Steve Parker’s Column
Saturday mornings
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 Advisor Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Frontier Policy Manager Pawel Jarza p.jarza@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Customs Igor Popovics i.popovics@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Adviser – Sustainable Logistics Mike Jones m.jones@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor – Air David Stroud d.stroud@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, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Igor Popovics, Robert Keen, Denise Hill, Mike Jones, Pawel Jarza 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.
I am not sure how you spend your Saturday mornings but, during the football season, many of mine are taken up watching my seven-year- old grandson playing the beautiful game. The whole process is very different from my day. When I was seven, we played on a full-size pitch with full-size goals. The biggest boy (yes only boys!) kicked the ball as hard and as far as he could, then charge, off we all ran. It all led to some whacky scorelines like 24- 0; however, it did not produce good quality footballers and, unless you were that big lad, it was not always fun. Today it is different. They play on five-a-side pitches and use small goals. The game is played in four, 10-minute quarters.
The coaches are Football Association (FA) trained; the seven-year-olds are taught to pass out from the back; they regularly swap places so they all get a turn at every position on the pitch; there is no deliberate heading of the ball; and girls are very much included. There is a lot of fun too, although they also seem to spend more time practising their goal celebrations than they do scoring them! And worst of all, they all seem to support Manchester City (glory hunters the lot of them). I hear you say, very nice Steve but what is this to do with BIFA and our industry? Some time ago the FA took a decision to engage with experts, consult with football clubs, talk to grassroots teams and help the game that most of us love to develop into something modern and fit for the 21st century. I have been at BIFA for just over a year and have tried to emulate that approach. I have listened (and continue to do so) to many Members, government departments, key stakeholders and BIFA staff. All care passionately about our industry and have a view on the direction it should take. Common themes have emerged – amongst them are: • Enhanced member engagement, • Thought leadership on key issues (especially environment/sustainability), • Improved engagement with government and key departments, • Promotion of our industry, • Professionalism (including training, which needs to have broader topics and must be accessible without huge administration work and cost). Have I listened? I hope so. We have not yet put everything in place, but we have started: Business Leaders Forum - the next one is on 16 May in Central London. If you are a business leader and have not registered for this event, I urge you to do so via the QR code on page 6. Industry Promotion - we have been working with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and joined its webinar for traders new to import and export, where we encouraged them to find and utilise a freight forwarder’s services. Professionalism - to support this we have held webinars on key topics, trained 1,001 people in 2023, and are working on a new, modern suite of training courses and methods of delivery. As for 2024 I am aware 2023 was tough for many of our Members and clearly there are global events we cannot control but, I want to ensure that BIFA is ready to support you in your business needs for this year and beyond. Just as the FA is trying to ensure that it supports all those involved in football, whether that is my grandson at a grassroots level, or my favourite team from Stamford Bridge.
Director General
March 2024 | 3
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