Trade and Customs Compliance Manager, Chris Williams, joined Metro in 2019, bringing with him over 30 years of international trade compliance and customs experience, gained with multi-national and national businesses at global and local levels.

Chris’ detailed knowledge of global import and export procedures, legislation and prohibitions, provides the foundation for the development, implementation and maintenance of Metro’s compliant trade policies and strategies.

Chris has also overseen the design and implementation of customs control processes to obtain AEO accreditation in the UK three times, including the implementation of automated programmes for the completion and retention of Customs declarations. This is particularly relevant to impending Brexit requirements.

The focal point for Metro’s interaction with UK, EU and global customs authorities, Chris provides fiscal and compliance guidance and training, to internal and external stakeholders.

His experience in automating declarations and strategic HMRC engagement has made Chris an invaluable member of Metro’s Brexit Task Team, leading the development of the ‘Brexit-Proof’ platform, ensuring regulatory compliance and delivering maximum value to Metro’s customers.

Pivotal to the successful creation of Metro’s ‘Brexit-Proof’ platform has been Chris’ ability to re-engineer complex supply chains and mitigate risk, while designing compliance processes that utilise available customs simplifications.

Chris designed the simple ‘Brexit-Proof’ compliance assessments, audits and due diligence reviews that form the basis of individual client solutions.

Working with historic client data on European imports and exports, Chris and the Brexit Task Team cover risk, regulatory, compliance and security issues in their supply chain health check, to ensure that import and export processing is in line with business needs and objectives.

In releasing public-domain trading data and completing a short questionnaire Metro clients get their own bespoke ‘Brexit-Proof’ solution providing:

• Secure, cloud-based solutions
• Complete peace of mind on 1st January 2021
• UK and EU Customs compliance to avoid delays
• The right HMRC regime(s) for your needs
• Real-time visibility, control and intelligence
• Fiscal forecasting and reporting to aid cashflow management

BIFA’s Young Forwarder Network, is probably one of the most important – and unique – developments for young people in our industry. We explore Metro’s Colin Smith’s role in the YFN story.

Colin Smith is Metro’s Training & Career Development Manager and has been developing our young people with the skills and attitudes needed in the world of work for many years.

Beyond filling skills gaps, businesses need to constantly innovate and change to retain a competitive edge in the forwarding market and young people are uniquely placed to address both issues.

The business case for engaging with young people is clear and prompted Colin to join industry association BIFA’s steering group, in developing the original Freight Forwarding Apprenticeship.

Ensuing workshops facilitated by Colin and BIFA colleagues compared what managers and owners of companies wanted, with the need to harness the ambitions and skills of their young forwarders, to future-proof their businesses.

Evolving from the apprenticeship scheme and these workshops the Young Forwarder Network (YFN) is committed to supporting career development, improving young people’s industry knowledge and shaping the future, with regional networking groups. To meet and learn from industry professionals and boost their continuous professional development.

Colin is a governor of the Midlands Group, providing guidance and support to the Chair and Vice Chair and, with Metro’s support, sponsoring events, including the inaugural event “Insights into what customer often really want”.

Despite COVID-19 the midlands YFN group is maintaining a schedule of virtual events, in line with its mission, to boost knowledge, share skills, advice and experience from industry professionals.

Tags

Head of Finance, Laurence Burford, joined Metro directly from academia, graduating in Law and Biomedical sciences from Staffordshire and Durham Universities.

Failure to comply with regulatory requirements can have financial, legal and reputational consequences for businesses.

Laurence joined Metro in 2011, taking responsibility for legal and compliance, implementing effective compliance policies and educating employees on their use.

Staying informed on the different regulations with which Metro must comply Laurence is constantly reviewing potential issues; adapting and implementing procedures to address them.

In 2016 Laurence was recognised as Metro’s employee of the year. In the same year he was promoted to his current role, which encompasses accounts, finance, quality, legal and compliance tasks.

In addition to implementing new operating systems for joint venture partners in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Laurence has successfully navigated Metro, and joint venture partner Fracht, to critical AEO and ISO quality accreditations.

With lower inspection rates, faster release and preferential treatment by Customs, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) accreditation, could be critical, Post-Brexit.

Every day the Metro team face issues and uncertainties that may represent risk or an opportunity for growth and development, depending on how they are tackled.

Laurence’s approach to corporate governance, risk management and compliance protects Metro, improving our ability to create and deliver value.