BIFA Awards
A lifelong passion for freight
Growing up in Poland, a logistics powerhouse, Young Freight Forwarder of the Year fi nalist Magdalena Krasinska always knew she could make her mark in transport
Young Freight Forwarder Award
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is proud to sponsor BIFA’s Young Freight Forwarder Award
There are many different ways of working, so go with the fl ow.” Magda also pointed out that freight forwarding keeps evolving; for instance, there is greater emphasis on supply chain management and added-value services now than in the past. Not that such changes faze her. “I’m driven by the belief that learning never stops and there are always new challenges to conquer,” she said. 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.
“M y curiosity about logistics was a passion that led me to hitchhike across Europe, often catching rides with truck drivers who shared stories about their journeys. These experiences gave me a unique, hands-on perspective of the logistics world, long before I ever set foot in a classroom,” said Magda Krasinska. After studying in the UK for her degree in Business and Supply Chain Management, Magda completed an imports internship. Headhunted by Unsworth as an import coordinator, important milestones in my career”. She explained: “Managing a team of four has taught me the importance of balancing leadership she has since moved into a supervisor role – “one of the
“ Managing a team of four has taught me the importance of balancing leadership with hands- on involvement – Magdalena Krasinska
supported and empowered to excel.” Magda is also passionate about mentorship. She enjoys managing different personalities and learning styles, and fi nding the best way to help new recruits reach their potential. Her advice to those new to freight? “Don’t be scared of acronyms!” she joked, adding: “Listen and be humble to learn.
with hands-on involvement, ensuring that my team feels
Having followed a somewhat unusual apprenticeship path, BIFA Apprentice of the Year fi nalist Dylan Cheesman is now committed to a long-term career in freight In logistics for the long haul
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD
definitely something in it for people like me who feel unsure or stuck in their career,” he said. “There’s a real sense of accomplishment in guiding a customer through the import process from beginning to end, especially when you’ve helped make things run smoothly, but it’s customer service that I really enjoy – the human side, which is so important in logistics.” 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.
“Having previously worked for an IT company, where I managed warehousing and dispatch, I felt unfulfilled and decided to pursue a freight forwarding apprenticeship, essentially taking a step back in my career to reassess my goals,” Dylan Cheesman explained. “This decision proved to be a turning point for me, as I discovered a passion for the imports side of the business and a clear path for progression and development. “It was a big change but the apprenticeship eased me in,” Dylan continued. “If I’d heard about this apprenticeship when I was leaving school I’d have done it then. The industry is
booming – everything in the
world revolves around it – and there are lots of opportunities to build a career.” He feels that freight needs promoting – and not just in schools. One of his aspirations is to become an apprenticeship ambassador. “This is a fast-paced industry to work in so it’s not for everyone, but there’s
22 | September 2025
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