Many young kids develop an obsession with vehicles. From diggers and Thomas the Tank, to RC cars and model planes. Most will grow eventually out of it, but for some, this childhood passion becomes a dream and then a career.
This was the case for Gavin Sheppard. He grew up around planes. In fact, he learnt how to drive on a runway.
Gavin has worked as an esteemed pilot, Captain and flight trainer for over 30 years and has shaped the career paths of approximately 4,500 pilots.
Over the last decade he’s seen standards slip, with too many examples of bad behaviour, inexperienced pilots being taught by inexperienced trainers, and rampant tick-a-box laziness.
This year he founded Skyward as a new centre of excellence for pilot training in Australia. A place where budding cadets right through to seasoned captains can learn from the best of the best. Their point of difference – positive, mentor-style training that builds technical skills while also building important attributes like confidence and professionalism. A place that helps airlines to foster talent, create more well-rounded teams and support their standing and service.
The Skyward brand harnesses the company’s core brand values of Empowerment, Passion and Integrity. Drawing on powerful origin stories, the team model successful career paths on their business cards and email signatures. Showing how grassroots passion and curiosity can be built into ‘Command Excellence’, the company’s aspirational motto.
An electric, almost Yves Klein blue reflects the technical aspect of the profession, while graphic elements combine in different dynamic combinations to represent parts of planes, as well as concepts of growth, excellence and leadership.
As their website is being developed, a playful landing page heroes the wonder of the skies, with geo-targeting functionality to serve visitors their current weather specs as they commence their journey of growth and discovery with Skyward.
