Finalists Announced in Major Freight and Logistics Awards

UK – There will be heartfelt digital sobs from many quarters of the British freight forwarding community as the event many look forward to as their one chance every year of a really fine square meal will, as with so many other awards, conferences and social events, be a virtual ceremony this time round.

Yes, the much awaited British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) traditional Freight Service Awards luncheon and awards ceremony in January 2021 has been scuppered by the pandemic. Usually held at The Brewery in London’s Chiswell Street, the event is always keenly awaited by attendees and finalists alike as one of the best networking opportunities, coupled with a great meal and an entertaining host.

No matter. The BIFA 2020 Freight Service Awards sees a final line up of twenty one potentially winning companies in the headline categories, plus twelve individuals making the finalists shortlist for the Apprentice of the Year and Young Freight Forwarder Awards. BIFA says it recognises the effort of the entrants to the awards this year and will be recording a series of videos to celebrate the finalists and announce the winner of each category, with further details to be revealed soon.

Those shortlisted in the various categories are as follows:

• Air Cargo Services Award – sponsored by ASM - DHL Global Forwarding, Kerry Logistics, Ligentia UK, Simarco International
• Cool & Special Cargoes Award – sponsored by TT Club - Gist, Killick Martin & Company
• Extra Mile Award – sponsored by Descartes - Kerry Logistics, Moto Freight, Pentagon Freight, United Worldwide Logistics
• Ocean Services Award – sponsored by Port Express - Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics, Killick Martin & Company, Westbound Logistics Services
• Project Forwarding Award – sponsored by Peter Lole Insurance Brokers - Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics, DB Schenker, RIF Worldwide, Specialist Logistics Services, Ucargo
• Specialist Services Award – presented by Transaid - B&H Worldwide, In Time Worldwide Express, Lila International Logistics, NNR Global Logistics
• Staff Development Award – sponsored by Albacore Systems - Morrison Freight
• Supply Chain Management Award – sponsored by BoxTop Technologies - B&H Worldwide, Killick Martin & Company, Ligentia UK, Progressive 3PL

• The finalists in the Apprentice of the Year category – sponsored by Seetec Outsource are - Chloe Hamlett (Charles Kendall Freight); Eloise Hill (DHL Global Forwarding); Stuart Lupton (DHL Global Forwarding); Ben Milligan (DHL Global Forwarding); Ryan Wilkes (Kuehne + Nagel) and Harry Wilson (Ligentia UK)
• The finalists in the Young Freight Forwarder category – sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo are - Jack Coope (B&H Worldwide); Sam Greenhalgh (Zencargo); Katy Hopkinson (Kuehne + Nagel); Zoe Lowe (Kerry Logistics); Keegan Starkey (Specialist Logistics Services) and Beckie Vallance (Geodis)

Robert Keen, BIFA’s Director General, was full of praise for those who had managed to submit their nominations despite the extraordinary pressures the industry has been under in recent months. He commented:

“In this extraordinary year, BIFA has been delighted with the range of entries received to the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2020. The fact that so many BIFA Members took the time to document their achievements while continuing to manage their businesses through incredibly trying times is a testament to the tenacity of BIFA members.

“It adds to the esteem in which the BIFA Freight Service Awards, which is now in its fourth decade and rightly seen as the blue riband event for the UK's freight forwarding and logistics sector, is held. I congratulate all the companies that have been shortlisted and look forward to watching the videos revealing the winners.”

The Digital BIFA Freight Service Awards 2020 are to be posted on the BIFA YouTube and Vimeo channels in the week commencing 18 January.

Photo: A sign of the times. The yard at the Brewery will stand empty this year when the winners are announced.