ABP CONNECT SCOOPS TWO AWARDS AT INDUSTRY OSCARS
Fighting off stiff competition, ABP Connect, Associated British Ports’ (ABP) value-added services division, recently found itself ‘best in class’ after clinching two key awards at the freighting and logistics industries’ answer to the Oscars.
Organised by freight journal International Freighting Weekly (IFW), the annual IFW Freighting Industry Awards has long been an important fixture in the freighting and logistics industries’ calendar. ABP Connect scooped two prestigious gongs – the ‘IFW Railfreight Award’ and the ‘IFW Award for Services to the Freighting Industry’.
Despite being newcomers to the awards, ABP Connect, which celebrated its third anniversary in April of this year, was nominated for both awards by a panel of judges comprising industry peers.Competing against well-established industry leaders, ABP Connect impressed the judges with its imaginative approach to rail freighting and innovation in creating solutions tailored to its customers’ logistics needs.
The judges were impressed with ABP Connect’s entry for the ‘Railfreight Award’, with one commenting:
“Many rail companies still sell as if George Stevenson* were around… but not this clear winner.”
The judges recognised the considerable efforts ABP Connect has made in developing Hams Hall Railfreight Terminal, on the outskirts of Birmingham, to attract new custom in the two years it has operated the facility. Speaking after the awards show, Paul Allen, ABP Connect’s Managing Director, said:
“When we assumed control of Hams Hall Railfreight Terminal in April of 2002, it was an underused facility. But it is strategically located in the West Midlands, and we have worked hard over the past two years to realise its potential. We have invested in new facilities to attract new customers. Consequently, we have increased throughput by 700 per cent in this time. This level of growth is exceptional and I’m pleased our peers have lauded us for this achievement.”
Mark Fernandez, ABP Connect’s Sales & Development Director, commented on the judges’ decision to award ABP Connect the ‘Services to the Freighting Industry Award’.
“ABP Connect has seen rapid growth, and has quickly become the vital link in many companies’ supply chains because we pride ourselves on providing dynamic and innovative solutions, tailor-made to our customers’ logistics needs. We won this award because we do not believe that ‘one size fits all’.”
Paul Allen welcomed the recognition the awards have brought to ABP Connect.
“From the beginning, we knew that ABP Connect would have to differentiate itself from other players in order to succeed in this highly competitive industry. We have attempted to establish ABP Connect as a key industry player through challenging the status quo and providing facilities and services that are of real benefit to our customers. Winning these awards proves that we are on the right track.”
*The first steam train was invented by George Stevenson and ran between Glasgow and Garnkirk in Lanarkshire in 1831.
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