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YFF & AOTY Profiles Staying on her toes


With her background in retail, Young Freight Forwarder Award 2020 finalist Zoe Lowe’s career in logistics stems from curiosity about the processes that support businesses. As her knowledge has grown, so has her ambition


Looking back on her first steps into freight forwarding, Zoe Lowe said: “I was interested in understanding how things get to the shop. I also wanted to continue to interact with customers.” Zoe joined Kerry Logistics (UK) in January


2016 as a supply chain solutions trainee and now holds the post of senior supply chain solutions representative. “I finished the Level 3 diploma in Supply Chain Management in January 2021,” she said. “I would definitely like to work towards the Level 9 diploma. I like learning new things and being challenged.” Zoe now qualifies for a supervisor role and is interested in ‘climbing the ladder’, taking on


Seeking new challenges


BIFA Apprentice of the Year finalist Harry Wilson was all set to complete


his apprenticeship at Ligentia earlier this year – despite the disruptive impact of COVID-19


“Visits like that are helpful because they give


“One of the biggest challenges has been working from home,” Harry Wilson said. “It has been difficult to get new topics covered remotely, but we have managed. “I also had lots of trips planned but most of


them could not go ahead because of COVID- 19,” he went on. In November 2019 though, just a few months into his apprenticeship, he had the opportunity to visit London Gateway.


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you added insight – but I learn best on the job,” he said. Harry regularly attends BIFA’s Young


Forwarder Network meetings (which have been happening remotely during the pandemic). He finds these gatherings contribute to his personal development as well as expanding his knowledge of logistics. Harry’s main focus is currently seafreight exports; his understanding of Ligentia’s internal


YOUNG FREIGHT


FORWARDER OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSOR


Virgin Atlantic Cargo is proud to sponsor BIFA’s ‘Young Freight Forwarder Award’ to recognise and encourage the next generation of industry leaders. As well as rewarding the progress of the best young people, this award helps to highlight the vital role freight forwarders play in the growth and development of our industry.


more responsibility and running her own team. One step in that direction would be taking over the hosting of the monthly KPI meetings that her manager currently runs. Clearly, Zoe has gained in confidence since


joining Kerry Logistics. For instance, she runs training on the company’s Virtual Buying Office system – something that was previously outside her comfort zone. “I used to go to customers’ offices and hold


one-to-one or group sessions – but now, because of COVID-19, I run Teams meetings to show them how the system works,” she said. Zoe’s adaptability goes hand in hand with her


love of problem solving. “I like the fact that the business changes every day – it keeps me on my toes,” she said.


APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSOR


Seetec Outsource Training & Skills is a leading provider of innovative training, education and recruitment. Established in 2009, Seetec Outsource has delivered thousands of successful programmes to a range of small and large organisations nationwide and helped many people into employment. Seetec Outsource provides apprenticeships and traineeships on a range of subjects at various levels.


operational platform, CargoWise, is proving useful to other members of the team. Looking forward, he said: “I am not sure


about future training yet, but Ligentia is planning to take me on permanently in my current role once I finish the apprenticeship. “I hope to take on increasingly challenging


tasks and responsibilities, and I am keen to learn more about other aspects of the industry, too. “With time and experience, I hope to be able


to progress to a role where I will be able to pass my own knowledge on to newer recruits,” Harry added.


July 2021


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