BIFA Awards celebrate the brightest and the best in UK freight

Yesterday saw the 36th annual British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) 2024 Freight Service Awards, hosted by Olympic rower James Cracknell OBE. 

More than 550 people – a record number – attended the London event, which celebrated nine winning companies and two outstanding individuals across 11 categories. In total 34 companies were nominated.

Uniserve won the Air Cargo Services category, sponsored by IAG Cargo, beating competition from Brunel Air Cargo, Kerry Logistics, and Metro Shipping.

The Ocean Services Award, sponsored by Port Express, went to Denholm Good Logistics, which overcame challenges from Atlantic Freight, Kerry Logistics, and NNR Global Logistics.

Deugro took first place in the Project Forwarding category, sponsored by Macbeth Insurance Brokers, ahead of Maersk Logistics and Services UK, Perform Logistics, and Westbound Logistics.

In the Specialist Services category, sponsored by Descartes + Thyme IT, the winner was John Pipe International. The other finalists were Daily Freight Services , Irish Freight Solutions, Metro Shipping, and Samphire Cargo.

Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics won the Supply Chain Management category, sponsored by Descartes + BoxTop Technologies, seeing off competition from Noatum Logistics, Seafast Logistics, and Uniserve.

Scooping first place in the Sustainable Logistics & the Environment Award category, sponsored by American Airlines Cargo, was DHL Global Forwarding, beating DSV Road, Ital Logistics, Peterson Freight Management, Rhenus Logistics, and Wallis Shipping Services.

United Worldwide Logistics took first place in the Extra Mile Award, sponsored by Descartes, ahead of Carousel Logistics, Killick Martin & Company, Seafast Logistics and start-up Pro-Logist.

The Staff Development Award, sponsored by Albacore Systems, went to Speedy Freight, beating Deugro, PFE Express, and Unsworth UK. 

In the European Logistics category, sponsored by TT Club, the winner was Cargo Overseas, over finalists Mercury Freight, NNR Global Logistics, and Transportify.

The Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Menzies, was Joseph Freestone (of Woodland Group), who beat off strong competition from Dylan Cheesman (Unsworth UK), Keira Greenough (Cardinal Global Logistics), Leah Griggs (Laser Transport International), Luis Matthews (Ligentia UK), and Iwan Williams (United Worldwide Logistics).

And Thomas Bedöcs, from DHL Global Forwarding, impressed the judges with his commitment to the industry to win the Young Freight Forwarder of the Year category, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Cargo. Fellow finalists were Charmaine Anderson (Blue Water Shipping), Georgia Gibson (Cargo-partner), Magdalena Krasinska (Unsworth UK), and Ben Thompson and Charlie Griffiths (NNR Global Logistics). Mr Griffiths was highly commended by the judges.

BIFA director general Steve Parker said: “Once again, BIFA was delighted with the number and diversity of entries received. It was fantastic to gather in person to celebrate excellence in the freight forwarding industry. Now in their 36th year, these awards are justifiably regarded as the most prestigious in the sector.

“I would also like to express our gratitude to all the sponsors for their invaluable contributions. Representatives from the category sponsors dedicated their time to judging and selecting the winners, ensuring the competition’s continued success.”