Freight Forwarding Community Looks Toward a Brighter Future as Award Finalists Announced

UK – With the dust settling after the Multimodal Exhibition finished just a few days ago, an event which was for many in shipping and forwarding the first time they had emerged blinking back into the real world of commerce, learning once more to network like a toddler keen to walk upright, the next big industry occasion looms large.

This of course is the British International Freight Association’s Freight Service Awards, scheduled to reappear at the Brewery in London’s Chiswell Street in the heart of the city on 20 January 2022. With the chance to showcase their achievements during 2021 there has been no shortage of nominees for the nine service categories of BIFA awards up for the vote.

Additionally 11 individuals have made the cut to become either the Young Freight Forwarder or Apprentice of the Year, all no doubt will be present and holding their breath as the well-known figure of ex England rugby captain and TV personality Matt Dawson hosts the event.

Those shortlisted then for this year’s Awards are:

• Air Cargo Services Award sponsored by IAG Cargo - Kerry Logistics (UK) Ltd, Maltacourt, Pentagon Freight Services PLC, and Uniserve Group
• European Logistics Award sponsored by TT Club - Espace Europe Ltd, Killick Martin & Company Ltd, Simarco International Ltd, and Unsworth UK
• Ocean Services Award sponsored by Port Express - Allseas Global Logistics, NNR Global Logistics, and Vikstar Ltd
• Cool & Special Cargoes Award sponsored by American Airlines Cargo - Evolution Forwarding Ltd, James Cargo Services, and United Worldwide Logistics
• Extra Mile Award sponsored by Descartes - Evolution Forwarding Ltd, Hemisphere Freight Services Ltd, Pentagon Freight Services PLC, and Unsworth UK
• Project Forwarding Award sponsored by Peter Lole Insurance Brokers - ACE Forwarding Ltd, AsstrA UK Ltd, LV Shipping Ltd, and Ucargo LLP
• Specialist Services Award sponsored by Newage Global - B&H Worldwide Ltd, Cargo Overseas Ltd, Kerry Logistics (UK) Ltd, and Your Special Delivery Service Ltd
• Staff Development Award sponsored by Albacore Systems - Aramex (UK) Ltd, Espace Europe Ltd, Reliable Shipping Ltd, and Unsworth UK
• Supply Chain Management Award sponsored by BoxTop Technologies - Brunel Shipping, Hemisphere Freight Services Ltd, Noatum Logistics UK Ltd, and Uniserve Group

The finalists in the Apprentice of the Year category, sponsored by Seetec Outsource are Josh Boswell (Geodis FF UK Ltd), Herbie Cobby (Geodis FF UK Ltd), Thomas Low (OIA Global Ltd), Bobby Lowe (NVO Consolidation UK), and Matt Vick (John Good Logistics Ltd).

In the Young Freight Forwarder of the Year category, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo the finalists are Corey Chambers (Ital Logistics Ltd), Jamie Halliday (Tudor International Freight Ltd), Kane Parson (DSV Road Ltd), Laura Hobby (F.S. Mackenzie International Ltd), Milos Bogovac (Davies Turner & Co Ltd), and Ronan Kitchin (Aramex (UK) Ltd).

Robert Keen, BIFA’s Director General told how the difficulties of the past year or so have influenced this year’s nominations to the awards, saying:

“It is no surprise that many entries to the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2021 document the obstacles encountered by our members since the onset of Covid-19 and the exit of the UK from the EU, and the innovative measures taken to overcome them, while continuing to manage their businesses through an incredibly trying time.

“Over the last 18 months, the pandemic and Brexit have created huge challenges for our members and propelled international forwarding into the public eye as never before. During this extraordinary period, in which the world came to a virtual standstill, BIFA members overcame many of those challenges to maintain the UK’s supply chains. The finalists in each category will now go forward to the final round of judging with winners due to be announced at the BIFA Annual Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Thursday 20th January 2022.

Photo: It seems an age since the last time we witnessed the BIFA Awards in all their glory.