Member Engagement
The Manchester meeting
Members at the Dover meeting
RailX seeks to make rail more accessible, bringing road and rail modes together, providing a more sustainable solution for all. Steve Harris, group head of planning & operations for the South Hampshire College Group, ran a breakout session exploring skills gaps, barriers to accessing training, identifying what training has the biggest impact on Member businesses, preferences on mode of delivery and what the college should do to better support Members. The college will use this feedback to shape its future approach in all these areas. A YFN event was also announced: Wallenius Wilhelmsen has kindly offered to give a port tour w/c 20 April. Please email Nezda Leigh n.leigh@bifa.org for more information. Heathrow This well-attended meeting at Kempton Park Racecourse covered a wide range of topics. Andy Cooke (BIFA), Mark Bellis and Claudia Carley from BT updated those present on The Heathrow Cargo Redevelopment Programme: • The recent workshops with the transit sheds and hauliers have
The Anglia meeting
defined detailed requirements for the further development of the Advanced Information System (AIS) as part of the Landside Efficiency project. • A workshop with freight forwarders is planned for April. • Group breakout sessions enabled Members to make detailed suggestions about the workshop content, functionality developments for AIS and potential challenges for the slot booking trials. This feedback from Members is invaluable to the success of the project as it moves forward. BIFA engagement with the UK government was highlighted, particularly our recent face-to- face meeting with the Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Pawel Jarza, BIFA policy, compliance and external affairs director, specifically raised the need for government support and investment for freight
forwarders in skills and talent, freight crime, improvements in border systems and access to finance, particularly for SME forwarders. Darsh Patnia from Mapcargo addressed the meeting on behalf of the Heathrow YFN. Darsh shared how he has benefited from being part of the YFN and asked Members to encourage their young forwarders to join the Heathrow YFN. BIFA will be working closely with Gatwick Airport management with the involvement of Members, transit sheds, Border Force and other stakeholders to ensure cargo growth opportunities from the Northern Runway Extension are achieved. Update your details To ensure that you are notified of upcoming meetings, go to your member portal and update your communication preferences.
“ BIFA engagement with the UK government was highlighted, particularly our recent face-to- face meeting with the Chancellor
Rachel Reeves
April 2026 | 33
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