Freight Forwarding & Customs BDM in Preston

Revenue Update : Notice of Irish Industrial Action - Wednesday 14th October 2026. Disruption and delays to Irish services expected.

What do we do?

We offer an exciting opportunity to be part of our success story and a fantastic employee centric business, part of the Stena Line portfolio.

The business has three pillars.

• Freight forwarding - Freightlink Logistics provides first class freight forwarding services throughout Europe by integrating with Freightlink’s freight ferry customers we can offer unrivalled access to hauliers throughout Europe.
• Customs - CustomsLink was created in response to post Brexit border complexities and takes a fresh approach to an old established business by digitalising the processes.
• Ferries - Established in 2003, Freightlink is one of Europe’s largest, whole of market freight ferry agencies. We have achieved this through a complementary focus of delivering digitalisation and impeccable customer service.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a proactive, commercially astute, and highly experienced Customs & Freight Forwarding Business Development Manager to accelerate the growth of our customs and freight forwarding services portfolio. Working in close partnership with the Group Head of Customs and Growth, you will shape, influence, and execute our commercial strategy while driving new client acquisition across customs compliance, international freight forwarding, transport solutions, warehousing, and supply chain services.

This role blends high-level strategic planning with hands-on sales execution. It is suited to someone with deep customs and freight forwarding expertise, strong industry networks, and a proven track record of generating revenue within customs brokerage, international logistics, freight forwarding, and supply chain management sectors.

And what will you be doing?

Key Responsibilities

Sales & Business Development

• Identify, pursue, and convert new business opportunities across customs clearance, air freight, ocean freight, road freight, courier, warehousing, and value-added logistics services.
• Develop and deliver a strategic sales plan focused on revenue growth across customs declarations/procedures, freight forwarding services, transit movements (NCTS), and specialist customs procedures.
• Generate new business through prospecting, networking, trade shows, industry associations, digital channels, and customer referrals.
• Build and maintain a robust sales pipeline across importers, exporters, manufacturers, retailers, e-commerce businesses, hauliers, freight forwarders, and 3PL/4PL operators.
• Lead customer meetings, product demonstrations, and solution presentations highlighting our customs expertise, freight capabilities, compliance strength, and technology advantages.
• Prepare high-quality quotations, RFQs, tenders, proposals, and commercial presentations that align with client requirements and company pricing strategies.
• Negotiate rates, contracts, service level agreements, and commercial terms with prospective customers.
• Achieve agreed sales targets, gross profit objectives, and key performance indicators.
• Develop strategic trade lanes and identify opportunities to increase shipment volumes across key origin and destination markets.
• Collaborate with operational teams to create tailored logistics solutions that address customer supply chain challenges.
• Promote and sell international freight forwarding solutions, including air freight, sea freight (FCL/LCL), road freight, intermodal transport, and project cargo services.
• Develop relationships with shipping lines, airlines, haulage providers, and logistics partners to support competitive service offerings.
• Identify opportunities for contract logistics, fulfilment, warehousing, distribution, and customs integration services.
• Analyse customer supply chains to identify cost-saving opportunities, transit-time improvements, and operational efficiencies.
• Drive growth within strategic sectors including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, retail, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce.
• Work closely with pricing and procurement teams to secure competitive rates and maximise profitability.

Client Relationship Management

• Act as the primary commercial contact for key customs and freight forwarding clients, ensuring exceptional customer experience and retention.
• Develop trusted advisor relationships with decision-makers and supply chain stakeholders.
• Work closely with operations, compliance, customs, and onboarding teams to ensure seamless implementation of new business.
• Provide clients with updates on customs regulations, trade requirements, market conditions, carrier developments, and industry trends that may affect their operations.
• Manage and resolve complex customer enquiries relating to customs processes, freight movements, documentation, tariffs, and regulatory compliance.
• Conduct regular account reviews and identify opportunities for additional services and account growth.
• Support customer retention initiatives and ensure high levels of service satisfaction.
• Monitor UK/EU customs legislation, global trade developments, freight market trends, carrier activity, and competitor movements to inform commercial strategy.
• Provide structured feedback to leadership teams on market opportunities, customer needs, pricing trends, and service enhancements.
• Support marketing campaigns, case studies, webinars, customer events, and trade exhibitions that position the organisation as a leading customs and logistics provider.
• Contribute to strategic planning for new logistics products, digital customs solutions, supply chain services, and process optimisation initiatives.
• Identify emerging trade lanes, industry sectors, and market opportunities that align with company growth objectives

Experience & Knowledge

• Proven track record in B2B sales, business development, or commercial management within customs clearance, freight forwarding, logistics, supply chain, or international trade.
• Demonstrated success in generating new business revenue and managing complex sales cycles within the freight forwarding sector.
• Strong working knowledge of air freight, ocean freight, road freight, multimodal transport, customs clearance, and international trade processes.
• Strong knowledge of UK and EU customs procedures, including import/export declarations, NCTS/transit, special procedures (IPR, OPR, RGR, Customs Warehousing, Temporary Admission), and duty management.
• Experience preparing and responding to RFQs, tenders, and logistics procurement opportunities.
• Experience working with logistics and customs platforms such as CargoWise, Descartes, AEB, CSP systems, or similar solutions.
• Familiarity with freight pricing structures, carrier negotiations, margin management, and supply chain solution design.
• Strong understanding of HS codes, tariff classifications, commodity coding, origin rules, and customs compliance.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to understand complex supply chain and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across commercial, operational, customs, and compliance teams.
• High levels of professionalism, resilience, commercial awareness, and customer focus.

