BIFAlink is BIFA's monthly magazine covering issues of importance for the logistics and supply chain industry.
The magazine of the British International Freight Association September 2023 BIFA link Preparing strategy for the year ahead
INSIDE: Generation Logistics sponsorship • Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 • BIFA appoints Policy Advisor • New YFN chairs elected • BIFA winner Anchor Freight
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Issue: 397
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Steve Parker’s Column
A man with passion for our industry O ne of the things I love about our industry (and the Director General’s role in particular) is the opportunity to meet so many people who are passionate about what we do and are professional in the way they execute it, and who, over time are not only colleagues and competitors, but become friends as well.
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.
One of these individuals was Mervyn Griffiths who sadly passed away last month. Mervyn worked at Strategic Shipping and was on his way to work when taken unwell. He and I met regularly and always discussed the topics of the day; whether it was industry related or about his beloved Chelsea, conversation with him was always worthwhile, often challenging, and always good fun. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends who I know will miss him dearly.
Direct or Indirect, that is the question! One of the topics Mervyn and I discussed just over a month ago was representation, and how do freight forwarders manage the issue of Indirect representation (with all the risk and liability it brings) when it is often unclear whether the importer is established in the UK. It is a topic that is exercising us at the Secretariat, and you, our Members. Robert Windsor has written many excellent articles on the topic (the August edition of BIFAlink summarised many of the issues and urged members to be vigilant) yet the number of calls and emails we receive continues to grow. See the related article on the Taxation (Cross Border) Trade Act 2018 on pages 20-21 of this issue. The reason for highlighting this in this month’s column is for it to serve as a warning and urge you to ensure when you complete an Indirect declaration that you are fully aware of the potential financial impacts. Sign up for the BIFA Member webinar on 20 September to learn more on this topic. On the subject of dealing with HMRC, BIFA has endorsed the eighth wave of research being carried out by Ipsos on behalf of HMRC in relation to companies who deal with Customs processes. This wave of the research, due to go live in October, will look in particular at the structure of the intermediary industry, Customs processes, transition to the CDS system and experiences around GVMS. Please look out for BIFA emails detailing how you can respond to this research next month. Team away day On a brighter note, we recently held a strategy day for all BIFA staff, during which we discussed many issues that BIFA will need to consider and address as we prepare for 2024 and beyond. Many great ideas were shared and some excellent forward thinking took place, all of which we can build into our 2024 business strategy. But, on that point, if on reading this there is something you feel BIFA should be doing, or at least considering, please do not hesitate to let me know. The cover image of this issue shows almost the entire BIFA team in the conference centre grounds. Finally If you are a business leader please keep 19 October 2023 free in your diary as BIFA will be holding the second of our Business Leaders meetings, where we will do our best to put you in the picture about forthcoming changes that will impact your business and planning. It will also give you a chance to network with other business leaders and find out more about what BIFA is up to and our strategy for the short and medium term.
Director General
September 2023 | 3
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BIFA News
Hutchison port volumes slide in fi rst half of 2023 Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business
2023 due to weak trade growth and increased equipment disposals by owners. However, global container handling activity is anticipated to grow 1% to 870.7million teu, and there remains an excess of containers in the global pool compared with the current and short-term trading needs and vessel slot operating capacity. Container lines are out- performing their customers in the race to decarbonise supply chains, although neither group rated very highly, according to Ship It Zero’s ‘Shipping Decarbonisation Report card system’, which the collective of US environmental groups has devised to rate the decarbonisation efforts of both shippers and shipping lines. Ratings are made by the environmental group on its three demands: to end port pollution, abandon dirty ships and to put zero at the helm. OVERLAND New Civil Engineer magazine has reported that Channel Tunnel infrastructure manager Getlink is pushing forward with a plan to upgrade a route from the tunnel to Wembley to a more modern freight loading gauge. It wants to convert the route from Dollands Moor, the Channel Tunnel’s freight depot, to Wembley via Maidstone to the gauge of W12, which is the standard across most of Europe. It believes it can do this at a cost of £42 million. The latest report (covering Q1 2023) from Ti, IRU and Upply on European road freight prices has revealed that both spot and contract rates are falling quarter on quarter, dropping by 7.5 and 2.8 points, respectively, with the report predicting that with volumes slackening and available capacity improving, the downward trend in rates looks set to continue in 2023.
