BIFA Awards
Having won BIFA’s Young Freight Forwarder of the Year award in 2017 as a single person at the age of 21, Nikki Hall entered again as a married mother with two young children. Named a fi nalist this time around, she proves that motherhood and career enhancement go hand in hand Balancing work and family
Young Freight Forwarder Award
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is proud to sponsor BIFA’s Young Freight
bene fi t our customers.” While most of the Heathrow branch’s work involves general cargo, Edge has just put together an AOG and time-critical specialty network, including pharma and temperature-controlled logistics, within the World Cargo Alliance. “I worked the AOG desk at my previous company,” Nikki said. “I like the fast pace, and I work well under pressure” – ideal qualities not just in a young freight forwarder, but also in a young mother. Forwarder Award to recognise and encourage the next generation of industry leaders. As well as rewarding the progress of the best young people, this award helps to highlight the vital role freight forwarders play in the growth and development of the industry. VAC recognises the importance of developing and retaining talented young people and is confident this award will help to attract more recruits that want to build a future career in a sector that is so important to the economy and international trade.
“ I worked the AOG desk at my previous company. I like the fast pace, and I work well under pressure. – Nikki Hall, Edge Worldwide Logistics
“I never wanted to be a stay- at-home mum,” said Nikki Hall. “Balancing work and family life is pretty hectic. Luckily, I have support!” Nikki is very focused on developing Edge Worldwide Logistics’ Heathrow branch, which she set up on joining the company in 2021 and which is on track to double in size by 2028. For instance, “we will be taking on another export manager this year,” she said. The expansion of the branch will enable Edge to broaden its areas of activity. Nikki explained: “Different departments do different things, such as focusing on India, the UAE
or Saudi Arabia. We build teams based on routes and our next one will probably be Doha.” In addition, she said: “We have just opened up consolidation services to Saudi Arabia. There is still some work to do, but consolidation improves our buying power so it will
Beyond the job description BIFA Apprentice of the Year fi nalist Samuel Barrett is keen to keep expanding his capabilities through training and additional responsibilities
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Menzies LLP provides financial and accounting expertise, combined with strategic commercial thinking. We
time, too; he has completed courses in management, leadership and communication skills, for example. He is also keen to get more involved in BIFA’s Young Forwarder Network and is excited by the launch of a local Solent chapter. “Freight is such a massive industry that it cannot afford not to bring in young people,” he pointed out. clients experiences our Brighter Thinking approach, the difference we make to our clients. With our in depth transport and logistics sector experience we promise to add real value across key areas of our clients’ businesses – to go further than just balancing the books. understand your business via our in-depth sector knowledge and use a consultancy- led approach to challenge your objectives and guide your business growth. Each of our
Having begun a degree in engineering geology at Portsmouth in 2019, Samuel Barrett realised university was not for him, so he enrolled on a freight forwarding apprenticeship with Charles Kendall Freight Ltd. Straight in at the deep end, he thrived on the challenge and completed it six months early. His final showpiece related to airfreight, an area in which Samuel is gaining practical experience. On those occasions when a quick turnaround of a major client’s cargo aircraft is required at Bournemouth Airport, he has been helping with hands-on tasks like palletising. “I am learning about what actually goes on when I send the paperwork,” he said after attending a DP World port tour. “I am
also responsible for all European cross-trade shipments for a major client, with my manager
overseeing, which is not currently part of my job description. Working in a small office means you get a deep understanding of everything.” At the time of writing, Samuel was looking forward to completing a St John Ambulance First Aid at Work course. Studying is something he does in his free
20 | September 2024
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