The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is hosting an online event for members on February 8 that will assist in navigating the perceived red tape around recruiting apprentices.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, BIFA is running the event to share its own experiences of employing its first two apprentices to help guide and reassure members about the processes involved. It will also highlight the benefits of the International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship, which BIFA helped create in 2018.
BIFA member services director Carl Hobbis 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 percent, year-on-year. Forwarding businesses have many difficult commercial decisions to make, but shelving apprenticeships should not be one of them.”
For small and medium-sized enterprises, the training costs of the International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship can be as little as GBP450 (USD566) per apprentice.
BIFA director general, Steve Parker, added: “Now, more than ever, we need to promote the industry and give young people employment opportunities. We have had an apprenticeship standard for international freight forwarding for six years and the sector continues to be in the spotlight as a result of the current supply chain disruptions, so what a great time to give someone an opportunity of a career in freight forwarding and logistics.”