ON THE QUAYSIDE Hong Kong-based port major Hutchison, which owns the UK ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Thamesport, handled 39.3million teu through 293 operating berths in the first half of 2023, a 7% drop compared with the same period last year. It says that it expects cargo freight demand will remain sluggish for the rest of the year. DP World Southampton has started a one-year trial of a Modal Shift Programme (MSP) aimed at increasing the financial attractiveness of rail inland movements for laden
emissions and support the net-zero targets of UK businesses. An MSP Incentive, initially set at £70, will be credited for any import-laden container that leaves DP World Southampton by rail to a railhead within the MSP Incentive Zone, which extends approximately 140 miles from the port. IN THE AIR IATA released data for June 2023 global air cargo markets showing the smallest year- over-year contraction in demand since February 2022. Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), fell 3.4% in June compared
with June 2022 and only 2.4% below June 2019 levels (pre- pandemic). Capacity, measured by available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), rose 9.7% compared with June 2022, which was a slower rate compared with the double- digit growth recorded between March and May. A price war in air cargo is driving the market down, whilst the hoped for upturn that would steadily build into the second half has not happened, leading to companies active in the sector chasing volumes without regard to cost, which observers say is accelerating a decline in rates. ON THE OCEAN The container rate collapse deepens as new capacity enters the market, hitting a two-year low in July, reported the XENETA Shipping Index. Rates fell 9.5% compared with June and 57.8% since the same period in 2022. BIMCO has reported that deliveries of new containerships during the first seven months of 2023 reached a record high of 1.2million teu, beating the previous record by 0.2 million teu. With recycling of ships remaining low, fleet capacity has grown 4.3% since January. Drewry projects that the global pool of container equipment is expected to contract 2% in
containers, as well as to reduce the cost of CO 2
4 | September 2023
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BIFA News
Generation Logistics needs you: Become a Silver Sponsor
A night out in Liverpool The 2023 BIFA Liverpool Region Annual Dinner will take place at the Liner Hotel in Liverpool on Friday 6 October featuring a three-course meal and entertainment from Liverpool-born comedian Mick Miller. During the evening guests will have the opportunity to bid on a number of auction lots including football tickets and the England shirt signed by Kevin Keegan during his appearance at the BIFA Freight Service Awards ceremony in January. Benefitting from the fundraising will be local baby hospice Zoe’s Place, Help for Heroes and the Southport Sea Cadets, whose drum corps will play for us at the start of the event. Tickets, priced at £52 + VAT, are now on sale, contact bifaevents@bifa.org to reserve a table. BIFA is grateful for the sponsorship from Genco Logistics, Hapag Lloyd, Peel Ports, Maersk and new sponsor Seacon SG which allows this event to take place with all funds raised during the evening to be donated to the named charities.
As a proud Partner of the ground-breaking careers awareness campaign shaking up perceptions of logistics, BIFA would like to encourage your ‘vital’ involvement. For logistics to break- through as a top career of choice it will take an industry UNITED. Please join the movement that is critical to attracting UK plc’s up-and- coming supply of young talent. Become a sponsor. For just £2,000, any organisation turning over less than £20m can fuel the campaign’s momentum-building second year as a Silver Sponsor. The benefits are numerous. Consider for starters, that: 1. Your active participation will place your organisation in the middle of game- changing conversations between media, politicians, potential recruits and customers; 2. Involving your people will
growing. Work is already under way to refresh its richly stocked pages of inspiring careers stories, entry guidance information and interactive tools. Your funding will be used to create a spin-off hub for educators supported by a growing army of 290+ bright-spark ambassadors and social content-creators who are proud to say, “I am Generation Logistics”. So what will be your next move? Get on board and you will be part of motivating a specific audience of 13-24 year olds to ‘Be Generation Logistics’, with curriculum-relevant content for school students and impactful signposting across social channels to highlight the industry’s early-entry schemes – apprenticeships, degree placements through to graduate programmes.
