The Institute of Export & International Trade held the 2018 Graduation and Prizegiving Ceremony at the Mansion House in London on May 23rd, celebrating the achievements and hard work of our students. It was also a great opportunity for students, businesses and decision makers from the world of trade today to network and share thoughts about the future of international trade.
Seven distinguished guests addressed the audience with their own thoughts and advice for the next generation of traders, including the former Lord Mayor of London, the Minister for Investment, Lord Green of Hurtspierpoint, the Master of the Worshipful Company of World Traders, and our own Chairman, Director General, and Young President.
Recent and current students received graduation certificates and prizes for high scores and outstanding achievements. Honorary fellowships were given out to Brian Herd (Strong & Herd), Peter Ward (UKWA), and Clive Drinkwater (DIT) for their career-long contributions to the Institute and the industry as a whole. John Robinson MBA MSc DipM FIEx, Chair of the Institute’s Academic Board, was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work leading the Institute’s academic contribution to UK trade down the years.
Taking a lead in trade training around the world
Following an introduction from Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley – a previous Lord Mayor of London – our Director General, Lesley Batchelor, gave an update on the Institute’s activities over the previous year. To say it’s been a busy period would be an understatement, as the Institute has itself taken several measures to increase its global reach.
Lesley shared updates about work the Institute has done with the WTO in beginning the process of creating a global standard for international trade, as well as the launch of the ‘Open to Export International Business Awards’ that are being run as part of the ‘WTO-ICC Small Business Champions Initiative’. Lesley was also delighted to share the finding that the Institute is one of only two organisations in the world to deliver a full suite of training in international trade – the other being FITT in Canada, which the Institute set up.
Embracing the national export challenge
The need for individuals, like our graduates, and the business community more generally to embrace the challenges of international trade, and to gain the skills to make the most of them, has never been stronger.
Our chairman, Terry Scuoler CBE MIEx, spoke of the huge benefits of exporting for businesses, economies, individuals and societies, calling trade a great force for good, but a force that needs to be facilitated by people doing it with knowledge and skill.
Lord Stephen Green of Hurstpierpoint, our President, called exporting the UK’s national challenge and also spoke of the importance for businesses to train in the skills of international trade so that they can meet this challenge head-on, especially with Brexit looming.
From government, the Minister for Investment, Graham Stuart MP, echoed these points saying that the UK has great opportunities ahead in global trade but needs to be able to create a new generation of international traders who can succeed and thrive in trade – something our graduates certainly lead the way in.
CIVIC - 5 key values for international traders
The keynote speech came from Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, the Master of the Worshipful Company of World Traders and Chairman of commercial think-tank Z/Yen. His advice for the graduates centred on 5 key values for all traders in global trade today, summed up neatly in the acronym CIVIC:
- Competency in trade skills
- Integrity with overseas partners
- Contributing Value to society
- Respecting the Interests of others
- Clearly Communicating with others
Should these values be upheld, trade will be a win-win for everyone involved, he noted.
Worlds of opportunity in global trade
There was certainly plenty of wisdom on offer for the graduates and prizewinning students in attendance at the Mansion House. As traders from today and tomorrow gathered for drinks and networking afterwards, there was a warm enthusiasm for the prospects of the UK’s most recently graduated international traders.
As our Young President Arne Mielken, a graduate of the Diploma in World Customs Compliance and Regulation course, summarised: worlds of opportunity have now opened up in the world of international trade for our latest generation of hardworking and high achieving students and graduates; now the challenge is to thrive and prosper by making the most of them.
Next year, it could be you!
To discuss our qualifications:
Call +44 (0)1733 404400
Email qualifications@export.org.uk