Steve Parker’s Column
Grappling with the big issues L ast month witnessed the annual Multimodal event and what a week it was. I had attended the event many times in the past but not as an exhibitor, which of course is very different from just walking around the hall. I was surprised how busy it was and the footfall seemed higher than I remember from previous years, and (even though I am biased) I have to say the BIFA stand looked excellent and gained many positive comments. It was great to meet so many of you face-to-face; some I knew from previous meetings and some from email only. I drank too much coffee with you and ate too many cakes, but it was seeing so many people that made the event very worthwhile. If you did not attend, add the date of next year’s event to your diary: 11-13 June 2024, NEC Birmingham. It would be a pleasure to see you there. BIFA grapples with the big issues That is the ‘big issues’; not the ‘Big Issue’ – I am not looking for a career change. This was the headline on the front page of the FBJ daily show guide on day one of Multimodal. It served as a perfect reminder that the event is not just about networking (as good to do as that is) but also about sharing knowledge and information, and BIFA played its part in this. During a conference session on day two, I shared some of the major topics we are grappling with on behalf of our Members, while Robert Windsor did a ‘deep dive’ into where Customs activity has come from since the Brexit vote and the direction in which it is going. Thought leaders At BIFA, we aim to keep our Members up to date but also help with their planning for the future, and therefore strive to be thought leaders for our industry. On that topic, I am planning our second Business Leaders Forum for 19 October 2023 in central London. If you are a business leader of a BIFA Member company you are likely to see a notification in the coming days, so please add the date to your diary. Immediate future At Multimodal we launched our new website, so please visit www.bifa.org and take a look. The team have been working hard over the last 12 months, not only to replicate and implement content from our previous website, but to introduce several improvements and new features. We will be contacting you to explain how you can help us ensure that all the details for your company are kept up to date, and what the new website offers – see page 8 of this issue of BIFAlink for further information on action required by you in order to activate your Member account within the new Member Portal. Holiday reading As I was writing this column, I was thinking about the next couple of months, when many of you will be looking forward to holidays and taking a much-needed break. I would like to recommend to you some reading while you are away, something I enjoyed on a recent holiday to Malta. Before flying, I downloaded A guide to the BIFA 2021 Standard Trading Conditions from the BIFA website. It might not sound like a gripping read, but actually it is and the document is an important bedrock of our industry – enjoy.
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 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 Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors Steve Parker, Robert Windsor, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Web site: www.bifa.org E-mail: bifa@bifa.org Sharon Hammond, Natalie Pitts, Igor Popovics, Brooke Neilson, Nezda Leigh, Robert Keen, Denise Hill 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.
Director General
July 2023 | 3
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