recognise their contribution, help to powerfully change perceptions and earmark your organisation as a place to build rewarding careers; 3. Investing in the campaign will signal that you want to turn the tide for your organisation’s long-term sustainability and protect the nation’s supply chain. You can download the Prospectus at generationlogistics.org or contact generationlogistics@logistics. org.uk for more information. The Generation Logistics website has fast-become a trusted careers resource, bold and fresh in appeal, attracting over 600,000 visits – and
Young Professionals Award winners
FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) and TT Club recently unveiled this year's outstanding regional achievers of the Young Logistics Professionals (YLP) Award 2023. The 2023 regional winners are: • Region Africa and Middle East: Andre Hein Gerber, SAAFF, South Africa; • Region Americas: Viktoriia Rudyk, CIFFA, Canada; • Region Asia-Paci fi c: Hasbi Bin Yaakob, SLA, Singapore; • Region Europe: Nils von Salzen, DSLV, Germany. BIFA would like to add its voice to those of FIATA and TT Club in expressing its heartfelt
congratulations to the four regional winners and acknowledging the paramount importance of such competitions that encourage young people to showcase their talents and dedication in the logistics industry. By participating in the YLP Award, these young professionals have not only demonstrated their profound knowledge but also honed their skills. The YLP Award is significant
in inspiring and nurturing the next generation of logistics professionals. This year again, exceptional dissertations were submitted by the winners, which not only capture the intricacies of the global supply chain but also consider diverse parameters, displaying their ingenuity and commitment. The overall winner will be announced during the FIATA World Congress in Brussels, Belgium, next month.
How to enter the 2024 competition To have the opportunity to represent the United Kingdom in the 2024 competition you need to enter the BIFA Young Freight Forwarder of the Year Award 2023. Go to https://awards.bifa.org/ to find out more. Deadline for submission of entries is Thursday 5th October 2023.
6 | September 2023
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BIFA News
OBITUARY: Mervyn Grif fi ths
Uni fi ed Container Inspection & Repair Criteria integrity and cleanliness of shipping containers, Bureau International des Containers (BIC), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the World Shipping Council (WSC) have joined to ensure the Uni fi ed Container Inspection & In order to address the remaining issue of the Repair Criteria (UCIRC) is adjusted to meet today’s requirements. The revised UCIRC has been updated to make inspection for, and removal of, visible pest contamination an integral part of the container inspection and dispatch process. The document outlines special provisions to inspect for pest contamination at container depots as well as at all other interchange points. The first edition of the UCIRC, designed for use at all container depots and container interchanges, was developed and published by ICS in 2000. However, the previous editions of UCIRC did not address inspection for visible pest contamination on the container. For more information scan the QR code.
The team at BIFA were saddened to hear of the sudden death in July of Mervyn Grif fi ths, director of Strategic Shipping. Described by his colleagues at Strategic Shipping as keen, enthusiastic, conscientious and professional, Mervyn was a long-term supporter of BIFA, especially as a member of the Customs Policy Group. His assistance regarding the licensing requirements
including his work in producing a guidance presentation for BIFA Members on the subject. Mervyn always sought improvement and the Association was grateful for his feedback on training courses gathered from his staff after attending a BIFA training course. Our condolences go to Mervyn’s family, friends, management and staff who continue at Strategic Shipping.
