CTB Group is the world’s leading provider of safety-critical fastener solutions for the energy, construction, and heavy industries.
Their commitment to excellence ensures they create long-term sustainable value for their customers, investors, and employees.
With an end-to-end service, they design, manufacture, and deliver reliable solutions that positively impact communities, both economically and environmentally.
The Challenge
Cooper Turner Beck (CTB) is a global leader in manufacturing precision-engineered hardware items such as studs, bolts, washers, and nuts. With regular shipments to both the EU and USA, their export activity is a critical part of business operations.
However, changing post-Brexit requirements, complex customs procedures and varying international compliance rules presented new challenges. These included the risk of shipment delays, additional costs from incorrect documentation, and the possibility of compliance breaches.
CTB recognised the need to strengthen their in-house export capability so that their teams could confidently manage the full export process without excessive reliance on external freight and customs agents. The goal was clear, ensure every shipment left the UK accurately documented, fully compliant, and efficiently processed.
Solution
The project began with a full-day deep-dive discovery session at CTB’s facility. This was a hands-on review of their entire export operation, working alongside the sales, logistics, and administration teams to:
- Map the end-to-end export journey from order receipt through to final delivery.
- Identify key compliance touchpoints and potential risks.
- Review current use of commodity codes, Incoterms®, and record-keeping practices.
- Examine specific pain points when shipping to the EU and USA
The training covered:
- Regulatory compliance, including sanctions, licences, and HMRC requirements
- Customs and border processes for both the EU and USA
- Tariffs, duties, and trade documentation requirements
- Correct classification and use of commodity codes
- Effective application of Incoterms® in contracts and logistics
- Understanding trade agreements and rules of origin
- Simulations of export documentation and declaration processes using CTB’s hardware products
The training style was interactive and solution-focused, ensuring participants could take away not just theoretical knowledge, but actionable steps to improve daily operations.
A few weeks later, BrookConsult returned for a post-training follow-up. This session provided an opportunity to:
- Review how new processes had been implemented
- Address any operational challenges or questions
- Reinforce compliance best practices
- Fine-tune workflows for greater efficiency
Impact
Because the programme was tailored specifically to CTB’s business, the training felt directly relevant to every participant. Rather than learning from generic case studies, staff were working with their own real-life examples – which meant they could apply changes immediately.
The result was a shared understanding across the sales, logistics, and administration teams of exactly what was required for compliant, efficient exports to CTB’s key markets. This improved internal coordination and reduced the risk of costly mistakes.
Results
- Increased confidence among staff to manage EU and USA exports independently
- Improved accuracy in documentation, reducing customs delays
- Greater efficiency in export processing, streamlining workflows
- Reduced reliance on external freight and customs agents
- Long-term capability building, ensuring CTB’s export expertise stays in-house
“The trainers appreciated the open dialogue pre-event and enthusiastic approach from all of the team, ensuring the event was tailored to attendees’ specific needs. Key takeaways include a collective uplift in skills and knowledge, which will result in increased confidence…”
Chris Ashworth – Associate Consultant
“A pre-audit visit and delivery of training at Cooper Turner Beck was an enjoyable and productive exercise that allowed us to go that step further in terms of making the days spent with the company targeted and appropriate. A collaborative learning experience for all involved that should help propel CTB’s import/export and international trade requirements onto the next level…”
Dave Dwane – Associate Consultant
“Our approach with Cooper Turner Beck was about making the training genuinely relevant to their day-to-day trade operations. By spending time inside their business and mapping their exact trade processes really allowed us t tailor the content and ensure their team could apply what they learned straight away. The result is a confident, capable team who can handle complex EU and USA exports with accuracy and assurance”
Dom Brook, Managing Director, BrookConsult
“Huge thanks to BrookConsult. for an excellent export-import training session that helped us connect the dots on key international business processes. The insights on customs compliance, Incoterms, and global logistics were incredibly valuable. We are feeling much more confident in navigating the complexities of international trade now!”
Katarzyna Paciorek – Site Sales Manager
Ready to Strengthen Your Export Capability?
Whether you’re navigating post-Brexit complexities, reducing reliance on external agents, or ensuring every shipment leaves your facility compliant and on time, we can help.
Our bespoke export training programmes are built around your real processes, products, and markets, so your team gains the confidence and skills to handle global trade with precision.
Let’s start with a discovery session.
Contact us today to explore how we can help your business export smarter, faster, and with complete confidence.
