Sharing our passion, and giving back to the world
One of the key things that helps to drive our teams forward is our passion to help and serve the communities local to us. We pride ourselves on open communication, breaking down barriers in both community and industry, treating everyone with the same values of quality of service and respect.
We feel it is vital to put back into the communities where we operate, this takes many forms from larger formal organisations such as The Princes Trust, through to low key direct action such as shipping clothing to children in Grenada, a life boat to Tortola, play equipment to Bequia, and much needed aid in the aftermath of disasters.
Looking back on Kestrel receiving the Queens Award.
Looking back now to the time I received the news that Kestrel, the UK’s premier Liner Agency Company and expert in shipping to and from the Caribbean and the wider Commonwealth, were to be named In Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, still brings a tear to my eye and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Receiving the much coveted 'Queens Award' for Enterprise International Trade fills me with a sense of pride.
Here, a small group of people, motivated by changing the way we did business, were being recognized at the highest level.
We remain the only Liner Agency ever to be the recipient of such an award.
Meeting The Queen is still the highlight of my life.
Since then we have experienced further years of continuous growth, an expanding and ever more motivated workforce, focused on changing the way the industry delivers its business.
Six years of continual growth, employing people, delivering growth, making everyone proud and changing the way everyone in the industry did business.
Little old Kestrel. My Kestrel, the dream of a young man who set up a shipping company to be the best in the world. What started as a radical way of doing business is now commonplace.
Fast forward 7 years and where are we now, a multinational company with group turnover of USD 70 million and heading for 100 million, and The 'Queens Award', there is no doubt it has opened doors, given opportunities for us to grow and expand and is always a talking point at every business meeting.
For more information about The 'Queens Award' click here. Read more about Kestrel's 'Queen's Award' here.
As if receiving One Queens Award wasn’t enough, we received notification in April, that we were once again to be the recipient in 2018. The First Shipping Company to Be Named in The Queens Birthday Honors list, now a second Queens award, a testament to our efforts and core values.
Read more here
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust, founded in 1976, is one of the United Kingdom's most successful funding organisations. We at Kestrel never fail to be inspired by their ongoing efforts to uplift the younger generations.
In January 2017, we partnered with the Prince's Trust International, a new International arm launched in 2015, to deliver their 'Get into Logistics' programme. The 'Get into' is an employability scheme in Barbados with the aim of helping disadvantaged young people on the island gain vital sector-specific skills. Our first wave of students on the 'Get into Logistics' programme all graduated with flying colours.
Mark Davidian from Kestrel had the pleasure of giving the participants of 'Get into Logistics' their graduation certificates. He heard first-hand the benefits of the programme to the young people involved.
I was very honoured to attend the Prince's Trust International Event and to meet this first wave of students – an inspiring group of enthusiastic, energetic young people looking to find a start and hopefully building a career in logistics. As the future of their industry they need to be given a chance. The benefits from this programme are already being realised in Barbados and we look forward to seeing the programme expand across the Caribbean region.
Mark Davidian
One of the biggest success stories of the 'Get into Logistics' programme was our trainee Orian. We were so impressed with her commitment and enthusiasm, we offered her a job in our offices in Barbados. We're pleased to report that she accepted, saying:
Six weeks ago I knew nothing about shipping! In five weeks I have learnt so much. I am looking forward to finding out so much more about the shipping and logistics industry. I am particularly looking forward to seeing a product on the shelves in Barbados knowing that I played a part in importing it.
We have also had the pleasure of working with the Prince's Trust International to sponsor their very successful 'Get into Hospitality' programme. This is an intensive 12-week programme which supports 15 young people who are not yet ready to enter employment and works with them to develop not only their confidence but also other key skills they will require through a residential week, community project and work placements. This programme also boasts a high degree of success with helping young people to find opportunities within the hospitality industry.
Here at Kestrel, we owe our success to the many different communities around the globe, so we are proud to support those who support us. We remain aware of the many different issues that these communities face, and are eager to help them however we can as it is part of the Mission Statement that Kestrel is built upon.