Training is still important when times are tough, says UK freight forwarders association

The British International Freight Association (www.bifa.org) has never doubted the vital importance of training to all levels of any organisation involved in freight activity.

BIFA continues to believe that training is a worthwhile investment in the good times and now with the economic chill being felt across the business world, a properly trained staff will be of any business’s survival strategy.

The advantages of putting time and effort into staff training speak for themselves. Employees gain greater confidence and undertake their work with fewer costly errors. Improved customer service cements existing business relationships and helps retain customers. Staff and managers respond to training investment with higher morale and greater job satisfaction, which in turn is reflected in higher staff retention.

Peter Quantrill, BIFA Director General, offers the following as the best way to providing training within any freight organisation: “The key to successful training provision is an understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to who is trained and how they are trained. Each role has different responsibilities and levels of activity, so the training provided must be appropriate for that level or it is a waste for the provider and employee.

“At BIFA, we take very seriously the provision we make for providing industry training. We understand the demands on any business are many, especially in these troubled times, which is why we keep our courses short, pertinent and relevant to both employer and employee. We provide many opportunities to undertake training throughout the year at a number of locations to minimise the inevitable disruption having staff out of the office creates.

“We keep content up to date and timely in line with existing legislation, planned changes in legislation and best practice and all our courses offer practical learning from our pool of experienced and qualified trainers. That is why I say to anyone involved in freight activity - BIFA has a training solution for you.”

The Department for Transport has accredited BIFA’s training programme submitted for approval under the new Air Cargo Security syllabus, meaning that all BIFA air cargo security courses comply with the new syllabus.

The new syllabus, introduced in 2008, sets out new levels of training for staff involved in the handling and documentation of goods destined for export by air. All staff holding existing certificates at Levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 must migrate to the new syllabus as below:

- Level 4 Replaced by Level A or B
- Level 1 Replaced by Level D or E
- Level 2 Replaced by Level F
- Level 3 Replaced by Level G

The new syllabus makes clear that all air cargo security training must be refreshed every two years, removing the ambiguity surrounding refresher training at Levels 3 and 4 in the past.

Mr Quantrill adds: “As a training provider, by obtaining this new accreditation we demonstrate our determination to provide the best and most timely training for the air freight sector.

“However, as a trade organisation whose members are involved in all modes of freight movement, we do not overlook their requirements and have a suite of training courses suitable for staff in all aspects of Freight Forwarding, Dangerous Goods, Aviation Security, Customs Procedures and Health and Safety.

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The British International Freight Association (BIFA) represents UK companies engaged in the international movement of freight by all modes of transport. A not-for-profit organisation, BIFA is funded by subscription and run by its members for members. It operates with a full-time Secretariat, which administers and manages the Association’s affairs. BIFA provides an effective and proactive organisation dedicated to improving standards of professionalism within the logistics and supply chain industry.

Ian Matheson, Impress Communications
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This release was published on openPR.