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him starting an apprenticeship there. “I fell in love with the job,” Thomas said, describing the BIFA International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship as the best decision of his career to date. Since then he has completed a Customs Declarations Service (CDS) course in preparation for the switch away from the UK’s Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system. Thomas has also begun training other apprentices, one of whom received a distinction in her final assessment. He explained: “After I had done my apprenticeship, I wanted to build the success of other young people in the company. I put the idea to my boss and he agreed. I do one-to-one sessions with other apprentices about their assignments as well as day-to-day operations.” He has also been guiding a new junior freight forwarder, whose development is exceeding her targets. “I have surprised myself,” Thomas said. “I never thought I would be the person teaching someone else! I have got the hang of it though. It helps having a connection with the colleague you are teaching; it is not like managing a classroom full of children who do not want to learn,” he joked. The training programme that Thomas has developed will remain in place not only for new apprentices but also for anyone new to the business. Currently, it is available only in the UK, but Thomas would be keen to see it rolled out elsewhere in OIA’s network if the opportunity presents itself. Proactive approach Meanwhile, he has moved from operations to a more commercial role and is actively working towards a leadership position. “I am pointing things out, communicating with the team and trying to become known for being able to do things,” he said. “I am putting myself out there and saying, ‘I am here, I can deal with this.’ “The only way to get where I want to be is to be proactive,” he continued. “You do not know what you are capable of until you push yourself.” Thomas is applying the same attitude outside his role at OIA, too. When he was named Apprentice of the Year, he was also appointed vice chair of the YFN’s London East region. “When the opportunity came up, I felt I had to give back in some way after all the help I had received from the YFN, so I signed up right away,” he said. “I am making connections and learning how it all works. The best way to learn is to jump straight in.” Thomas will move up to chair the region in September 2023.
‘Jump straight in’, says BIFA apprentice winner
Thomas Low, one of last year’s finalists in the BIFA Apprentice of the Year Award category, stepped up his success a notch this time around by winning the accolade
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Seetec Outsource Training & Skills is a leading provider of innovative training, education and recruitment. Seetec Outsource has delivered thousands of successful programmes to a range of small and large organisations nationwide and helped many people into employment. Seetec Outsource provides apprenticeships and traineeships on a range of subjects at various levels. In May 2016, Seetec Outsource Training & Skills became part of the Seetec Group. Seetec is one of the leading public and business service providers in the UK and Ireland. Established for over 30 years, Seetec has helped businesses to grow, communities to flourish and people from all walks of life to reach their full potential.
Thomas Low completed his apprenticeship three months early, achieving a distinction into the bargain. “I had never got such a high mark before so I was really pleased,” he said understatedly. Early career “I was originally a chef by trade – that is what I had wanted to do since childhood – but I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. So I went into food purchasing, which combines my passion for food with logistics. Then COVID-19 came along and I was furloughed for eight months.” Enter BIFA’s Young Forwarder Network, through which Thomas completed ‘bitesize’ courses and obtained an interview with OIA Global that led to
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April 2023
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