Steve Parker’s Column
Lots to make sense of!
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 Policy & Compliance Frontier Policy Manager Pawel Jarza p.jarza@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Customs Igor Popovics i.popovics@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Sustainable Logistics Mike Jones m.jones@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Sustainable Logistics Jamie McKean j.mckean@bifa.org Communications Manager Natalie Pitts n.pitts@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton s.milton@bifa.org Web site: www.bifa.org E-mail: bifa@bifa.org Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors Steve Parker, Robert Windsor, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Igor Popovics, Denise Hill, Mike Jones, Pawel Jarza, Natalie Pitts Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than one month, please contact the editorial co- ordinator 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.
A s I wrote the Director General’s column for this month’s BIFAlink , I did wonder if this is amongst the most challenging times ever for our industry; whether we are impacted by global issues, such as the con fl ict in the Red Sea and Ukraine, or tariffs driven by the US president under his America First programme. We also have domestic topics that either are impacting us, or will soon. I am very aware we have infrastructure projects like the Lower Thames Crossing and the development at many of the country’s trade gateways, with the redevelopment of cargo handling facilities at Heathrow being the biggest.
Added to those topics are matters like the environment, cybersecurity and AI, and how they are having an impact on the work of BIFA Members. All the above shapes our industry today and in the future. All of them will require us to be ready for everything that is forthcoming. Supporting our Members The team here at BIFA has been doing all it can to support our Members through these changes. We have reinvigorated our programme of regional meetings, added a policy group and will soon introduce a new advisory body. We have made the ability to train staff as easy as possible, and through BIFAlink TV we have found a new and modern way to communicate. The next step in this process takes place on 14-15 May, our first national conference in nearly 20 years; we titled it – IGNITE TODAY – ACCELERATE TOMORROW, with the idea that we need to be as prepared as we can to move us forward. Great speakers As I write, we have great speakers lined up to cover all the topics outlined above and more. Our sponsors have been tremendous in their support, as have the businesses that have signed up to exhibit at the event. We already have a good number of Members attending – but we have space for more. So, I would urge you to take a look at the agenda, which can be seen on the BIFA website (https://conference.bifa.org/), and try to find a way to join us and be part of this new initiative. I am convinced that you will return to our business wiser and just that little bit more informed about the current state of play in freight forwarding and the key issues that are affecting the sector. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
Director General
May 2025 | 3
www.bifa.org
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