Despite a year beset by multiple operational difficulties and uncertainties, there were many outstanding entries in the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2020 – the very best of which have now been announced in a series of online video presentations this week.
In the Air Cargo Services category, which was sponsored by ASM UK, Simarco Worldwide Logistics triumphed over fellow finalists DHL Global Forwarding, Kerry Logistics and Ligentia Global.
Winner of the Ocean Services Award, sponsored by Port Express, was Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics, which overcame a strong challenge from fellow finalists Killick Martin & Company and Westbound Logistics Services.
DB Schenker took first place in the Project Forwarding category, sponsored by Peter Lole Insurance Brokers, defeating fellow finalists Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics; RIF Worldwide; Specialist Logistics Services and Ucargo.
In the Specialist Services category, presented by Transaid, the winner was NNR Global Logistics; whilst the other finalists included B&H Worldwide; In Time Worldwide Logistics; and Lila International Logistics.
B&H Worldwide was revealed as the winner of the Supply Chain Management category, sponsored by BoxTop Technologies, beating off strong competition from fellow finalists Killick Martin & Company; Ligentia Global and Progressive 3PL.
Scooping first place in the Cool & Special Cargoes category, sponsored by TT Club was Gist which overcame fellow finalist, Killick Martin & Company.
In the Extra Mile Award, sponsored by Descartes, United Worldwide Logistics literally went the extra mile to defeat fellow finalists Kerry Logistics; Moto Freight and Pentagon Freight.
Morrison Freight triumphed in the Staff Development category, which was sponsored by Albacore Systems.
Winner of the Apprentice of the Year category, which was sponsored by Seetec Outsource was Ryan Wilkes from Kuehne + Nagel, who defeated fellow finalists Chloe Hamlett (Charles Kendall Freight); Eloise Hill (DHL Global Forwarding); Stuart Lupton (DHL Global Forwarding); Ben Milligan (DHL Global Forwarding) and Harry Wilson (Ligentia UK).
Katy Hopkinson from Kuehne + Nagel defeated fellow finalists Jack Coope (B&H Worldwide); Sam Greenhalgh (Zencargo); Zoe Lowe (Kerry Logistics); Keegan Starkey (Specialist Logistics Services) and Beckie Vallance (Geodis) to win the Young Freight Forwarder category, which is sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo.
Robert Keen, BIFA’s Director General, commented: “BIFA has been delighted with the range of entries received to the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2020 from BIFA Members that managed to take the time to document their achievements while continuing to manage their businesses through incredibly trying times, which is a testament to their tenacity.
“It adds to the esteem in which the BIFA Freight Service Awards, which is now in its fourth decade and rightly seen as the blue riband event for the UK’s freight forwarding and logistics sector, is held.
“I congratulate all the companies that won each category as well as those that were shortlisted as finalists.
“I would also like to recognise the support and contribution of the sponsors to the running of the competition this year. Representatives from the category sponsors have given their time to carry out judging and the selection of winners for each award.”