The granting of a Royal Charter to the UK’s leading international trade body has given exporters and supply chain professionals a “morale boost”, a winner of the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise has said.
The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) was granted the Charter by His Majesty King Charles III earlier this year. As of 10 July 2024, it will become the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade.
Lyndsay Hogg, the managing director and founder of Hogg Logistics – a King’s Award winning supply chain firm – welcomed the news in a video filmed to inform her fellow IOE&IT members about the change.
“It’s a brilliant morale boost and it further enforces IOE&IT’s values of excellence,” she said.
“IOE&IT has been brilliant for businesses and traders around the UK, including my own business, so we welcome the news and well done everybody.”
‘Empowering global trade’
Earlier this summer, IOE&IT announced that it is going to rebrand itself to become the Chartered Institute, with its director general Marco Forgione saying that the accolade was “one of the highest honours His Majesty can bestow on an organisation”.
He said that IOE&IT’s staff is currently working on a new brand and identity that showcases this landmark achievement, adding that the charity “will be committed to empowering global trade”.
Reflecting on her own award from the Royal Family, Hogg said: “We know how much of an achievement it is so we think it’s fantastic that the IOE&IT has become the Chartered Institute”.
Support through Covid
Hogg set up her family-run logistics firm just before the Covid-19 pandemic and “leaned on” IOE&IT for support during the lockdowns and then Brexit.
“I took the opportunity over lockdown to upskill,” she explains.
“I took between 20 to 30 courses with IOE&IT and it was the silver lining during Covid, as we could go online and the courses were easily accessible.
“I love logistics and international trade so it was great hearing from like-minded people and learning from them.”
War in Ukraine
In response to another global shock – the war in Ukraine – Hogg also benefited from the regular trade updates issued by IOE&IT.
“We saw what was happening with the Ukraine war and we wanted to use our skills for good,” she says.
“We sent two trucks of humanitarian aid under full customs procedures before there were any easements. We got donations, people knocking on the door, and raised £13k in a two week period.”
She says that it was through “guidance on IOE&IT’s website” that she learnt about customs easements that were later put in place by the UK government, allowing her to send more aid without incurring duties.
The firm went on to send another eight trucks to Ukraine following the easement.
‘More important than ever’
Forgione has called Hogg’s story an “inspiration” and said that it is an example of the important role international trade has to play in an increasingly fraught geopolitical terrain.
“Against the backdrop of heightening geopolitical tension and conflict, a rise in protectionism and the ongoing threat of climate change, the need to evangelise for free and legitimate rules-based trade has never been so important.
“The story of Hogg Logistics is a great example of the benefits of cross-border trade, including the movement of humanitarian aid into war-torn countries like Ukraine.
“Members like Lyndsay are the lifeblood of IOE&IT and the reason why His Majesty King Charles III has entrusted us with the Royal Charter.”
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