Meet our Sponsors

Clean Maritime Innovator

ABP

Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK’s leading ports group, with 21 ports handling around a quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade. Together with customers, ABP’s ports contribute £7.5 billion to the UK economy and support 119,000 jobs.

ABP Southampton operates the Port of Southampton and is the UK’s number one vehicle handling port, capable of processing 900,000 vehicles per year.

Maritime Apprentice or Cadet of the Year

Chartwell Marine

Chartwell Marine – from its base in Hamble, Southampton – is a trusted pioneer of next-generation vessel design. A reputed naval architect with an industry-leading track record designing award-winning commercial and leisure vessels, Chartwell Marine supports ambitious boat builders and vessel operators around the world with specialist, independent design and consultancy services.

Future Maritime Skills – Small Business Award

City of Portsmouth College

City of Portsmouth College offers comprehensive high-quality academic and vocational study options across four campuses in the Portsmouth region, for students of all ages.

The College offers a wealth of learning opportunities, and qualifications ranging from entry level through to Access to Higher Education diplomas, taught by expert lecturers.

It aims to provide a safe, inclusive and aspirational environment for school leavers and adults to find their brilliance, and also continues to forge extensive links with businesses, non-profit organisations and other stakeholders from across the City of Portsmouth.

Technology Game Changer

Southern Daily Echo

The Southern Daily Echo is the leading local news publisher for Southampton and south Hampshire, delivering trusted journalism across print, digital, social and video.

Founded in 1888, the Echo provides comprehensive coverage of breaking news, crime, politics, sport, business and community life. Reaching thousands of readers each month, it plays a vital role in informing, campaigning for and connecting communities across the region.

Maritime Defence Supply Chain Enterprise of the Year

Griffon Marine

Griffon Marine is at the forefront of marine engineering, offering innovative nautical engineering design consulting services with expertise in Naval Architecture, Zero Emissions Marine and Electric Systems Engineering, Aerodynamics and Regulatory Compliance Engineering. Having been at the forefront of maritime innovation for over 70 years, their high-performance vessels are tailored for efficiency, sustainability and versatility, addressing a wide range of applications, from defence to high-speed passenger ferries.

Maritime Legacy Award

MDL Marinas

MDL Marinas is a family-owned collection of marinas, destinations and boating communities. Established in 1973, MDL operates 18 marinas from a Southampton base – nine of them around the Solent – alongside waterfront commercial estates that are home to boatyards, marine engineers, brokers and hospitality operators, creating experiences that go far beyond providing a berth.

Maritime Micro Business Award

Michael Glanville Executive Coaching

Michael Glanville Executive Coaching is an executive coaching and leadership development consultancy. We coach senior leaders from start up founders to seasoned CEOs, enabling them and their teams to perform at the top of their industry and drive growth.

The firm supports businesses across many sectors including maritime, aviation, rail, infrastructure, manufacturing and private capital and we also provide advisory services in business and financial planning, scaling, investor relations and M and A.

Maritime Business Services Excellence Award

Portsmouth International Port

Portsmouth International Port is the UK’s most successful local authority owned port. It is considered the best connected, with direct access to the motorway, close to the main Solent shipping channels and has more routes to Europe than any other UK port, with sailings to France and Spain. A leading sustainable operator, the port’s terminal building boasts innovative technology, which includes sea water harvesting used to flush toilets and regulate temperature. Wind capture is also used on the roof for cooling the building and living walls help purify the air. 

Maritime Start-up of the Year

Red Funnel

Founded in 1861, Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company and has been proudly serving for over 164 years. Operating 365 days a year, our 7-strong fleet and 500+ colleagues deliver more than 30,000 sailings and 3 million passenger crossings annually between Southampton and the Island. A true champion of British Maritime, we were honoured with the Maritime 2050 Award in 2019 for supporting UK shipbuilding. With heritage at our heart and innovation at our helm, Red Funnel continues to connect communities and inspire journeys across the Solent.

