Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel has been crowned the winner of the Diversity in Maritime Award at the 2026 Maritime Solent Awards, recognising its efforts to open up career opportunities and make ferry travel more accessible for passengers.
The company received the award, sponsored by the Royal Navy, at a ceremony held at the Hilton Southampton, Utilita Bowl.
Red Funnel was recognised for its work to remove barriers that can prevent people from entering the maritime industry, progressing in their careers or feeling included in the workplace.
The ferry operator has been working with schools, attending careers and STEM events and offering apprenticeships from Level 2 through to Level 5.
These opportunities cover a range of roles, including customer service, operations, hospitality, management and human resources.
Red Funnel has also introduced measures to help employees balance their careers with family responsibilities, including flexible working, job shares, enhanced paternity leave, support for carers, menopause support and mental health provision.
Its commitment to accessibility extends beyond its workforce to the thousands of passengers who use its ferry services.
During 2025, Red Funnel teams dealt with 3,307 passenger assistance requests, with a dedicated Accessibility Specialist working alongside accessibility and neurodiverse groups to improve the experience for those requiring additional support.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, has 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.”
The ferry operator has also been sharing its expertise with the wider maritime industry.
Its Accessibility Specialist has been invited to speak as a panellist at Naidex, while the company has worked with the UK Chamber of Shipping to help develop best-practice accessibility guidance for passenger shipping operators across the country.
Red Funnel says it will continue working with schools, community groups and industry partners to encourage more people to consider careers in maritime and help make the sector more welcoming to future employees and passengers.
