Meet the Suffolk Company Innovating the Future of Freight Forwarding

Hemisphere Freight Services (HFS), a global freight forwarding company based in Ipswich, was recently awarded the Staff Development Award at the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2018.

HFS works alongside BIFA and the charity Inspire Suffolk to encourage the next generation of logistics and freight professionals through creating apprenticeships in the local area. Inspire Suffolk works with young people in Suffolk and North Essex, helping them to regain independence with structured programmes and learning schemes to get back into employment and everyday family life.

The criteria for the Staff Development Award stated: “In this category, we are looking for the firm producing freight forwarders of the future.” HFS has a passion for developing staff and offering opportunity and encouragement for jobs as logistics professionals, bringing together future freight forwarding experts, and recognising that happy, healthy and motivated staff are a key part of a successful and thriving company.

In recent years, the company has focused on staff development, well-being and creating opportunities for developing careers in the industry. This all began with a plan for new head office facilities, including a breakout area for staff, which was finally completed in October.

“We have created a large games area not only with a pool table, as requested, but also table tennis, table football and a dart board,” said Andy Perrin, Managing Director at HFS. “From the feedback I have had from our team, it would seem everyone is absolutely delighted. I am not sure many MDs would have listened let alone acted upon such a request, but fortunately we had the space and opportunity to create an area that we can all enjoy and be extremely proud of.”

The very staff that get to enjoy the new breakout room, also have the opportunity for career development within HFS, which was picked up by judges of the Staff Development Award. “The fact that managers and supervisors have been promoted internally underlines Hemisphere’s commitment to staff development as well as recruitment.”

For more information on HFS, please visit their website or phone 01473 550 800. 

Image: Andy Perrin MD receiving the award from Dame Kelly Holmes