What do you need to succeed?

We are on the look out for a high organised, self-driven, confident and positive individual with a can-do attitude. You will have previous experience in Customs and Freight Forwarding Logistics, and be able to apply this experience to drive the business forward.

Who we are

We are an exciting blend of people with different experiences, different skills, come from different cultures and have our own input to bring to the table. And although we’re all different, the glue that holds us all together is the simple desire to collectively be the best.

What do you get out of it all?

Our success comes from our people, the ideas they generate and the amazing results they bring. We place a great emphasis on the knowledge share and your development.

We are not Google. We don’t have a slide or games consoles in the office, but we do offer:

• 35 hour week
• Birthday day off – after 1 years full service
• 6 free Stena Line ferry crossings per year – for you and your immediate family
• Enhanced annual leave – starting after 2 years service
• Employee Assistance Programme ‘Help at Hand’ – supporting you and your family with advice, guidance and counselling on a variety of areas
• Westfield Health Cash Plan – Claim back a proportion of your everyday healthcare and medical expenses
• Life assurance - £50,000 tax free lump sum to your loved ones through our death in service policy
• Retail discount scheme - access to a wide range of discounts on food and shopping
• Cycle scheme – save money on a new bike or accessories and spread the cost
• Tech scheme – up to 12% off tech and appliances at Currys whilst spreading the cost
• Learning and Development – we offer a range of learning opportunities
• Social events – trips to the pub, family activity days, and more.
• Recognition awards – via Employee of the Quarter

Please only apply if you can reliably commute to the office and complete office based training.

Yash was extremely helpful and responded very quickly when I needed urgent assistance with customs paperwork for an early ferry crossing. Yash immediately identified that I had selected the self-service GMR option instead of the managed service, clearly explained the issue and offered to arrange the correct service for both vehicles. Friendly, professional and efficient, excellent customer service from Freightlink.

1 hour ago

Sally J

Verified Customer

Great service - especially the help I had from Ankit Suyal sorting out my port pass.quick & easy to book.

4 hours ago

Verified Customer

Ankit was great, really helped take the stress out of everything.

6 hours ago

Verified Customer

Yash helped with our GMRs and PBNs very helpful, will be using again.

9 hours ago

Verified Customer

I have always found Freightlink and Customs Link to be very efficient and extremely helpful. Their representatives are very knowledgeable and friendly and they are quick with email replies. All in all they offer a great service which I would highly recommend to anyone.

1 day ago

Gareth B

Verified Customer

Ankit looked after our GMR application and could not have been more helpful.

1 day ago

Verified Customer

Yash was a lifesaver. We had three installers heading to a job in Ireland with a sailing booked the same day, and the Port Pass side of things had us completely stuck. It was our first time sending a van over since Brexit and the forms weren't making sense for our situation.Yash picked it up straight away, explained what we actually needed in plain English and got it sorted quickly. He was patient, calm and genuinely helpful when we were up against the clock. Couldn't have asked for better.Thanks Yash. We'll definitely be using Freightlink again.Angela, DCM Surfaces

1 day ago

John B

Antkit was a massive help to organise the GMR AND ELO at such short notice. A great asset to the team

1 day ago

Dave C

Verified Customer

Ankit and the team are very helpful and responsive

1 day ago

Verified Customer

Excellent service from Yash

4 days ago

Verified Customer

Ankit made arranging our ferry bookings straightforward. She was helpful and responded promptly, especially to queries about the required paperwork. Great customer service and a smooth booking experience.

4 days ago

Verified Customer

Been dealing with Klaudiusz who has been incredibly helpful throughout our booking process. Has made something I was expecting to be very stressful very very stress free. Thank you

4 days ago

Kerry P

Verified Customer

Ankit was really helpful after our GMR was not being generated. He quickly sort this for us and was very polite.

4 days ago

Marian V

Verified Customer

Very nice work fast and professional Patrick Stefanescu !!! Thanks very much for helping!!!

5 days ago

Jonathan P

Verified Customer

Thank you Yash. Your help was much appreciated.5 stars

5 days ago

Graeme

Verified Customer

Yash was extremely helpful

5 days ago

Catalin

Verified Customer

5 days ago

Graham

Verified Customer

YASH WAS A GREAT HELP AS ALWAYS - EFFICENT AND HELPFUL

5 days ago

Sam

Verified Customer

Freightlink have always been extremely reliable through our many years working with them. No matter how complex the job, they have always delivered. Yash and Partryk have been helpful throughout.

5 days ago

Sonic

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional support provided by Greta Grzelak. Throughout the process, she remained professional, responsive, and extremely helpful, even when faced with complex last-minute changes. Her willingness to go above and beyond to find solutions ensured everything was completed smoothly and efficiently. Outstanding customer service and highly recommended.

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