Robert Keen’s Column
BIFAlink
www.bifa.org
Problems pile up as Christmas approaches
BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266
As I wrote this issue’s column, the FIFA World Cup was about to start in Qatar, but not even that event is likely to revive Britain’s spirits heading into Christmas and the winter months when heating bills are forecast to be painfully high. Business confidence levels are at their lowest since the pandemic lockdowns. The Office for National Statistics in mid-November showed that manufacturers and retailers are reducing stock levels in anticipation of weak sales.
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(A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: 391973. VAT Registration: 216476363) Director General Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor, Policy & Compliance – Surface & Legal
As well as increasing costs, other trade headwinds are challenging UK businesses, with industrial action slowing goods transit through ports, government IT system errors complicating already clunky trade processes, and looming public-sector worker strikes adding to day-to-day disruptions to economic activity. None of which is welcome news to BIFA Members who are, to a large extent, responsible for managing the supply chains that underpin global goods trade. There have been many words dedicated over the past two or so years to the theme of post-COVID-19 recovery and resilience. But during that time a frequent refrain we have heard from Members, and something that I have often said, is that ‘the only thing you can expect in supply chains is the unexpected’. But one thing that was entirely expected was the problems surrounding the replacement of CHIEF with CDS for processing Customs entries and as of mid-November multifaceted issues continued to face Members, resulting in many calls to the secretariat asking for help and more action in our ongoing discussions with HMRC. The picture is mixed, but many BIFA Members have expressed their frustration at having to use a service that they feel is more cumbersome to use, less reliable than its predecessor and adds significant costs in both time and money to their operations. Clearly Members do not care which part of the system is at fault, they just want someone to take responsibility and make sure that the service as a whole works, which is certainly the tone of our current significant and lengthy discussions with the relevant parts of government. On a more positive note, November saw the launch of our programme called ‘Freight Development Pathway’ in partnership with Manpower, part of the ManpowerGroup, one of the world’s leading workforce solutions companies, aimed at helping to identify, attract and train suitable candidates from outside the freight forwarding and logistics sector for career opportunities with BIFA Members. The programme is part of BIFA’s initiative to address the well-documented recruitment issues that the freight and logistics sector faces, and sits alongside our schools programme, as well as the Freight Forwarding Specialist Apprenticeship standard that we helped to develop. We have also seen the good news about the shortlisting of 26 freight forwarding companies as finalists for the nine service categories of this association’s Freight Service Awards, with 12 individuals also making the finalist shortlists in the Apprentice of the Year and Young Freight Forwarder of the Year categories. The winners will be announced at the sold-out BIFA Annual Luncheon and Awards Ceremony on Thursday 19 January 2023 when footballing legend Kevin Keegan will host many BIFA Members and their guests, which gives us all something to look forward to. Finally, I am paying tribute to Neville Chesworth, a BIFA stalwart who has recently passed away aged 86. Neville was managing director of World Transport Agency (WTA) from 1986 to 1994, when the WTA head office was in Hounslow. Neville was an active member of the west London branch of the Institute of Freight Forwarders, serving as National Chair from 1986 to 1987. I have fond memories of his kind and gentle nature when I joined the BIFA Council about 20 years ago and at that time Neville was a BIFA Vice President. Our condolences to his family.
r.windsor@bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Executive Director Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@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
Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors
Robert Keen, Robert Windsor, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Natalie Pitts, Igor Popovics, Brooke Neilson, Nezda Leigh 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.
Robert Keen Director General
December 2022
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