Future Ready for All: Building Inclusive Pathways into Industry
Over the past few months, the AirEx team has been honoured to work with the Royal Academy of Engineering as an awardee of their Inclusive Leadership Programme (Cohort 2). The result was something we’re incredibly proud of: the Future Ready for All programme; an initiative designed to build inclusive, practical pathways into industry for students from diverse backgrounds.
Why it Matters
The transition from education into industry can be daunting, especially for students who lack access to professional networks or role models in their chosen field. For those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, the barriers are even higher. Our goal was to break down those barriers, to create a space where students could develop both the confidence and capability to succeed, and to feel they truly belong in the world of work.
A Personal Vision, Realised
The programme was led by Malik Habib, our Senior Electronics & RF Engineer, who shared:
“I was honoured to be entrusted with the opportunity to lead this project by AirEx and the Royal Academy. The focus on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion deeply resonated with my own educational journey.
Having come to the UK from abroad and experienced the challenges of an underprivileged background, I felt a strong personal connection to the project’s aims. I proposed that we work with foundation and first-year students at the University of East London, where my academic path began 19 years ago, to address some of the barriers I once faced.
The team gracefully accepted my proposal, and with the invaluable support of Chris, Nicola, and Yusuf, we set out to bridge the gap between academic studies and professional life, particularly through the lens of startups and entrepreneurship.
Our objective was to give students early exposure to innovation-driven environments and equip them with the mindset, skills, and connections necessary to thrive in the startup ecosystem.
The University of East London provided outstanding support in connecting us with students best suited to benefit from the programme. Likewise, Brunel University, where I completed the latter part of my studies, offered significant support that contributed to the project’s success.”
What We Delivered
The project brought together a series of hands-on sessions and real-world exposure through two day-long bootcamps. These were designed to build practical capabilities while offering mentorship and insight from people who’ve walked the same path.
Students took part in:
Workshops on CV writing, communication and networking
Mentorship sessions with AirEx team members
Practical deep dives into startup journeys, technical portfolios and project management
A final showcase of their own ideas, growth and reflections
We selected 10 students who joined us across the two bootcamps.
One student shared:
“I would say it has given me direction and now it’s up to me to do the work.”
Another reflected:
"I have gained an understanding that when applying to different jobs, the most crucial thing is to know what the company is about; their mission, objectives and long-term vision. Knowing what the company needs makes me a better candidate."
Mentorship with Impact
Yusuf Hussain, Junior Firmware Engineer at AirEx and one of the mentors on the programme, said:
“My vision for this programme was to help the fresh-graduate version of me from four years ago. As someone from a less advantaged background, I wasn’t exposed to the engineering industry in any capacity. I showed the students exactly how powerful a portfolio can be, not just for proactive learning, but also for proving to a potential employer that you have merit. Especially if you have no formal work experience, as many graduates don’t.”
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
We’re deeply grateful to the University of East London and Brunel University for their partnership and support, and to the brilliant students who joined us with openness, energy and ambition.
Thank you to our speakers, including Solveiga Pakštaitė and Agnes Czako, AirEx CEO, for sharing their stories, and to our delivery team: Malik, Yusuf, Chris, Nicola, and all those who helped shape and support this work behind the scenes.
We believe that a future that works for everyone begins with opportunities that are available to everyone. This programme was one small step in that direction and we’re committed to continuing the journey.
