Member Engagement
Anglia Members at their meeting held at the Fludyers Hotel in Felixstowe
Member Engagement Director Denise Hill considers some of the reasons that Members should attend their local BIFA Regional Meeting Get engaged
welcoming. Newly appointed Regional Chairman Peter Rodwell ran the meeting with the BIFA team. More than 55 Members attended and there was lively debate with Border Force around examination delays at the port. It was agreed that this would be raised with the port authorities by the Felixstowe Port Users Association (FPUA) representative at the meeting. Keiran Rodwell from MCP informed the group about the latest updates with CDS exports and the importance of using the correct port location codes, which are different to those used for GVMS imports. Dale Weeding from Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (SCPHA) spoke about the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) and full sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) checks from 30 April 2024 with 100% documentary checks for high and medium-risk products. Charges are published on the SCPHA website; a finance account should be set up. London East A smaller meeting was held with 16 Members in attendance who were updated by Lexi Laybourn of DP World on the progress of berth 4, which is on track to be available Q3 2024, substantially increasing capacity at the port. A representative from Port Health updated the group on preparations for new BTOM checks as well as pesticide checks for goods such as spices and other foodstuffs.
D enise says: “I am passionate about making sure BIFA Members make the most of their membership, including attending the regional meetings. You may ask what the bene fi ts are of coming along and I would say consider the following: • Learning – the meetings aim to bring Members up to speed with latest industry developments and their likely impact, for instance the Red Sea crisis. • Problem solve – discuss workarounds or different lines of communication. • Network – you are not the only one with an issue, talk with contacts old and new. • Support the future – Learn about BIFA activity around industry promotion, apprentices and the Young Forwarder Network. At all meetings BIFA will provide an update from each of the policy groups and, where available, include external speakers. Please check the website, under the events section, for upcoming dates or contact your local representative whose details can be found on page 22.
Solent Approximately 40 attendees joined the Solent meeting held at Eastleigh College during which Anoushka Ottley, executive director of business & partnerships at South Hampshire College Group, outlined the desire to work closely to provide suitable logistics appropriate education. Read more on page 6. External speakers from the Highways Agency and Balfour Beatty updated the group on the proposed improvements to the M3/A34 junction which, if approved in May 2024, will commence in January 2025 for three years. Members pointed out that planned works on the M27 J5 to J7 from March 2024 for two years should be considered when looking at likely disruption in the area. Peter Nicholls from CNS updated the group on latest developments of PCS, the replacement system for Compass, which will be rolled out over the coming year. Anglia The Anglia meeting moved to a new venue, the Fludyers Hotel in Felixstowe, which proved to be
“ At all meetings BIFA will provide an update from each of the policy groups and, where available, include external speakers. – Denise Hill, BIFA
20 | April 2024
www.bifa.org
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker