The event, held at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, brought together more than 600 guests to celebrate the region’s most impactful organisations across 10 award categories.

Sponsored by People Arches Ltd, the Workforce Developer Award recognises businesses that place outstanding emphasis on developing, supporting, and empowering their people.

With roughly half of its team made up of current or former apprentices, IFS marked its 20th anniversary in 2024 appointing three long-serving members of staff to form a new senior leadership structure.

Founded by Jenny and David Hooper, the company provides expert logistics and customs solutions to help businesses across a wide range of sectors achieve their trade goals in the UK and globally.

Over the past year, IFS has introduced a raft of people-focused initiatives, including bespoke development plans, support for industry qualifications, and structured career progression.

The company credits its growth and strong client relationships to its culture of learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The award was presented by Dawood Ibtehsam, Franchise Owner at People Aches Ltd, and Anna Chapman, Head of Leadership Development at the University of Warwick.

Managing Director Jenny Hooper said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this award – it’s a real testament to the commitment and hard work of our entire team. We can provide the framework and support for success but it’s down to their incredible work ethic and brilliant team spirit that our staff continue to excel as brilliant professionals and people.

“We’ve always believed in creating opportunities for people to grow with the business, and seeing so many of our colleagues progress in recent years and take real ownership over the business makes this recognition incredibly special.”