The Daily Update sat down with Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade member Jamie Barugh. After a successful stint as a customs manager, Barugh founded his own firm, JAB Global Supply Chain Consultancy, “to support companies navigating the complexities of international trade”.
With experience working with companies of all sizes, from SMEs to multinationals, he now advises clients on areas including “customs compliance, tariff classification, logistics strategy and overall supply chain optimisation”.
Barugh shared how the UK Customs Academy (UKCA) – whose suite of online qualifications is delivered by the Chartered Institute in partnership with Maersk and the Centre for Customs & Excise Studies – gave him the confidence and knowledge to succeed in the sector, build a successful customs customer service team and start his own firm.
Develop knowledge at your ‘own pace’
During his time as a customs manager at DB Schenker, Barugh says he was “lucky enough” to be enrolled on several UKCA qualifications, moving through the Level 2 Customs Practice & Procedure Award and Level 3 Certificate in Customs Compliance.
He enjoyed the experience so much that, after leaving DB Schenker, he chose to enrol in the Level 4 Advanced Customs Compliance qualification.
“It felt like a natural progression to build on that foundation,” he says.
Describing the UKCA training as “high quality” and “industry relevant”, he adds that the “flexibility” of learning online allowed him to “deepen my knowledge at my own pace — something that was especially valuable while balancing a busy role in the logistics sector.
“My experience with the UKCA has been fantastic. The learning materials are well-structured, the content is highly relevant to real-world trade, and the support throughout has been excellent.”
‘Stronger, more capable teams’
It wasn’t only Barugh that benefited from UKCA courses. Impressed by the quality of the course materials and convenience of completing them through e-learning, he says that he “didn’t hesitate” to put colleagues forward for UKCA courses during his time at DB Schenker.
“The training provided by UKCA was always relevant, high-quality and practical,” he adds, “so I saw it as a valuable investment in building stronger, more capable customs teams”.
“In such a fast-changing regulatory environment, upskilling through structured, professional learning made a real difference to both individual confidence and team performance”.
At a business-wide level, he says that upskilling teams through UKCA courses “strengthens overall compliance, reduces risk and improves the confidence of staff when handling complex customs scenarios”.
Launching pad
As for his own career, Barugh says that UKCA courses have opened the door to many new opportunities.
“If I hadn’t completed the courses I undertook with the UKCA, I genuinely don’t believe I would have had the confidence or expertise to set up my own consultancy,” he says, adding:
“The knowledge I gained was instrumental in shaping my career path.”
Other opportunities include teaching at Leeds University Business School, delivering lectures and seminar on globalised supply chains to both undergraduate and postgraduate students as an associate faculty member.
“The UKCA gave me not just qualifications, but a platform to grow professionally and share that knowledge with others.”
‘Wholeheartedly recommend’
Barugh says that he “wholeheartedly recommend” UKCA courses for all global trade professionals.
He also highlights the experience of graduating at London’s Mansion House, in a ceremony attended by the City of London’s Lord Mayor.
“If you get the opportunity, I strongly encourage you to attend the ceremony in London — it’s a truly memorable experience and a proud moment to celebrate your achievement”.
Jamie will be speaking at the Chartered Institute’s UK Customs Academy Virtual Open Day at 2pm – 3.30pm on 23 September. Join the event, hosted on Microsoft Teams, to:
· Discover the qualifications
Understand the customs career pathways available to you or your team - from beginner to advanced
· Speak to learners
Hear from alumni and our current cohort of learners, with a chance to ask all your burning questions
· Experience elearning
Grasp the benefits of remote, self-paced online study, with a demo of our elearning platform
Secure your spot now. to learn more about the academy and its qualifications.
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