Five youngsters who are all studying for apprenticeships at freight forwarding companies that are members of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) have been shortlisted as finalists in the new Apprentice of the Year category of the trade association’s annual Freight Service Awards competition.
The five finalists are: Paige Baldwin of TPS Global Logistics; Kyle Lawrence of Unsworth; Thomas Turner of Panalpina World Transport; Harry Underwood of Dachser Ltd and Jay Williams of Kuehne + Nagel Ltd.
The new Apprentice of the Year category, which is sponsored by Outsource Training & Development, was introduced following the launch of the International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship in April 2018.
Entrants were asked to provide a manager’s reference alongside their own personal statement about their progress to date, impressions of the industry and apprenticeship; and hopes for the future.
These submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges and a shortlist of five finalists drawn-up. The finalists were invited to a face-to-face or telephone interview during December 2018.
This is the second category aimed at young people within the industry, the Young Freight Forwarder Award having been running since 1999.
The winner of this category, along with the winners of the other ten categories, will be announced at the 30th BIFA Freight Service Awards luncheon at the Brewery on Thursday, January 17, 2019.
Hosted by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, it is already a sell-out with 500 guests due to attend.
Robert Keen, BIFA’s Director General, says: “In 2018, freight apprenticeships came to the fore, and we are pleased that there has been keen interest in the new category.”
Further information relating to the awards can be obtained by visiting the BIFA website www.bifa.org/awards
