers Team to their most senior employees. NATS’ dedication to our students has been growing year on year, raising awareness of our mission and opening doors into their expansive network. They have also supported JET in our fundraising efforts by donating auction prizes and experiences.

Two students (one with nose cancelling headphones, one with opaque glasses) at NATS doing an activity with JET staff
Our young people are always inspired by NATS – understandably so, their work helping to control the UK’s airspace is fascinating. We are inspired by them too. Their dedication across every part of the company to making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged young people, through the use of their time and resources, enables us to do our work. We are grateful for all of their support.
Dr Alex Brown

Chief Executive Officer, Jon Egging Trust

NATS delivery support

Many of NATS’ staff are committed volunteers for JET, making NATS one of JET’s biggest delivery partners. The NATS team hosted six Blue Skies workplace visits in 2024-25 and volunteered 185 hours of their time:

* Five Blue Skies session in Hampshire

* Blue Skies session at Southampton Airport for our Dorset students

NATS delivery support

Blue Skies sessions hosted by NATS have included:

* Workplace visits to Southampton Airport to enable young people to explore the working world of aviation.

* Teamwork and communication challenges and opportunities for students to explore career pathways into the aerospace sector.

* Insights personality tests, where students gain an understanding of their personality types and strengths.

NATS delivery support

Other Blue Skies sessions delivered by NATS include:

* An eye-opening visit to NATS at Swanwick, the UK’s main air traffic control centre, where students gain an insights into air traffic control, highlighting the incredible feat of managing 7,500 flights every day!

* Sessions including a perfect mix of practical challenges – from blindfolded obstacle courses to shelter building – and workplace experiences, watching the NATS team in action in the workplace and conducting interviews, inspiring the students to think differently about their futures.

What an incredible experience our students had at NATS. The workshop was meticulously planned, and the staff worked closely with each student, providing them with the guidance and encouragement they needed to feel confident.

As a result, our students not only learned valuable skills but also developed their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively as a team. Thank you for such a positive and impactful experience.

Louise Bateman

Careers Lead, Miltoncross Academy (JET partner school)

NATS Fundraising Month

Across May and June 2025, NATS’ Early Careers Team spearheaded a highly successful fundraising month. The team raised £10,200 for JET, vastly exceeding their initial target of £4,900!

NATS Fundraising Month

Some of the highlights of this successful fundraising month included:

* Over 7,000km reached for their distance goal
* Red Arrows talk
* Silent auction and raffle
* Bake sales and bake-off competition
* Paper plane competitions
* Car wash

The skills required to work as part of a team are vital in any workplace and our partnership with JET underwrites their importance. Early intervention and the longevity of the Blue Skies programme sets JET apart from other youth charities. The scheme has clear and significant impact and we have witnessed the growth and development of many students who we have hosted year after year.

We know that inspiring young people from their early years through their academic decision-making and into their further education will also support our long term plan to have highly capable, diverse talent at NATS and across the whole aviation industry. I can’t overstate the importance of this; future-proofing our career pipeline, delivering employee satisfaction and indirectly, enhancing our reputation with wider stakeholders.

Martin Rolfe

Chief Executive Officer, NATS

%

Confidence improved

Students supported

%

Leadership improved

Our Partners