UK forwarders urged to take on apprentices despite uncertain market
02 / 02 / 2024
Carl Hobbis
UK freight forwarder association BIFA has urged its members to consider recruiting apprentices ahead of National Apprentice Week despite the current market uncertainty.
To help drum up support, the association will on February 8 run an online event to help members navigate the “perceived red tape” when recruiting apprentices.
“Most of the trade association’s members are SMEs and may be nervous about apprentice recruitment,” BIFA said. “So [we want] to share [our] own experience of employing [our] first two apprentices to help guide and reassure members about the processes involved.”
BIFA also pointed out that it had helped create the International Freight Forwarding apprenticeship programme, which would also assist members.
BIFA member services director Carl Hobbis, who has responsibility for the trade association’s training and development programme, said: “More than 1,000 apprentices have already started the pathway, with great success.
“However, the 184 apprentices that have started the International Freight Forwarding Specialist apprenticeship during the last 12 months, represents a reduction of 27%, year on year.
“Forwarding businesses have many difficult commercial decisions to make, but shelving apprenticeships should not be one of them.
“We are at an important crossroads, and we must protect the future of the sector, which has an ageing employee dynamic and needs an influx of new blood.”
BIFA said that for SMEs, the training costs of the International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship can be as little as £450 per apprentice and includes a BTEC Customs qualification.