surrounding strategic exports was particularly appreciated,
HSE reports rising number of fatal injuries at work
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) issued its annual report in July entitled ‘Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain 2023’, covering the period April 2022-March 2023. The report shows the headline number of deaths resulting from work-related accidents in 2022/23 that were reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). A total of 135 workers were killed in work-related accidents in Great Britain in 2022/23, an increase of 12 fatalities from 2021/22. Of the 135 fatalities, 15 relate to workers in the
Items falling from racking present an injury risk to warehouse personnel
transport and storage sector, which equates to 0.98 fatalities per 100,000 workers. This was more than double the overall fatal injury rate, across all sectors, which stood at 0.41 per 100,000 workers. The three most common causes of fatal injuries, across
all sectors, were falls from height (40), being struck by a moving object (29), and being struck by a moving vehicle (20). To read the full
report, scan the QR code, or visit www.hse.gov.uk
The Limits of Liability for Carriers
In association with
By air – Warsaw Convention (17 SDR): £17.74 per kg
By sea – Hague Visby rules (2 SDR): £2.09 per kg £695.88 per package
BIFA STC: (2 SDR): £2.09 per kg
By road – CMR (8.33 SDR): £8.70 per kg
Insurance for the Marine & Logistics industries
(The SDR rate on 17 August 2023,
By air – Montreal Convention (22 SDR): £22.96 per kg
according to the IMF website, was 1.04382)
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macbeths.co.uk
September 2023 | 7
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Policy & Compliance
Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 (ETDA) to become law
The birth of a trading system fi t for purpose in the 21st century?
T he Electronic Trade come into force on 20 September as the Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA) 2023 (scan the QR code at the end of this article). It is one of the most signi fi cant pieces of trade law seen in decades and will enable 80% of bills of lading, 60% of global trade fi nance, marine insurance, shipping and other speci fi ed documents to be delivered digitally. Every trader transacting business under English law will be able to remove paper and transition to a digital trading future. Documents Bill was signed into law in July 2023 and will Advocates of the new law argue that it will start the much needed process to make trade cheaper, faster, simpler and more sustainable, and ensure the trading system is fit for purpose for the 21st century. The interesting point will be how to take the law and translate it into practical policies to make it work in practice. As an industry, trade has been resistant to change with paper documents still commonplace and certain initiatives such as IATA’s E-freight programme struggling to achieve wide adoption. Just because business can do something does not mean that it will do that thing. The Act in summary In summary, the new Act will allow certain electronic documents used in international trade and trade finance to have the same legal standing as a paper document. Currently in English Law such documents are not considered capable of being (physically) possessed in order to enforce rights such as the payment of sums of money or delivery of goods on board a vessel or in a warehouse. If business embraces the Act, there will be significant changes for
trade and the financial services as nearly all documents that are currently in paper form could be transferred into an electronic format. It is argued that this will improve the speed of exchange and the security of all documents used in international trade. This process will require a move to approved and enforceable electronic documentation. The ETDA will recognise the following documents in an electronic format: • Bills of exchange and promissory notes, • Bills of lading and ship’s delivery orders, • Warehouse receipts and mate’s receipts, • Marine insurance policies and certain insurance certificates. Businesses will need to utilise a ‘reliable system’ that ensures only one person at a time has exclusive control over the relevant electronic record of that trade document. It is envisaged that under the legislation: • Electronic trade documents will become capable of ‘possession’, with the same legal recognition and function as their paper
equivalents. • Security will be improved, anti- fraud measures enhanced with concerns around the transferability of ownership of documents being addressed via the implementation of a ‘reliable system’. • The reduction in trade documents to travel with the freight will reduce the time taken to physically exchange documents. • The UK will be seen as a leader in the move to digitise trade documents. Possible time lag However, there must be a strong possibility that change will take time, because there will inevitably be a lag between the law taking effect (due to the need to raise awareness) and the introduction of systems that will allow exchange of data, etc. Also, this legislation will not impact all trade lanes which, especially in the early days of this Act’s life, will discourage some
“ Advocates of the new law argue that it will start the fi re of a much needed process to make trade cheaper, faster, simpler and more sustainable
from exploring the use of this digital technology.
