With over 35 years experience in international trade from desk-level to becoming the corporate shipping manager for the Ferranti International Group until its break-up Sandra formed Strong & Herd LLP (S&H) in 1995 with Brian Herd (deceased). She was a graduate member of the Institute of Export & International Trade (IoE) until awarded a Fellowship of the Institute in 2011 for services to UK Companies involved in all areas of international trade.

Sandra is a Certified International Trade Advisor and a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). She is a National Councillor for the British Exporters Association (BExA) being the Chair of the Customs & Export Licensing sub-committee and representing British exporters at the HMRC Joint Customs Consultative Committees (JCCC) and on Brexit related government forums. She recently sat on the UK ICC Review Committee for the changes to the Incoterms ® 2020 Rules and S&H are one of only 2 UK businesses authorised to provide Incoterms ® 2020 Rules training.

She continues to have hands-on involvement in export and import on a daily basis. In addition, Sandra assists companies in operating compliant Customs procedures such as Inward Processing, Outward processing, End-Use (predominantly Civil Aircraft and Military), AEO application and procedures, Intrastat reporting systems, UK and USA Export Control Regulations (including ITAR) and Letter of Credit procedures.

Sandra presents practical in-company, public workshops and virtual learning sessions that reflect the very latest in export and import techniques with useful tips on how to put theory into practice. For over 20 years she has worked closely with HM Revenue & Customs in presenting awareness workshops covering all aspects of customs procedures, eg new procedures such as CDS/AEO, tariff classification, origin and preference, valuations rules. These “spotlight” presentations focus on current issues and changes affecting companies involved in international trade.

As Managing Partner of Strong & Herd LLP she is involved in the training courses as well as the day-to-day activity of the Shipping Office and OneCall client support services and audits/ reviews/ implements Corrective Action – Best Practice programmes for company’s import, export and customs procedures in-line with HMRC standards and BIS Export Control Organisation requirements.

Sandra Strong has a regular Questions & Answers section in The Exporter Magazine along with then essential Compliance Watch, keeping companies aware of current and future changes in international trade procedures. She writes on a variety of trade topics including tariff classification, Incoterms, letters of credit and duty relief procedures, is a regular contributor to this website’s Articles section. Sandra is an adviser for the Croner Helpline and the country pages in their Reference Book for Exporters/Croner-I and she is the co-author of the “Importers’ Handbook”, revised Frank Dow’s “Understanding Documentary Bills and Credits” for Croner Publications. She has co-operated with the British Exporters Association (BeXA) in producing their excellent handbooks “A Guide to Successful Exporting” and the “Guide to International Trade Compliance”.