Steve Parker’s Column
Adapt or die
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 bifacomms@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.
I am sorry if this headline sounds a little dramatic or even the title of the next James Bond movie. It is not meant to, but rather to serve as a reminder of how adaptable our industry is. When I joined the industry in 1973 and started to work for Pandair, it was itself a new company formed from five smaller ones (EMG, Anglo Overseas and others that I cannot now recall). I remember being introduced to the various members of staff on my first day, who were all identified by the company they used to work for! The talk of the time was that small forwarders would not survive and that the industry would be dominated by a handful of major players. What rubbish it was then and still is today; most of BIFA’s Members are SMEs, earning a living out of moving freight and providing services that
not only support their customers, but the country as well. The past few years have shown how we can adapt. The pandemic was a tough time for all but our industry stood up and played its part so that not only did many Members survive this period, they also thrived. During the past year or so we have faced an economic crisis, rising costs for energy and staff and fluctuating freight rates across all modes, which have had to continually adapt. Business Leaders Forum The need to adapt does not stop now, nor will it in 2024. At our business leaders’ forum last month, we heard from Aidan Reilly, Director of Customs Policy & Strategy at HM Revenue & Customs, about all of the changes headed our way from that particular government department, remembering of course that NCTS5 is delayed until July 2024 and the TSS has been extended to support business to NI until the end of December 2024. We talked about the latest ruling from the European Commission on the Liner Shipping Consortia Block Exemption Regulations (CBER) and the impact that might have, as well as the Electronic Trade and Documents Act 2023 recently passed by our parliament. All things that emphasise the need to continue to adapt to changing circumstances. At BIFA Change is also happening at BIFA. In the 10 months I have been Director General, the need to adapt has been clear. That’s seen us make significant moves to improve our membership engagement. It has also led to the establishment of a new Sustainable Logistics Policy Group, which will hold its first meeting on 16 November, with a good number of Members already signed up to join and help BIFA to provide broader guidance on environmental issues. There is room for more members to get involved, contact Mike Jones, Policy Advisor Sustainability & the Environment (m.jones@bifa.org) for more information. We have also been upgrading and developing new courses in our provision of training. All is part of the evolution BIFA needs to go through, in order to best support our members and the industry. Lastly, just as with your business, we have had to review our finances in light of rising costs and the additional activity that we are undertaking. This will result in some changes to the cost of membership in 2024 with subscription rates increasing by 6.8% across all membership categories. We believe that this is a fair increase, bearing in mind the pressures our members face.
Director General
November 2023 | 3
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