8 | September 2023
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Policy & Compliance
Mike’s role will be to develop a strategy to engage with and support Members, ensuring they remain up to date with government requirements and global legislation impacting supply chains BIFA appoints Mike Jones as Policy Advisor – Sustainable Logistics
M uch has been written about carbon reduction within global supply chains and the more widely related environmental sustainability agenda. Indeed, in BIFAlink magazine there have been numerous articles, including guides to help Members understand the impact that climate change will have on the industry, features to raise awareness on a range of environmental issues, and the results of a recent survey on carbon emissions. Main challenge It has become clear that carbon reduction is the main environmental challenge for industry and there is a growing awareness of measuring and reporting carbon emissions. Whilst some members are already deploying sustainability technologies and strategies to address environmental issues, these practices are not widely adopted, and many Members have not yet started the journey. We use the word ‘journey’ because sustainability is a transition and, whether in logistics or other areas, it needs to constantly adapt to the world’s changing conditions. Therefore, sustainability is a journey, not a destination and organisations need to constantly commit to improving their impact on the
Sustainable Logistics Policy Group
environment for the full benefits and opportunities to be achieved. Through various channels BIFA has been consulting with Members and establishing how far they have progressed on their journey. This information will be valuable when developing our Sustainable Logistics strategy. With all the above in mind, and as environmental processes and regulations move up the business agenda, BIFA has appointed Mike Jones to the newly established role of Policy Advisor - Sustainable Logistics, within the Policy & Compliance team. The first aim of this role will be to develop a strategy to engage with and support Members, ensuring they remain up to date with government requirements and the global legislation that will impact supply chains. The strategy will also include promoting best practice and encouraging Members to create behavioural change that will enable them to meet the ongoing demands of their customers.
“ Members are encouraged to nominate a candidate to join the Sustainable Logistics Policy Group if they wish
BIFA is in the process of establishing a Sustainable Logistics Policy Group to provide guidance to the Association and its Members. The group will include representatives from a wide range of organisations within the membership to agree and set association policy on all matters concerning Sustainable Logistics. The terms of reference and objectives for the Sustainable Logistics Policy Group are currently being drawn up; the group’s first meeting is planned for November this year. Members are encouraged to nominate a candidate to join the group if they wish to attend meetings and contribute on this important topic. We hope to hear from as many members as possible. Want to be part of the new Sustainable Logistics Policy Group? Contact Mike Jones at m.jones@bifa.org
to attend meetings and contribute on this important topic
10 | September 2023
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Policy & Compliance
Suffolk logistics community gets an insight into import controls
M ore than 20 high-pro fi le importers and agents joined one of Britain’s biggest port health authorities in June for a fi rst-hand insight into health checks being performed on goods entering the UK. Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (SCPHA), a part of East Suffolk Council that inspects imported food, feed and animal- origin goods at the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich for entry into the UK, hosted its first Port Health Stakeholder Forum at East Suffolk House, Melton, as Britain prepared for new checks on EU goods, which press reports indicate have been delayed. Dale Weeding, Business Relationship Officer at SCPHA, who led the forum, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many people with a vested interest in
the UK’s health standards.” SCPHA’s panel – comprising operations manager Hannah Panting, technical lead Simon Rowell, technical specialist Andrew Robinson and team leader Dan Longson – answered questions about the checks due to be introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on EU imports. Outlined in the draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), EU imports will fall into new risk categories, which will determine the level of checks required from port health authorities. Further Port Health Stakeholder Forum events are planned by SCPHA. Contact business relationship of fi cer Dale Weeding (dale.weeding@scpha.gov.uk) for dates and to register your interest.
