Award Categories

In this category, the judges want to hear your case studies involving the movement of goods by air or air/sea services and the challenges that you have encountered to get the shipment to destination. Perhaps you have worked with a customer to manage an urgent shipment or you move regular consignments by air. Recent events in the Red Sea may have resulted in a change of strategy, or you may have handled air freight shipments of equipment for a specific event such as the Paris Olympics.

This category is for freight forwarders using road, short-sea or rail services to provide logistics solutions to and from Europe. As the changes brought about by EU-exit continue to evolve, the judges would like to hear from members who have created new services to meet demand and understand what your company has done to ensure continuation of service and customer compliance with new procedures.

Forwarders using ocean freight to move cargo around the world continue to experience a multitude of problems with schedules and equipment availability impacted by many factors, diversion of shipping to avoid hostile waters and fluctuating freight rates. If you have used ocean services either as a stand-alone service or as part of a multimodal shipment, how have you managed customer expectation and mitigated problems?

The Sustainable Logistics and the Environment Award was introduced in 2023 and proved popular among members. BIFA members are once again invited to submit their case studies detailing the steps they have taken / are taking to measure and reduce their impact on the environment in any area of their business, whether this activity be independent or in partnership with customers and/or suppliers.

The successful handling of major project shipment requires much planning and a multi-disciplinary team. A project shipment will typically consist of multiple consignments received over a period of time, potential reworking or assembly of parts and onward delivery to the project site to meet the customer deadlines. In this category BIFA invites case studies from Members that have completed an out-of-gauge project or co-ordinated a complex movement that has reached a conclusion in the past 12 months.

This category is for Members that can provide specific examples of ‘innovation’ and/or ‘customer care’ by adding value and exceeding their customer’s expectations in relation to international shipments by any mode of transport. Perhaps you initiated a joint working group to provide regular feedback or set up a new department or service specifically for your customer.

The services offered by a modern freight forwarder extend far beyond the provision of basic transportation and documentation. This category is for value-added services that enhance the customer experience enabling them to concentrate on their core business. Such services need not be modal specific and could include warehousing, pick and pack, technology service, air or shipping line agency, or express services.

Have you worked with a customer to analyse their existing procurement procedures and provided a customer focused, innovative solution enabling a more efficient and cost-effective management of that supply chain? If the answer is “yes”, then this is the category for you.

BIFA Members, whatever their size, need comprehensive training programmes to keep abreast of regular changes in regulations, industry practices and general business matters. In this category the judges want to understand how you encourage and develop all personnel to “be their best” and contribute to the success and direction of your business.

BIFA encourages Members to employ Apprentices to ensure the industry is well positioned to meet future requirements. In this category BIFA Members are invited to nominate outstanding individuals to showcase the difference the named apprentice has made to their organisation.

The Young Freight Forwarder Award was established to recognise an individual with the drive and ambition to flourish in the international freight industry. Entrants must be under the age of 32, employed by a BIFA Member and have a minimum of two years’ experience across relevant disciplines. The winner of the prestigious Young Freight Forwarder Award will be nominated by BIFA to represent the UK in the FIATA / TT Club Young Logistics Professional Award competition next year.