A customs brokerage in continuous trade since 1987.
Halford & Marsh was established in Ipswich in 1987 by Peter Halford, a former HM Customs & Excise officer, and Margaret Marsh, who had previously managed the customs department of a Suffolk-based importer. The original brief was to act on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses moving goods through Felixstowe. The firm has expanded its premises and headcount in steady increments over the following four decades, opening offices at Dover in 1994 and Manchester in 2008.
Through the migration from paper SADs to CHIEF, the implementation of the Union Customs Code, the introduction of post-Brexit border controls, and the eventual move to the Customs Declaration Service, the firm has retained the same operating principle: each client account is held by a named broker who is responsible for the file from declaration to closure. Staff turnover is low. Of the 21 brokers on payroll, 12 have been with the firm for more than ten years.
History
1987–present-
1987
Halford & Marsh founded in Ipswich. Initial premises at Salthouse Street, taking custom entries for shippers at Felixstowe and Harwich.
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1992
Computerised entries adopted under HMRC’s Direct Trader Input scheme. Telex submissions discontinued.
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1994
Dover office opened to handle increasing ferry traffic with continental Europe. Three brokers initially in attendance.
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2008
Manchester office opened to serve north-west importers using inland clearance.
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2010
AEO-F authorisation granted by HMRC under EU Regulation 648/2005.
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2016
Union Customs Code provisions implemented. The firm conducts a comprehensive review of all standing authorisations and procedure code mappings.
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2020
End of the transition period following UK withdrawal from the European Union. Volume of declarations filed by the firm rises by 312 per cent year-on-year.
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2022
Export declarations migrated from CHIEF to CDS. Internal training programme delivered to all operations staff.
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2024
Import declarations migrated to CDS. Border Target Operating Model phases implemented in tandem.
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2026
The firm celebrates 39 years of trading. A successor agreement to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement is anticipated.
Partners and senior staff
As at 11 May 2026| Name | Role | Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Halford | Managing Director. Joined the firm in 1996. Responsible for compliance and HMRC liaison. Sits on the BIFA Customs Policy Group. | MCILT, FIEx |
| Susan Wakeling | Director of Operations. Manages the Felixstowe and Manchester desks. Twenty-three years with the firm. | MCILT |
| James Penhaligon | Director, Dover. Oversees ro-ro and ferry clearances. Former HMRC officer at Cheriton. | FIEx |
| Dr Helen Brierley | Head of Classification and Valuation. Joined 2014 from a London litigation practice. Author of the firm’s internal tariff manual. | LLM (Cantab), MCIArb |
| Anil Ramachandran | Head of Compliance. Conducts the firm’s internal AEO audits and HMRC visit preparation. | ACCA, MCILT |
| Margaret Marsh | Founding partner. Non-executive role since 2019. Retains a consultative interest in tariff matters. | FIEx (Hon.) |
Accreditations and memberships
Verifiable on requestCertificate copies are issued to clients on commencement of an engagement and refreshed annually. References from existing clients are available on request and subject to their prior consent.
Indemnity and trading terms
Last reviewed Jan 2026The firm carries professional indemnity insurance of £10m in the aggregate, errors & omissions cover of £5m per event, and freight liability cover under SLI policy held with a UK-based marine underwriter. All trading is conducted under the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions 2021, which limit liability in accordance with industry practice. Copies of the conditions are sent with every engagement letter.