Students gathered last month (23 October) at London’s Mansion House to celebrate the completion of Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and UK Customs Academy qualifications.
Graduates reflected on their achievements over the past year and looked ahead to the development of their trade careers.
Event speakers noted that while it’s been a time of “significant upheaval” for the sector, graduates’ skills and knowledge are a much-valued source of stability for industry and are integral to sustaining UK trade.
For more information about upskilling your team, you can explore Chartered Institute qualifications, apprenticeships provided by IOEx and UK Customs Academy courses.
‘Really opened my eyes’
Jack McGinnis, from freight forwarder Nexus Cargo Wholesale, said that he embarked upon the Level 4 Diploma in International Trade as he saw it as “an opportunity to expand professionally”.
“It’s really opened my eyes to the importance of international trade and cooperation, and equipped me with the knowledge to explain, and help people navigate, trade.”
Attending to collect his best module mark award, he said that the qualification hasn’t only benefitted his career development, but also his firm.
“It’s helped up expand our client base quite significantly… not just in the UK but worldwide,” he added.
Boosting confidence
Amanda Barr, customs specialist at Airbus, completed the Level 3 Certificate in Customs Compliance with the UK Customs Academy. Having already built a strong knowledge base working in Airbus’ customs department, Barr said the course “built on her existing foundation” and “suited her needs”.
She felt that she’s learned a lot about international trade, especially “how the UK relates to other trading partners, especially the EU and America”.
Barr now feels “confident to lead meetings at work”, even on some of the “extraordinary” customs movements she comes across in her role.
Practical know-how
Department for Business and Trade’s Mark Hughes also felt the course had advanced his career. He said the Level 4 Diploma in International Trade was “really practical” and the “allows me in my day job to really understand business needs, and their risks and opportunities, when looking to sell overseas.”
He added that the “breadth of subject matter” made the course especially enjoyable, and said that it “gives you a really good baseline understanding of international trade”.
Valued skills in a changing world
Speakers acknowledged that the past year has been one of significant “upheaval”, with threats to the rule-based order that has underpinned trade in recent decade creating challenges for businesses and those who support them to trade.
Despite significant challenges, Chartered Institute director general, Marco Forgione, told graduates that there are reasons to be optimistic:
“We should not simply view the last year as one of disruption and destruction.
“The skills, knowledge and expertise that you’ve acquired through your Chartered Institute qualification mean that you are building a new world, a better future”.
He said that graduates should see themselves as “agents of change”, helping to “build a different future”.
Discussing the value of education, the Chartered Institute’s head of academic services, Mikeala Morgans, spoke of its transformative power. Beyond “certificates and passing exams”, she said graduates’ achievements signified not just a “transformation of knowledge” but also “identity, confidence and ambition”.
Morgans also thanked tutors and coaches, praising their “dedication, expertise and compassion”.
Class of 2025
This year’s graduating class included 107 Chartered Institute graduates, 315 UK Customs Academy graduates and five apprentices who completed their qualification with IOEx, the Chartered Institute’s apprenticeship arm.
In total, 72 graduates were in attendance at the ceremony.
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