The airline made the commitment to help learning initiatives for young people across science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) as part of Virgin’s revamped Passport to Change community programme.

Charity partners include Speakers for Schools, Smallpeice Trust and UK for UNHCR, which is a charity partner to the UN Refugee Agency.

Estelle Hollingsworth, chief people officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “Our Passport to Change programme is how we, at Virgin Atlantic, use our business as a force for good, through our communities, our people and our partners.

“We know there is a huge gender gap in Stem, and that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately impacted.

“By working with our incredible new charity partners Speakers for Schools, Smallpeice Trust and UK for UNHCR, we can reach, educate and empower young people from all parts of society to engage with Stem education, driving real change in the communities where we work and where we fly.”

Virgin’s Passport to Change programme will give access to Stem learning for young people through a mixture of direct school engagement, grants and scholarships.

The programme wants to work across Virgin’s destinations by forming charity partnerships to encourage social mobility and close the gap between majority and minority groups, as well as addressing inequity in education.

Jason Elsom, chief executive at Speakers for Schools, added: “We are proud to partner with Virgin Atlantic for this first-of-its-kind immersive programme, allowing young people to experience every aspect of the aviation industry with such an iconic brand. 

“Passport to Change will open the door for young people to an exciting industry and meet the experts leading the way at Virgin Atlantic.”