The 2024competition is now closed – finalists will be announced soon

The information below explains the process to enter categories in the BIFA Freight Service Awards competition. A maximum number of 3 business categories may be entered in addition to entries to the Apprentice of the Year and Young Freight Forwarder of the Year. However, a company may compete only once in each business category entered.

The entry deadline for the 9 business categories has now closed.

The entry deadline for the Apprentice Of The Year and Young Freight Forwarder categories has now closed

Download your entry form below, tell us your story and why you should lift the trophy, then submit your entry to our events team!

Air Cargo Services
European Logistics
Ocean Services
Sustainable Logistics & The Environment
Project Forwarding
Extra Mile
Specialist Services
Supply Chain Management
Staff Development
Entry Deadline Has Now Been Extended To: Wednesday 9th October 2024 – 11am

 

Apprentice of the Year Award
Young Freight Forwarder Award
The Entry Deadline For These Categories Has Now Closed

 

ENTRY PERIOD FOR 2024 RUNS FROM 12 JUNE 2024 – 9 OCTOBER 2024
(Competition deadline extension confirmed 2 OCT, 12pm)

  1. Read the category descriptions on this page, and decide which category/categories your company would like to enter
  2. Download the relevant entry form located further down this page.
    Complete your company details on page two
  3. Write your entry submission in the boxes provided on the entry form, keeping to the indicated word limits
  4. Save your completed entry form and email to bifaevents@bifa.org  

We know that our Members are busy people and when you see our social posts you may be thinking “Why should I enter the BIFA Awards?” So to help you/your company in applying, we thought we would share our top reasons why you should enter…

Showcase your business! 

What makes you/your organisation stand out from the crowd? Being a BIFA Awards winner can boost your business and raise your profile! Regardless of specialism or team size, there’s a category for everyone.

Celebrate Team Success!

Entering the BIFA Awards provides lots of opportunities for Members to review and recognise the great work being achieved by their teams across their organisations.

Enjoy a great day out! 

Reward your team and entertain your customers at the BIFA Awards ceremony. Stay tuned for the announcement of who our celebrity host will be!

Step into the spotlight!

Whether you’re a finalist or a winner, the publicity doesn’t end on Awards day. Your achievements will continue to be promoted throughout the year across trade publications, press releases and social media, as standard.

An award-winning entry takes time and planning.
Here are our top tips for getting your entry to stand out from the rest…
Choose your category

Visit our categories page, read the descriptions and download the relevant preparation of submissions – guidelines for entrants document and entry form

Speak to your colleagues and customers

to get their input on your chosen case study. Make sure to ask for their permission to reference them in your entry.

Give yourself time

Try to draft your entry in good time, ensure that you have plenty of opportunities to review and make changes.

Ensure your entry follows the guidelines:

Study the entry form carefully to make sure that your word count is not exceeded and that all the criteria points of the chosen category have been met.

Use the wordcount to your advantage!

Don’t skimp on detail – Outline the problem area/project brief, explain your approach and solution, describe the outcome and results

Don’t rush to submit

Once you have created your initial draft, review it a couple of days later. Refine your wording and make sure that your key points (the sentences) make sense!

Enlist the help of your colleagues

A fresh pair of eyes can make a world of difference. Ask a number of different people to read it to make sure that someone unfamiliar with the project can understand the case study. Use their feedback to make final tweaks.

Don’t miss the deadline!

We don’t recommend that entries are left until the last minute, but once you are 100% happy with your case study, don’t forget to submit it before the deadline which is 11am Wednesday 9 October 2024 (Business categories only, not Individual)

Good Luck!

The following categories are open for entries from BIFA Members (full & probationary trading members)
Air Cargo Services

For the Air Cargo Services Award 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, given the carriers’ changing fleets as they adjust to post-pandemic schedules and the ground handling resources available globally.

European Logistics

This category is for freight forwarders using road, short-sea or rail services to provide logistics solutions to and from Europe. With the changes brought about by EU-exit, the judges would like to see what your company has done to ensure continuation of service and customer compliance with new procedures.

Extra Mile

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.

Ocean Services

Forwarders using ocean freight to move cargo around the world have experienced a multitude of problems in recent years with schedules and equipment availability impacted by many factors 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?

Project Forwarding

The successful handling of major project shipment requires much planning and a multi-disciplinary team. 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.

Specialist Services

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.

Staff Development

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.

Supply Chain Management

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.

Sustainable Logistics and the Environment

Category sponsor, American Airlines Cargo, is pleased to continue its support of the Sustainable Logistics and the Environment Award. BIFA members are 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.

Open to individuals employed by a BIFA Member company (full & probationary trading members)

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.

Open to individuals employed by a BIFA Member company (full & probationary trading members)

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.

Ensure your entry follows the submission guidelines that are set out in the entry form of the category you wish to enter (see below)

 

Word Limit – Business categories:

Introduction 300 words
Detail of project/service 600 words
Conclusion 100 words

Word Limit – Apprentice of the Year:

See entry form
Five questions for the apprentice – max 200 words per question
Supporting comments from manager – max 1,000 words

Word Limit – Young Freight Forwarder of the Year:

Young Freight Forwarder submission – max 750 words
Supporting comments from manager – max 250 words