The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is seeking to ‘trailblaze’ its qualification in freight forwarding.

Ahead of the proposed evolution of a professional qualification, the industry association for the logistics trade and freight forwarding is conducting a survey to discover exactly what kind of skill set is needed in the sector.

Director General of BIFA, Robert Keen, said that while there is already compulsory training on offer for things such as air cargo security and dangerous goods, the organisation feels it must adopt a recognised standard in order to take things further.

Mr Keen added that if the association is to see an improvement in the quality of skill development and education across the board, there must be an application made for apprenticeships specific to the freight forwarding sector, in accordance with new ‘Trailblazer’ standards.

In the UK, the Government has given employer-led groups the task of working together to overhaul standards of apprenticeships with the goal of removing the existing frameworks over the next one or two years, replacing them with the new standards.

In a move to drive forward the training activities of the trade association, Carl Hobbis, previously of DB Schenker, was appointed by BIFA as its training development manager.

Mr Hobbis said that BIFA would first of all plan to undertake a survey of its membership and the wider forwarding industry to make a plan of the type of education and training they are looking to implement.

The initial survey will be on apprenticeships and is already being conducted online in order to help BIFA understand if there is enough demand to develop it and ensure high standards of apprenticeships for freight forwarders.

Keen also commented that BIFA wants to create a group of ‘certified’ freight forwarders who have their professional qualification, in the same way as Singapore, Australia, Canada and Germany.