Steve Parker’s Column
BIFAlink
www.bifa.org
How did you join our industry?
BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266
For me, the answer to the above question dates back to 1973. It was time to leave school and long before there was any careers advice, a trip to our headmaster’s office beckoned. He looked at my underwhelming school results and said: “I see you want to leave at the end of term, what are you planning to do?” As a spotty and nervous 16-year-old who lived near Heathrow airport, I said I was intending to apply for a job at the airport as I thought this was an industry that would grow (I was right about that). The advice he gave was simple for him but set my life on a path that I would never have imagined. “Apply to PANDAIR” he said, “it is the largest freight forwarder in the country.”
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Director General Steve Parker
s.parker@bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor, Policy & Compliance – Surface & Legal
r.windsor@bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Executive Director Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org International Relations Manager Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Customs Igor Popovics i.popovics@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Air David Stroud d.stroud@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org Communications Manager Natalie Pitts n.pitts@bifa.org Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton s.milton@bifa.org
This I did and the rest, as they say, is history. Fifty years later I have had a great time in our industry; not only have I travelled the world and been to some amazing places, but also met many great people whose passion and desire for the industry has helped shape it to what it is today. Why do I tell you all that? During February I engaged in a number of events that bring the next generation into freight forwarding. The month saw National Apprenticeship Week and sent me on a visit to the House of Commons for the Generation Logistics forum. This event was attended by politicians as well as representatives from the various aspects of logistics who heard several of the younger generation explaining how they arrived in this great industry. February also took me to Manchester for a BIFA Young Forwarder Network (YFN) event, which saw 20 young people meet in a bar (some things never change), network together, make new friends, share stories and listen to a keynote speaker. The speaker not only gave those present some pointers on how to develop their own careers, but also questioned the percentage of woman at top level in our business, as well as speaking about the environment and the impacts we have on the planet. Thank you to Members who support this initiative by encouraging attendance at both virtual and regional YFN events throughout the year. Last month also saw the initial results of our Freight Development Pathway project to help individuals become industry ready for our Members. As I write this, the first cohort of eight people completed a three-week course organised by Manpower Group and BIFA on work readiness and key elements of the international freight industry. If you, as a corporate Member, recruit one of these individuals you will know they have had the first steps in learning what is needed to be successful. BIFA plans for 2023 If you read my article last month, you will have detected that environment, young people and women are all key agenda items for BIFA in 2023 and beyond. Whilst this all remains work in progress, we have taken the first steps and I look forward to sharing our plans with you over the coming months. Remember, this is your association and I am keen to hear from Members so that my colleagues and I can ensure that we are serving your needs and representing your business in the areas that matter. But all this comes with a cost, so if you have not managed to make a payment for your annual membership yet, please take note of the item on page 11 and do so as soon as possible.
Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors
Steve Parker, Robert Windsor, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Natalie Pitts, Igor Popovics, Brooke Neilson, Nezda Leigh, Robert Keen Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than one month, please contact the editor 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.
Steve Parker Director General
March 2023
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