BIFA Awards
Going above and beyond
project at the end of this year. “Travelling around the regions, we are picking up on points where we can improve, and we are getting coaching and mentoring alongside that,” he said. “It is exciting to learn from everyone and benefit from this project. The four of us spent some time in the Lake District with apprentices and other people from the business, right up to the ceo, in September last year. The second stint was two weeks in Poland with the teams over there.” Overseas ambitions Hong Kong and China were next, in April, and the final trip will be to the US in July. “I would definitely like to work abroad for an extended period,” Cameron said. “Even just during those two weeks in Poland I learnt so much and it was very interesting to learn about different business practices and cultures beyond freight.” All that enthusiasm and ambition, while innate in Cameron, is fuelled by people. First, he finds a great deal of enjoyment and motivation in forging relationships with customers and suppliers. Second, members of Ligentia and the wider logistics industry have been generous in sharing their experience with him. “They are genuinely interested in showing me things, so I am very grateful,” he said, adding: “People outside the company have been the same; they do not need to go the extra mile to benefit me, but many have. “Hopefully, one day I will be able to offer something back. The BIFA Award is a true testament to the people at Ligentia, who have gone above and beyond for me.”
A fi nalist for the 2022 Apprentice of the Year BIFA Award, Cameron Smith returned to win the category in 2023. He has certainly been busy inbetween – and shows no sign of slowing down…
C ameron Smith has clearly made big strides since last year’s BIFA Awards. Summing up, he said: “I have embraced the Young Forwarder Network and a wider role at Ligentia as well.” Having joined the YFN in early 2023, he is currently chair of the North West region and is finding the role useful not only to develop transferable skills such as networking and communication, but also to make connections with other young people in the industry. “I have also done some public speaking for the YFN, and that is an opportunity I would not have had otherwise. Plus, all the events involve speakers on specialist subjects such as crime prevention or sustainability.” At Ligentia, meanwhile, Cameron moved from working solely on imports to all modes of exports, and is now on the company’s commercial team. He regularly works extra hours and goes out of his way to help customers. “Lately I have spent a lot of time at our Glasgow branch helping out as a temporary operations supervisor, which is giving me insight into that kind of role without the full-blown commitment. At such an early stage in my career it is brilliant to have that experience,” he said. Pilot programme Formally taking on a supervisor role is still a little way off for Cameron. In the meantime, he is part of a pilot programme at Ligentia called ‘People2People’, which involves himself and several colleagues gathering ideas from across the company to present to the board, with a view to running their own
Above: Left, Kenneth Werther, Ligentia’s European managing
director, who initiated the People2People programme; right, Mark Kerwin, UK forwarding director at Ligentia, who has played a pivotal role in Cameron’s success Left: Cameron visited Browar Port brewery in Gdynia, Poland, as part of Ligentia’s People2People programme
Apprentice of the Year Award
Menzies LLP provides financial and accounting expertise, combined with strategic commercial thinking. We 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 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.
22 | May 2024
www.bifa.org
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