BIFA Awards: Golden crop for forwarders in Olympics year

by Press Release on 2013-01-18 22:29:56

L to R Back: Richard McLean of Uniserve Group  (Environment); Daniel Gill of Allport Cargo Services (Ocean Freight); John King of The PSL Group (Supply Chain Management); Ed Arnott of Asco Freight Management (Project Forwarding);

Every four years, the British International Freight Association’s – www.bifa.org – Freight Services Awards mark an Olympic year.

So it was highly appropriate that BIFA chose former Olympian and world champion Derek Redmond to host and announce the winners of the BIFA Freight Services Awards 2012 at the trade association’s Annual Lunch and Awards Ceremony, which was attended by a record-breaking 520 guests, including finalists, sponsors and industry figures.

All finalists received a framed certificate presented by the host, Derek Redmond, and BIFA President, Sir Peter Bottomley MP, who also made the welcoming address.

Now in their 24th year, the Awards saw the welcome return of last year’s sponsors for each of the nine categories, plus sponsors for the event host (SDV); Ceremony Programme (Cardinal Maritime); winners’ trophies (Woodland Group) and ceremony tickets (Impatex).

Peter Quantrill, BIFA Director General, says: “In 2012, there was a gold rush from British Olympians and Paralympians in London that will long live in our memories. I congratulate the nine BIFA members which have followed in the footsteps of those athletes by winning our 2012 awards. Along with all the finalists, they should be pleased with a job well done.”

BIFA also revealed a Lifetime Achievement Award, a surprise award at the ceremony that saluted an old soldier who has become a stalwart of the freight forwarding industry’s charity efforts in Britain.

Peter Quantrill says: “Each of the categories had four finalists yet there can only be one winner. Being a finalist marks the fact that a company is in the top four companies in the category’s sector and is to be congratulated.”

The finalists in the nine award categories were as follows:

General categories:

Environment Award, sponsored by Red Recruit:
Damco UK, Seafast Logistics, Uniserve Group, World Transport Agency

Project Forwarding Award, sponsored by Peter Lole & Co:
Asco Freight Management, Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics, Denholm Global Logistics, Sound Moves UK

Special Services Award, sponsored by Forward Computers:
Belville Rodair International, CRM Logistics, James Cargo Services, Uniserve Group

Staff Development Award, sponsored by Albacore Systems:
512, DSV Road, James Cargo Services, SDV

Supply Chain Management Award, sponsored by BoxTop Technologies:
Allport, Freedom Logistics UK, Meachers Global Logistics, The PSL Group

Modal categories:

Air Freight Award, sponsored by IAG Cargo:
Geodis Wilson UK, MOL Logistics, NNR Global Logistics, Uniserve Group

European Logistics Award, sponsored by TT Club:
Delamode, Freightex, Ital Logistics, UFS

Ocean Freight Award, sponsored by CargoWise:
Allport, Brunel Shipping & Liner Services, Ideal International, PFE Express

Individual category:

Young Freight Forwarder Award, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo:
Greg Barnes of Panalpina; Charlotte Bartup of Kuehne + Nagel; Adam Blakemore of Insped; Uzma Ruhi of  Globetrotters (GB)

At the Awards ceremony, the following companies were awarded trophies.

The Environment Award - Uniserve Group

The judges said that the Uniserve Group shone through as the winner by presenting their revolutionary 'green' transportation and storage solution of a garment on hanger 'frame' resulting in smarter use of space and, being re-cyclable and re-usable, significantly reducing environmental impact.

The Project Forwarding Award - Asco Freight Management

Asco Freight Management impressed the judges by providing an exceptional service for a truly time-critical project in Greenland. The training of local personnel and skills gained, has benefitted the logistics industry in that country by leaving a legacy for the future.

The Special Services Award – Bellville Rodair International

The Awards judging panel says that Bellville Rodair International won this award for demonstrating a tangible service improvement for their client base by designing a specialist service to import and deliver a number of high-end vehicles, representing a true example of excellence in the logistics sector.

The Staff Development Award - DSV Road

DSV Road showed exceptional dedication to staff development by delivering a range of training programmes at all levels, from apprentices, to graduates and sales staff, as well as running international leadership courses.

The Supply Chain Management Award - The PSL Group

The Awards judging panel considers that The PSL Group is the deserved winner of this category for providing an excellent example of innovation and service enhancement involving a radical strategy of implementing 'pack-to-order' in the UK, instead of standard consolidation.

The Air Freight Award - NNR Global Logistics UK

NNR Global Logistics UK’s case study evidenced continuous improvements with significant benefits for their client, saving over 18,000 transit days annually. Using European express air freight and linking to consol was an example of deriving benefits from the air freight network.

The European Logistics Award - Delamode

The Awards judging panel opinion was that Delamode particularly impressed with their efficient service, and cost-effective pricing models. By re-engineering the supply chain to the UK, garment manufacturers in Eastern Europe allowed near-sourcing to flourish in the fashion trade.

The Ocean Freight Award - Allport Cargo Services

Allport Cargo Services proved itself to be exceptional in the Ocean Freight category through its Extended Visibility project, demonstrating a commitment to providing clear visibility of a key part of its business, reducing delays through managing congestion.

The Young Freight Forwarder Award - Adam Blakemore, of Insped

Adam impressed the judges with his enthusiasm and commitment to the freight forwarding industry, as well as his clients and his employer.

Lifetime Achievement Award - Jimmie James

BIFA does not have a personality of the year award but likes to honour worthy individuals when there is the opportunity. Old soldier Jimmie James enlisted at 17 in the Grenadier Guards, serving in WW II in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Normandy, Belgium, Holland finishing in Germany. After the war, he joined the industry, retiring over 20 years ago. BIFA honours his stewardship of the London Freight Club. In an age when industry socialising is diminishing, the Club is going strong providing a happy meeting ground for the industry and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

About the Awards:
The BIFA Freight Service Awards have been running for 24 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.