How we’ve been giving back this quarter

We are always looking for ways to contribute positively to the areas where we live and work and to help build strong, sustainable communities. It’s important to us not only as a responsible business, but to the many NATS employees who are actively involved in supporting charities, good causes, or groups in our local communities.

Looking back over the last quarter alone, it’s clear to see that giving back is very close to everyone’s heart. It is so much more than financial support – although that, of course, helps. At NATS, we also support through mentoring, coaching, STEM events, careers fairs, volunteering and just lending support wherever we can.

A recent example saw the New Airspace Users (NAU) team receive funding from the NATS Community Fund – our internal funding scheme – to redecorate two therapy rooms for Solent Mind.

“It was a huge team effort, from arranging the funding, co-ordinating the activities and logistics, sourcing the furnishings, along with the actual work on the day. It was important to us to give something back to the local community.” – Head of NAU Accounts & Partnerships

Other teams across our sites have focused on distributing meals to those in need, collecting for foodbanks and hospices, and fundraising through all manner of ways, including head shaving, marathons and clothing sales.

Many of these accomplishments have been supported by our Community Fund, which NATS employees can apply to for up to £1,000 to contribute to their fundraising or voluntary work supporting good causes. This quarter, the Community Fund has supported 32 charities and community groups and awarded over £26,000 to charities including Shelter, MIND, Brain Research UK, and Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer Support. Some of the community causes to receive funding include Ayr Rugby Club, Hampshire Spirit Horse Rescue, and Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.

The generosity of our employees doesn’t stop there, as we also have a payroll giving scheme which has seen our employees donate over £61,000 to more than 140 charities and good causes in the UK in quarter two. We were also fortunate enough to be awarded the Platinum accreditation mark from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), which our payroll giving scheme is part of. The accreditation is a government-backed quality mark which is assessed according to an organisation’s size, number of donors, promotional activity and events, and we were delighted that the generosity of our colleagues was recognised in this way.

We’ve also continued our work with our two corporate charities, Aerobility and the Jon Egging Trust (JET).

We were delighted when Dr Emma Egging, CEO of the Jon Egging Trust (JET), wrote a guest blog for us recently to mark International Day of Charity in September. Within it, Emma shares her thanks for our support of the Trust, specifically the Blue Skies youth programme, which sees students from Hampshire and Dorset schools join NATS for experience days where they learn about communications, leadership and resilience. A huge team effort is involved in delivering these days, as our employees not only help plan and deliver the sessions, but share their knowledge, advice and skills with the students too.

In September, JET awarded us accreditation as a Platinum Partner in recognition of all of the work we have done together since our initial sponsorship of the Blue Skies programme enabled JET to expand into Hampshire for the first time back in 2018. The recently released ‘Why JET?’ video really brings home the impact Blue Skies has on those who take part.

Continuing to celebrate our partnerships, we were joined by Harvey Matthewson, Advocacy Manager at Aerobility in July, who shared his achievements and career journey with NATS colleagues. One thing is for sure, career paths are rarely linear, but Harvey’s story truly demonstrates that you can overcome life’s obstacles and tackle adversity head on. As a person who was told he’d never walk or talk, he’s worked in the Cabinet Office, earned a private pilot’s licence and now works to improve accessibility in the aviation and aerospace industries through the Equal Skies Charter, which NATS are founder members of.

Our colleagues continue to generously support Aerobility too, not least via The Big Tour: 24 in 2024 fundraising campaign where four Air Traffic Controllers rode motorcycles from Aberdeen to Gibraltar raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and Aerobility. The Big Tour team have also provided motorcycle memorabilia for Aerobility’s annual auction in November, keeping the donations coming in and continuing to raise awareness.

Providing our employees with ways to support others helps us all, as individuals and a business, demonstrate our care for the areas that matter most to each of us. With activity scheduled throughout the year and developments to further expand our ‘giving back’ offer, it’s safe to say we’re focused on making a difference and positively impacting as many individuals, groups, teams and communities  as possible.