Steve Parker’s Column
Christmas is coming
BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266 (A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: 00391973. VAT Registration: 216476363) Director General Steve Parker s.parker@bifa.org Member Policy & Compliance Director Robert Windsor r.windsor@bifa.org Member Support Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Member Services Director Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org Member Engagement Director Denise Hill d.hill@bifa.org International Relations Advisor Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Frontier Policy Manager Pawel Jarza p.jarza@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Customs Igor Popovics i.popovics@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Adviser – Sustainable Logistics Mike Jones m.jones@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Air David Stroud d.stroud@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton s.milton@bifa.org Web site: www.bifa.org E-mail: bifa@bifa.org Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors Steve Parker, Robert Windsor, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Igor Popovics, Robert Keen, Denise Hill, Mike Jones, Pawel Jarza, Natalie Pitts Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than one month, please contact the editorial co- ordinator to ensure that the item in question still reflects the current circumstances. Please be advised that BIFA DOES NOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. BIFA is not a law firm and the authors of this publication are not legally qualified and do not have any legal training. The guidance and assistance set out herein are based on BIFA’s own experience with the issues concerned and should not be in any circumstances regarded or relied upon as legal advice. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering further action based on the information contained in this publication should seek the advice of a qualified professional.
F orgive me, as I write the December edition of the DG column, if I just consider for a moment what 2024 has given us. It feels like a few of our presents have come early. Some are good and some – well not so good. During 2024 there were some big-ticket items such as a new government, which has delivered a budget with issues that our sector has to contend with, the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue and there is a new President elect in the US. Added to this, and more operational, the changes that the TSA (and others) made and are making to the way we send airfreight is making the day-to-day more challenging, a situation that will roll into 2025. From a BIFA point of view it has, by and large, been a good year. The
number of BIFA Members is increasing; interaction continues to grow with more attending our regional meetings and policy groups than in past years; our training has remained solid, and we participated in a TV programme with ITN Business to bring awareness of our work to a wider audience. The new groups we launched last year have developed well and I am sure that both the Sustainable Logistics Policy Group and the Business Leaders Forum will help lead us into the future. We have enhanced our communication. Your daily dose of industry information now comes via BIFAlinkTV which, in a few short months, has become our main communications channel, supporting BIFAlink , our email releases and bifa.org. What about 2025? 2025 will see something that BIFA has not done in nearly 20 years, with a two-day conference planned for 14-15 May in Warwick. I have recorded a BIFAlink TV episode on this and the number of enquiries from Members has been excellent. We are now working on finalising the programme and speakers under the strapline Ignite Today – Accelerate Tomorrow . The first major event of the new year will, of course, be the BIFA Freight Service Awards ceremony on 16 January at the Brewery in London. It is another sell-out event and, regardless of who wins, a great opportunity to come together and celebrate our industry. If you see me there, I am always ready to talk about the industry and BIFA. Mine’s a Coke Zero! Also in 2025, BIFA will issue a revised set of Standard Trading Conditions (STC) to reflect changes in regulatory and market practices since the last review in 2020. To have your say in the consultation process ahead of the publication of new BIFA STC, complete the form at https://bifa.org/2024/11/01/bifa-standard-trading-condition-2024-25-review/ With the actual Christmas festivities taking place in just a few weeks’ time, it only remains for me to wish you all a happy and enjoyable time, as well as a healthy and prosperous 2025.
Director General
December 2024 | 3
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