“ We want to show SCPHA is a facilitator to trade as it upholds legislation to protect public and animal health...
port health to the first of our quarterly forums. They included freight forwarders like RJJ Freight, logistics providers such as Edge Worldwide and many more reputable companies. “We want to show SCPHA is a facilitator to trade as it upholds legislation to protect public and animal health, as well as carrying out controls on organic products and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, while fully supporting importers who follow
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September 2023 | 11
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Young Forwarder Network
The BIFA Young Forwarder Network (YFN) has been running now for four years and has held over 100 events. But with young people constantly joining the industry, we thought we would ask a few people who have been involved in this initiative to explain the bene fi ts it provides to participants and Members Boost your people’s knowledge with the Young Forwarder Network
– Carl Hobbis, BIFA
What is the Young Forwarder Network? The YFN offers participants a platform for individuals, employed by BIFA Members, to enhance their knowledge by providing events that support their professional development at which they can hear and benefit from the experience of industry professionals in different areas of logistics. The YFN also organises exclusive behind-the-scenes visits to places of industry interest, such as port tours. The network is also committed to promoting the logistics and forwarding sector as an exciting career choice and BIFA Members are encouraged and supported to inspire the next generation within their local communities.
How much do the events cost to attend? Nothing. BIFA kindly funds these events, provided you are an
“ The YFN has helped us as employers to attract and retain young people to our industry. It’s then gone on to support their career development and under- standing... – Chris Packwood (pictured),
employee of a BIFA Member. It is super generous and enables us to put on events at decent venues – and as a chair of a region, I really appreciate the support. – Georgia Gibson, Cargo Partner, Northwest YFN chair How often do events take place?
Regular events are hosted in each of our five main regions (Heathrow, Northwest, London East, Anglia, and the Midlands) which are then complemented by port tours and visits to other places of significant industry interest. We also run monthly virtual sessions hosted by an industry guest speaker, so no matter where you are based, you can always come along and benefit from these valuable learning opportunities. – Sharon Hammond, BIFA Events What’s in it from an employer’s perspective? I feel it builds confidence by encouraging ‘in-person’ networking. It is only a couple of hours per quarter and is usually set in interesting places. It is important that this job does not just tie people to their desks in the office or
employer governor
12 | September 2023
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Young Forwarder Network
Four new YFN chairs elected The BIFA Young Forwarder Network (YFN) relies on the enthusiasm of local Members to drive activity in each of the regions. This includes local committees headed by a regional chair, who holds the position for a period of 12 months. Four of the regional YFN committees have new chairs with effect from 1 August.
London Heathrow
Anglia
kitchen table. It is still a people business and the events that are run by BIFA are well attended and always receive good feedback. – Ian Mallon, Managing Director, Neon Freight Why do you feel the YFN events are important? They boost your knowledge of the industry by hearing from guest speakers and other young people in your sector. Furthermore, it gives you the opportunity to build up your network with like-minded people in the industry. Without the YFN, I would not be where I am today, and I would not have got to know the fantastic people that I meet at these events. – Thomas Low, OIA Global, London East chair
Sophie Hammond, Kuehne + Nagel
Vivi Mougkra, Maersk Vivi, has made huge contributions to the Anglia region as a committee member and is determined to make a big impact as chair. She gets actively involved in all types of networking events locally. London East
Earlier this year as part of K+N’s graduate programme, Sophie got to work in Frankfurt for three months. Now she is back she is looking forward to driving the Heathrow region forward. Northwest
What could we do more of? School engagement plays a key role in boosting knowledge and awareness of our industry within the next generation. I think this is something we could all benefit from actively participating in, as not only does this open a new world of career opportunities to
Cameron Smith, Ligentia Cameron was a finalist in the BIFA Freight Service Awards, Apprentice of the Year category and is a regular at the Northwest events. He also gained a distinction in his apprenticeship.
Thomas Low, OIA Global Another person who has attended many YFN events in multiple regions. Tom, is the current BIFA Apprentice of the Year.
young people that they may not have previously given mind to, but also helps to uplift your company’s profile locally. Having members of the YFN attend careers events and give talks at local schools – something I have supported locally – is a great way for students to see their future options from someone who was sitting in their seat not so long ago. – Brooke Jennings, Burhill Logistics How do Members get more employees involved?
