Going for Gold at UK Forwarders' Freight Service Awards

Early next year, winners of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) – www.bifa.org – Freight Service Awards 2011 will step forward to pick up their trophies just a few miles from the site of the London Olympic and Paralympic games.

While few will want to undertake a celebratory lap of the luncheon venue, all can share some of the excitement of the Olympic gold medal winners just a few months later.

In the starting block for finalists this year, three first-time entrants make the shortlist while a significant number have re-entered the competition and made it onto the shortlist.

While the competition is judged in 2011, the awards will be made early in the Olympian year, when UK freight forwarders will play a significant role in delivering cargo to support the running of the Games, while adjusting to the inevitable traffic disruption the event will bring to the various Olympic sites.

Three Members who have entered the Awards for the first time this year, Brunel Shipping, Ligentia Group and Radius Logistics, have made the final shortlist of 34 finalists comprising 27 different (BIFA Member) companies.

Peter Quantrill, Director General of BIFA, said: “In the years I have been involved in these Awards, I have been convinced that they serve as a benchmark of best practice, both for Members and non-Members.

“As in every year, these entrants show the strong interest in the Awards that have come to represent the best of British forwarding. I applaud the effort put into the entries that were, as ever, of the highest quality.

“Even if you didn’t enter, the Awards Luncheon in January is much more than a lunch – I always view it as a chance to put aside competitive pressures and meet with other forwarders to network, make friends and catch up with BIFA and its staff and other industry figures.”

The companies that have reached the final shortlist in the nine award categories are as follows:

General categories:

Environment Award, sponsored by Red Recruit:

Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics, MacAndrews & Company, Uniserve Group, Yusen Logistics (UK)

Project Forwarding Award, sponsored by Peter Lole & Co:

Allseas Global Logistics, Asco Freight Management, Peters & May, Premier Showfreight

Special Services Award, sponsored by Forward Computers:

Aramex, Delamode, Woodland Group, Worldwide Book Services

Staff Development Award, sponsored by Albacore Systems:

Aramex, Kuehne + Nagel, Schenker, Worldwide Book Services

Supply Chain Management Award, sponsored by BoxTop Technologies:

Allport, Damco UK, Laser Transport International, SBS Worldwide

Modal categories:

Air Freight Award, sponsored by British Airways World Cargo:

NNR Global Logistics UK, Uniserve Group, Woodland Group

European Logistics Award, sponsored by TT Club:

Laser Transport International, MacAndrews & Company, UFS, Uniserve Group

Ocean Freight Award, sponsored by CargoWise:

Brunel Shipping & Liner Services, Ideal Forwarding, Uniserve Group

Individual category:

Young Freight Forwarder Award, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo:

Jeannine Chapman, Ligentia Group; Jonathan Sprigens, Damco; Katie Starkie, Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics; Izabela Trojanowska, Radius Logistics UK

Quantrill concludes: “We are delighted that Christine Hamilton has accepted to be the host at the BIFA Awards ceremony. Not only has she gained high visibility by appearing regularly on TV and radio, on both entertainment and news/current affairs programmes, but her development of a successful career as a chat show host, and after dinner speaker is unquestionable.

The award winners will be announced at the BIFA Annual Lunch and Awards Ceremony to be held at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1 on Thursday 19th January 2012.

Tickets are available from the BIFA Awards web pages at www.bifa.org/awards

About the Awards:

The BIFA Freight Service Awards have been running for more than 22 years, and the ceremony has been held at the Brewery in Chiswell Street, London, since their inception in 1989. A carefully selected judging panel, consisting of sponsors and independent industry specialists, ultimately determines the winners.

About BIFA:

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) represents UK companies engaged in the international movement of freight by all modes of transport. A not-for-profit organisation, BIFA is funded by subscription and run by its members for members. It operates with a full-time Secretariat, which administers and manages the Association’s affairs. BIFA provides an effective and proactive organisation dedicated to improving standards of professionalism within the logistics and supply chain industry.