UK forwarder triumphs on international stage

(L to R)  Thomas Sim, Chairman of FIATA’s ABVT Group; Award Winner Louis Perrin, Hemishpere Freight (UK); Micheal Yarwood of Sponsor, TT Club; Huxiang Zhao, immediate past President, FIATA

Having won the BIFA award for 2017, Louis Perrin of Hemisphere Freight Services, was subsequently selected as Regional Winner Europe and nominated to represent Europe for FIATA’s international award, which is sponsored by the TT Club, at the FIATA World Congress which was held in Delhi, last week.

In Delhi, Louis beat off stiff competition from three other regional finalists representing trade associations from FIATA’s Africa and the Middle East, Americas and Asia Pacific regions.

Having submitted a 6,000 word dissertation as part of their entries, each regional finalist was invited to attend the World Congress to present their dissertations in person to a panel of judges, with Louis triumphing.

In congratulating Louis on his victory, BIFA Director General, Robert Keen says that whilst the win was all the result of hard work by Louis, it reflects well on the trade association for UK freight forwarders.

“It reflects well on the work that BIFA is doing via its freight service awards, as well as other initiatives to foster professional standards of skill and knowledge in the global freight forwarding community.

“That depends on training and motivation of the young recruits to the industry especially, which is why we have been so active in supporting the development of an employer’s ‘Trailblazer’ group, which has seen the launch of a new Level 3 Freight Forwarding Apprenticeship in the UK earlier this year.

“For some time we have anticipated a significant increase in the training requirements of our members and have also strengthened the team of trainers that we employ.

“With entries to our 2018 Freight Service Awards now in the final stages, I would urge any young freight forwarder who wants to emulate Louis and become BIFA’s nomination for next year’s FIATA award to visit our website: bifa.org/enter-now/young-forwarder-award – and find out more about how to enter.”