BIFA would like to thank outgoing chairs Bobbie Costin (London Heathrow), Georgia Gibson (Northwest), Brooke Jennings (Anglia) and Lexi Laybourn (London East) for their commitment in re-establishing the regional YFN groups post-COVID-19. Their energy, enthusiasm and determination to get these forums for young people back up and running in a face-to-face environment is really appreciated. Young people working for BIFA Members are welcome at YFN events, which restart from 13 September. Contact BIFA comms BIFAcomms@bifa.org to be added to the mailing list. New chairs for the Midlands region and the virtual network will be announced in due course. Forthcoming events are listed at: https://bifa.org/events/
Getting involved in the YFN is simple! All you have to do is contact bifacomms@bifa.org and we will get you added to our mailing list.
That way, you will get all the event updates straight to your inbox. All you have to do is sign up and come along – it could not be easier. If you also want to get more involved in the community, we have a dedicated LinkedIn page for the YFN (QR code) where we post all our upcoming events and activity.
September 2023 | 13
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Industry Promotion
The Freight Development Pathway – seven months after its launch School-leaver Swaie Lindo (left) wowed not just one, but two
A look at how the Manpower and BIFA Freight Development Pathway is beginning to help both employers and job-seekers interested in a career in freight forwarding
interviewers after completing the Freight Development Pathway. Here he is with his new employer, Lisa Larvin (right) from Future Forwarding, and the Pathway’s operations manager Mat Beecham (centre).
or marine. You are able to progress and reach new goals and continually work on your personal development,” she said. Caravel is another company that struggled to find the right candidate. “We had been looking to recruit another ocean freight operator for the past year or so,” explained Jeremy Shoesmith, Caravel business development manager. “However, the quality of candidates suitable for the position was very poor. Having read about the Freight Development Pathway through BIFA, I decided to attend one of the webinars promoting the Freight Pathway. “Having heard details of the preparation, vetting and basic training procedures which were in place to find suitable recruits, I decided to give it a go. The support I have received during the recruitment process has been excellent.” Gaining traction The Pathway is gaining traction by the day. “Awareness of the Pathway has noticeably increased, both with BIFA Members and also crucially candidates,” said Mat Beecham, operations manager for the Freight Development Pathway. “We are starting to be approached by candidates who have identified freight as an industry that could be for them, and they are using the Pathway to secure an entry level role.” Are you looking for entry level freight forwarding personnel for your business? Use the QR codes to get in touch with the Manpower Freight Team today, or visit the website for more information.
J uly has been a busy month for the Freight Development Pathway. In fact, the busiest since its launch in January this year. The three-week programme, which is run jointly by Manpower and BIFA, supports individuals into a career within office-based freight forwarding. Part of Manpower’s MyPath upskilling programme, the Pathway is working to change the perception of the freight industry, raise awareness of the varied career opportunities and address the current talent shortage in the sector. The programme does not stop at just developing knowledge particular to the freight forwarding industry. It is there for its candidates all the way. In June it welcomed its first school leaver, Swaie Lindo. Swaie had never had an interview before, so the programme provided additional coaching on top of the interview prep session included in the Pathway. As a result of this additional support, Swaie attended interviews with two BIFA members and received a job offer from both. Finding talent So, what is the path to finding the right freight talent for your business really like? The clue is in looking beyond just industry experience and instead focusing on the candidate as a whole. That includes taking into account both transferable and soft skills. Someone who did just that is
