Why Customs and Logistics Skills Are in Growing Demand Across the UK
Demand for customs and logistics skills is growing across the UK as businesses face increasing supply chain complexity and freight workforce challenges.
Why Customs Skills Are Becoming More Important
Since Brexit, customs processes have become significantly more complex for many UK businesses.
Freight and logistics teams are now expected to manage:
Customs declarations
Import and export documentation
Commodity codes and tariff classification
Duty and VAT calculations
Incoterms 2020
Customs Procedure Codes (CPCs)
Customs Declaration Service (CDS) processes
At the same time, global supply chain disruption and changing international trade conditions are increasing operational pressure across the sector.
This has created growing demand for employees with practical customs and freight forwarding knowledge.
The Logistics Skills Gap Is Growing
Many logistics employers are struggling to recruit people with the right operational skills and industry knowledge.
This includes areas such as:
Freight forwarding operations
Customs compliance
Supply chain coordination
International shipping documentation
Customer communication
Import and export procedures
For businesses already dealing with recruitment pressures, this creates a major challenge.
Experienced freight professionals remain difficult to hire, while many new entrants lack the practical skills needed to operate confidently in real logistics environments.
Why Employers Are Investing More in Workforce Development
As recruitment becomes more difficult, more employers are focusing on developing talent internally.
This is driving increased interest in:
Freight forwarding training
Customs training courses
Logistics apprenticeships
Import and export training
Government funded workforce development programmes
Rather than relying solely on external recruitment, businesses are investing in structured learning programmes that build long term capability within their teams.
Developing Practical Freight and Customs Skills
At Momentous Learning, our Level 3 International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship is designed to help employers develop skilled, job ready freight professionals through structured workplace learning.
The programme supports learners across:
Freight forwarding operations
Customs and compliance procedures
Import and export documentation
Supply chain operations
International trade processes
Customer communication and operational problem solving
Learners can also follow specialist pathways aligned to their role, including:
Air freight
Ocean freight
Road freight
This allows businesses to develop skills directly linked to operational requirements.
Industry Relevant Training That Reflects Real Challenges
One of the biggest challenges in logistics training is ensuring learning reflects the realities of the industry.
Our programme includes practical learning linked to real operational environments, including:
Customs Declaration Service (CDS) knowledge
UK Trade Tariff navigation
Incoterms 2020
Duty and VAT calculations
Customs Procedure Codes
Import and export procedures
Additional development opportunities include:
BIFA Customs Essentials
BTEC Intermediate Award in Customs Export and Import Procedures
These qualifications help learners build confidence while developing highly relevant customs and freight forwarding skills.
Supporting Logistics Employers Beyond Training
For many employers, workforce development is about more than qualifications.
It is about creating stronger, more resilient teams that can adapt in a rapidly changing market.
At Momentous Learning, we support employers through:
Government funded training opportunities
Recruitment support for suitable learners
Structured workplace development
Regular employer communication and progress reviews
Ongoing tutor support for learners
We have supported learners and employers across freight and logistics organisations including Quality Freight and Irish Freight.
Why These Skills Will Matter Even More in the Future
The demand for customs and logistics skills is unlikely to slow down.
As global trade becomes more complex and supply chains continue to evolve, businesses will increasingly need professionals who can:
Navigate customs and compliance requirements
Manage operational challenges confidently
Adapt to changing international trade conditions
Support efficient freight and logistics operations
Developing these skills now will be essential for businesses looking to remain competitive in the years ahead.
Our Thoughts
Customs and logistics skills are becoming some of the most valuable capabilities within the UK supply chain sector.
For employers, investing in workforce development is becoming a strategic necessity.
And for learners, there has never been a better time to build a career in freight forwarding, logistics and international trade.
If you are looking to strengthen customs and freight forwarding capability within your business, explore how our Level 3 International Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship can support your team.
