Award recognises Wightlink’s support for school travel

The relationship between Wightlink and a company bringing thousands of children to the Isle of Wight on school trips has been recognised with an award.

Education Destination, an Island-based company, presented the ferry company with its 2026 Customer Excellence Award.

Alongside two coach companies, Wightlink was named in the Transport section of the awards for its role in providing seamless travel arrangements for school groups.

Education Destination organises trips for thousands of children and teachers travelling to destinations on the Isle of Wight and mainland each year. In 2026, Wightlink carried 2,242 children to and from the Isle of Wight, along with around 230 adults.

Wightlink and Education Destination have worked together for more than 12 years.

The company started in 2014 and in recent years has expanded to take in educational experiences in Dorset and Hampshire as well.

Education Destination said: “Wightlink has been a cornerstone of our operations this year, recognised for being flexible and incredibly helpful whenever we’ve needed to make last-minute changes to our travel plans.

“They are a fantastic team to deal with and offer excellent value to our schools.”

One of Education Destination’s organisers recently commented: “We truly value the support from Wightlink. Their team is always so accommodating; they make the travel portion of our trips stress-free and reliable.”

Kirstie Higgins-Day, Head of Business Development at Wightlink, said: “We greatly appreciate Education Destination and the important role it plays in bringing young people to the Isle of Wight. These visits create memorable learning experiences and help students discover everything the Island has to offer.

“We are proud to support Education Destination and all our education and group travel customers, and we’re delighted that our team has been recognised through this award.”