This Intermediate Apprenticeship is designed for people who work in the import/export industry. Importers deal with the procedures for bringing goods for sale into the UK from other countries, while exporters handle the procedures for taking goods out of the UK for sale in other countries. Importers and exporters work for import/export agencies or freight-forwarding firms, or may be employed by companies that handle their own export and import of goods. Import and export managers buy products and services from other countries or sell to them.
Clerks in freight forwarding, import and export are crucial in ensuring that the documentation meets the legal requirements of each country. Depending on the size of the company, freight forwarding involves administration/customer service for processing export and insurance documentation, customs clearance and organising the movement of goods by road, rail, sea or air. You will work as part of a team arranging the import and export of goods on behalf of customers. Importers and exporters normally work standard office hours but, if negotiating with suppliers or customers in different time zones, they may need to work outside those hours. There could be a great deal of travel involved for people at more senior levels.
International Trade & Logistics Apprentices should:
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have good organisational skills and problem-solving ability
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be comfortable with IT and financial software such as spreadsheets
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be able to deal with pressure and deadlines
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ideally have knowledge of other languages.
Job Roles
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Freight forwarder
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Import/export clerk