Diversity in Maritime

Royal Navy

The world is becoming more contested and less predictable. The pace of technological development is dramatically changing warfare beyond anything any of us have experienced before. Threats to the UK, our allies, and our interests are increasing across all domains. In this environment, the Royal Navy must be ready for warfighting as part of the integrated force in the modern combative age. 

OUR ROLE IS CLEAR
To protect the nation, under, on, above and from the sea. To do this, the Royal Navy will be bold in change and focused on our unifying purpose: Ready to fight, and able to win. This is not a distant ambition – it is a necessity now. A Royal Navy that is respected by allies, feared by enemies, and remains the pride of our island nation.

Maritime SME of the Year

Solent Freeport

Solent Freeport is a nationally significant hub for trade, investment, and industrial growth. Building on the region’s strengths in defence, clean energy, maritime, space and advanced manufacturing, it creates new opportunities for businesses to innovate, expand and compete globally.

By attracting private investment, supporting high-value jobs and advancing decarbonisation, Solent Freeport is strengthening the South Coast economy and helping shape the future of UK industry

Maritime Logistics Operator of the Year

Solent Stevedores

Solent Stevedores has been proudly operating as an award-winning family-run company for more than 20 years. With market-leading port services in cargo operations, dry bulk, fresh produce, cruise stevedoring, rail and container services, Solent Stevedores operates from 7 locations across the UK, Singapore, Northern France and Channel Islands.

Future Maritime Skills – Large Business

South Hampshire College Group

South Hampshire College Group (SHCG) is a large, merged college group, that brings together three Further Education colleges and two specialist training centres from Southampton, Eastleigh, Fareham and Lee-on-the-Solent to make one strong, responsive and ambitious organisation. 

The mission of South Hampshire College Group is to enable all students, apprentices and our region’s businesses to be successful in their future through high-quality technical and professional education and training.

Brochure Sponsor

RIDGE AND PARTNERS LLP

Ridge is a multidiscipline built environment consultancy with over 1,600 people working worldwide from 15 UK locations, providing industry-leading advice and service on schemes across several sectors. Our Winchester office works on projects of diverse types and sizes across the region and beyond, including key maritime projects across the South Coast. Our award-winning services are available individually or in any combination for all property and construction requirements. It’s a testament to our success that more than 80% of our work is repeat business from satisfied clients.

Finalist Reception Sponsor

Carnival UK

Carnival UK is the UK’s largest cruise operator and as the operating company for P&O Cruises and Cunard, no one knows cruising like we do. We take enormous pride in creating unforgettable holiday happiness by bringing to life two of the most iconic brands from Britain’s rich seafaring heritage. With our enduring link to maritime and UK headquarters in Southampton we help to make cruise a significant contributor to the UK economy and one of the most important industries for the south coast. Reflecting our long-standing partnership with the Maritime Solent, we are delighted to host the Finalist’s Reception for the 2025 Maritime Solent Awards.

AV event partner

Helical Productions

At Helical Productions, we help brands, agencies, and event teams bring their products, services, and stories to life through event production, high-end video, motion design, and 3D animation.

We specialise in visually striking, emotionally resonant content — from cinematic product reveals and immersive event visuals to animated explainers and brand films.

Drawing on years of experience with global brands, we combine proven expertise with cutting-edge digital tools and creative storytelling to create fresh, purposeful content built for today’s platforms.

True to our maritime heritage, we are proud to support Maritime Solent and the broader Solent maritime community.

Digital event partner

Cavendish Consulting

Cavendish is a multi-disciplinary communications consultancy that blends strategic insight with creative excellence to help brands lead with clarity, authenticity, and purpose. We are bold, curious, aspirational, authoritative and impactful: values that shape everything we do, from brand strategy to digital execution.

We deliver end-to-end digital solutions that are rooted in user-centric design. Our integrated teams – spanning technology, design, video, and communications – collaborate to create sector-defining campaigns that not only look exceptional but connect intuitively with diverse audiences.