Red Funnel has been named the winner of the Diversity in Maritime Award at this year’s Maritime Solent Awards, celebrating its work to make maritime a place where more people can see a future for themselves. The Isle of Wight ferry operator took home the award, sponsored by the Royal Navy, at the Maritime Solent Awards at the Hilton Southampton, Utilita Bowl.
Red Funnel was praised for its work to open up opportunities in maritime and remove some of the barriers that can make it harder for people to join the industry, build a career or feel that they belong.
Routes into a maritime career
For Red Funnel, that starts with providing an inclusive workplace that is welcome to all.
The company is also supporting numerous paths for people to join the industry by working with schools, attending careers and STEM events and offering apprenticeships from Level 2 through to Level 5, giving people the chance to learn on the job and develop their careers across every aspect of maritime from customer service, operations and hospitality, to management and HR.
Supporting family life
Red Funnel is proud to help colleagues build careers that support family life by offering flexible working, job shares, support for carers, enhanced paternity leave, menopause support and mental health provision.
The firm offers a friendly, welcoming environment, where feedback and input is welcomed from all and diversity in all forms is championed.
Help for passengers
The same approach extends to the people travelling with Red Funnel. A dedicated Accessibility Specialist, passenger assistance and work with accessibility and neurodiverse groups are helping make journeys easier for customers who need additional support. In 2025 alone, Red Funnel teams handled 3,307 passenger assistance requests.
Collins: Diversity isn’t about one group of people
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, said,
“We’re incredibly proud to receive this award. Maritime is an industry full of brilliant people and brilliant careers, and we want to highlight the opportunities that are open to everyone.
“For us, diversity isn’t about one group of people or one initiative. It’s about looking at what might be getting in someone’s way and doing something about it. That could be getting your first opportunity in maritime, being able to progress once you’re here, balancing work with caring responsibilities or making sure a disability isn’t a barrier to taking part.
“We know there’s always more to do, but I’m very proud of our colleagues at Red Funnel who support our vision and make these changes happen.”
Sharing accessibility expertise
Red Funnel is also taking what it has learned beyond its own ferries and terminals. Its Accessibility Specialist has been invited to share her expertise as a panellist at Naidex, while Red Funnel has worked with the UK Chamber of Shipping to help develop best-practice accessibility guidance for passenger shipping operators across the UK.
The company continues to work with schools, community groups and industry partners to encourage more people to consider a maritime career, highlighting the accessibility of the sector and welcoming the next generation of colleagues and customers.
News shared by Isabelle on behalf of Red Funnel. Ed
