Freight Forwarding Apprentice

The work environment is fast-paced. Freight forwarding is highly reactive; you must be able to switch between tasks quickly as new shipment updates arrive. It is also team-oriented, with the apprentices working in small, supportive teams where they can learn from experienced ‘mentors’ or senior forwarders. Work is also collaborative, and you will regularly interact with people from different countries and time zones, requiring strong professional communication skills.

There are vacancies in either:

• Ocean Freight: Booking space on shipping lines and handling containerised cargo


• Road Freight: Managing haulage collections and deliveries, often focusing on UK-EU trade routes

Core responsibilities/Learning:

• Logistics Planning: Selecting the most cost-effective and timely transport routes


• Customs and Compliance: Mastering the essential documentation and regulations required for international trade, such as Incoterms and customs declarations


• Documentation: Preparing shipment bookings, bills of lading, and insurance contracts


• Commercial Skills: Calculating freight costs, providing quotes to customers, and managing invoices

Common weekly tasks include:

• Morning Checks - Tracking shipments to see if they arrived at ports or airports on time; identifying any delays due to weather or technical issues


• Communication - Proactively emailing or calling customers with updates; liaising with hauliers, airlines, or shipping lines to book space for cargo


• Documentation -  Preparing essential paperwork such as Bills of Lading, Certificates of Origin, CMR’s or commercial invoices


• Customs Work - Learning to input data for customs declarations and ensuring shipments comply with HMRC regulations


• Finance - Checking supplier invoices against agreed tariffs and preparing quotes for new customer shipments