Meet the Team
This week we find out more about Mitch, our Customs Operations Manager, as he tells us about his favourite gigs, his beloved football team’s quest for promotion - and the new procedures post-Brexit!
Question time!
Tell us a bit about yourself
I was born and raised in a place called Clifton in Nottingham and now I live the other side of the river in a village called Colwick. Since 2014 I have worked in the Customs world in various roles across Imports, Exports, Compliance and network planning for air cargo at East Midlands Airport. I am an only child, but both my Mum & Dad have five siblings, so I have a very big family. I was born in 1994, my favourite band is Florence and the Machine and my favourite place I have ever been is Mexico.
What do you do at ChamberCustoms?
I am the Customs Operations Manager, and my overall responsibilities are Compliance and Helpdesk teams. I joined ChamberCustoms in January 2021 and have really enjoyed being a part of making this company operational by providing support with customs queries, training, and continuous development.
What’s your favourite bit of the job?
I would say (apart from working with such a great group of people…) the variation of work that we do. No day is the same, and working in the Customs world for eight years, nothing stays the same. It is a constant learning curve which keeps me personally motivated.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about customs clearance?
I would say generally there is a misconception that clearance is simple, and everything is the same or that documentation isn’t required with some still thinking pre-Brexit. Many times, we have had scenarios where Import consignments entered the UK without customs clearance documentation because the customer didn’t understand the new procedures post-Brexit. So it is important if you are importing or exporting that you seek advice for the latest guidance, or I would suggest attending a “Customs Clearance” course to understand what is required from a HMRC perspective.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I really like to travel, but the last couple of years have been difficult with the pandemic. Recently I have been back to Germany, and I am going to Greece to attend my friend’s wedding. I also like to socialise with my friends, go to concerts and gigs as I love live music. I will be watching my team Nottingham Forest try to win the play offs at Wembley (although when this newsletter goes out, it will either be good news or bad news….!) and over the last 12 months re-learning the guitar which I have really enjoyed doing again. Finally, family time, this is really important to me, I have a big family, so we always have good evenings and outings together.