A new collaboration between the White Ensign Association (the WEA) and Maritime Solent aims to strengthen workforce resilience by connecting Naval talent with maritime careers across the Solent region.
The White Ensign Association (the WEA) and Maritime Solent have announced a new collaboration to support the development of the UK’s first military-to-maritime pathway, developed through a cluster-led approach in the Solent, creating opportunities to connect Naval service leavers, veterans and families with the maritime workforce in the region.
The initiative was marked at the Maritime Solent Summit in Portsmouth on 15 April, where Maritime Solent formally signed the Armed Forces Covenant, reinforcing its commitment to the Armed Forces community and strengthening links between defence and industry.
The Solent is recognised as the UK’s leading industrial maritime region, supporting over 146,600 jobs and generating £10.6 billion in economic value each year. With continued growth across the sector, attracting and developing a skilled workforce is a key priority for Maritime Solent and its members.
Through this collaboration, the WEA will work with Maritime Solent to support its partners and network in recognising the value of service leavers and veterans, and shaping a structured, scalable approach to workforce development across the Solent maritime sector.
The WEA is the principal Naval charity supporting employment transition for the Royal Navy, working closely with the Service to assist service leavers, veterans and families at critical points of change.
As a trusted intermediary, the WEA works across both sides of the recruitment relationship, supporting individuals and employers through every stage of the transition journey, from career discovery and preparation through to hiring and integration. This includes one-to-one guidance, translation of military skills into civilian roles, employer engagement, and access to a bespoke digital platform, ensuring candidates are well prepared and aligned to employer needs.
The programme builds on the WEA’s established employment support model, which aligns individual capability with employer demand. It will develop over time as maritime employers engage, helping to shape pathways that reflect real workforce requirements and long-term skills needs.
This approach begins in the Solent as the UK’s first cluster-led model, helping to shape a pathway that may be extended across other regions and sectors.
The WEA attended the Maritime Solent Summit as an exhibitor, engaging directly with maritime employers to better understand workforce requirements and explore how Naval talent can support future capability.
Commodore Stuart Wright, CEO, the White Ensign Association said:
“At the White Ensign Association, we see first-hand how the skills and experience developed in Naval service translate strongly into the maritime sector, where operational understanding, technical capability and a strong safety culture are closely aligned. Service leavers bring diligence, reliability and a background of working in demanding environments, offering real value to maritime employers.
“Our role is to support that transition through a structured pathway, helping individuals move into fulfilling civilian careers while enabling maritime employers to access ready-made maritime talent.”
Stuart Baker, CEO, Maritime Solent said:
“As the UK’s leading industrial maritime region, supporting over 146,000 jobs and experiencing 3.1% employment growth per annum, sustaining a skilled workforce is a key priority for Maritime Solent and its Partners.
“Through our partnership with the White Ensign Association, we recognise the significant value that service leavers and veterans can bring to the maritime sector in the Solent region. This commitment is set out in our Armed Forces Covenant pledge, which we were proud to sign at the Maritime Solent Summit.”