John McBride, branch manager at NNR Global Logistics. “The partnership between Manpower & BIFA is a game- changer in terms of identifying and attracting new talent into the freight industry,” said John. “The level of pre-screening involved helped demonstrate the candidate had a genuine interest in the industry. Had we gone down the normal recruitment route for our requirement, I do not think we would have identified someone who matches our values so well and who is evidently keen to learn.” Transferable skills Jonathan Williams, managing director of logistics at Williams Shipping, shared this experience. Jonathan hired Klaudia Korpas, one of the recent Pathway candidates. “Klaudia had lots of experience in a completely different industry, but they were skills that we felt would be interesting moving across into our freight and cargo division: she could work well under pressure; she has got the admin skills and is a very well organised person. “That gives her a great foundation and she will be able to learn everything about cargo handling on the job.” For Klaudia, the sentiment is mutual. “One of the things that appealed to me was that the industry offers a variety of different services, such as transport, shipping
Get in touch with the Manpower freight team
Manpower Group, Freight Development Pathway
Manpower My Path 14 | September 2023
www.bifa.org
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BIFA Awards
successfully deliver all the donated items. Its Dover office liaised with Customs to expedite the project, for instance, while a colleague in Ukraine ensured that drivers were taking the safest routes to get there and that the donations reached the places where they were needed the most within the war zone. Anchor Freight explained: “This was a real team effort, with our Ipswich team coordinating the collections and despatches of the aid with the help of local hauliers Bacton Transport and Dan Ashford, and our Dover office using all its knowledge and network to ensure clear passage to the Polish warehouse hub in Mlyny close to the Ukraine border so that Andrew Pituley, our colleague in Lviv, could organise Ukrainian hauliers to collect and distribute to the hospitals and charities within Ukraine.” Community effort The BIFA award is recognition not only for the excellent Anchor Freight team who gave so much of their time, but for all the volunteers that turned up to help, and the amazing generosity of local organisations and the wider community of Suffolk who donated so generously, the company said. From Lviv, Pituley added: “When a great team gets together, miracles happen.” Anchor Freight and its parent company, One Construction, have always been heavily involved in supporting charities, said managing director Alex Davis, who pointed out: “If you are lucky enough to be working and you can give back, why not?” Anchor Freight’s Ukraine project is over for now, as it has become increasingly difficult to ensure the safety of drivers on routes into the country. More recently, though, Anchor Freight sent several pallets of aid to assist victims of the earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria in February 2023. l Anchor Freight has four UK offices, located in Dover, Felixstowe, Glasgow and Ipswich. It provides Customs brokerage, global freight solutions, VAS (value-added services) warehousing and UK distribution services. The company plans to open a fifth office in Ireland.
Organising the flood of donations was a real team effort
Making miracles happen
Going the extra mile can mean more than delivering excellent customer service, or meeting a tight deadline. In Anchor Freight’s case, it meant supporting the people of Ukraine whose lives have been devastated by war. BIFA recognised these efforts with its Extra Mile Award 2022
A nchor Freight’s support for those suffering in Ukraine “started as a small idea that snowballed”, according to UK freight manager Hannah Keegan. She explained: “In partnership with local Suffolk charity GeeWizz, we asked for donations of clothing, blankets, medical supplies, toiletries and so on – and we were inundated with aid. We had originally thought we would send one truck but we ended up with more than 40 truckloads.” Vital medical equipment In all, Anchor Freight was directly responsible for sending more than 500 tons of aid to Ukraine. Shipments included vital medical equipment and generators to help keep hospitals running when mains power supplies failed. “We relied heavily on volunteers to help load the vehicles,” Keegan said. “Friends, family and local people who had heard about what we were doing on the radio – even
Alex Davis, managing director of Anchor Freight (left) and Hannah Keegan,
a retired man who was 86 years old. The community really came together.” The company also helped other carriers to deliver hundreds of tons of aid using the robust supply chain it had set up. Anchor Freight called on expertise from across – and outside – the organisation to Descartes gives international freight forwarders and shippers a Extra Mile Award
UK freight manager
single Customs platform to import and export freight across international borders. Descartes’ Customs, freight and transport management software is used by most of the major forwarders and shippers in the UK to minimise speed of entry with single data entry for multiple countries, boosting productivity and improving data.
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www.bifa.org
Communications
news affecting the freight industry. The new website has been redesigned with BIFA’s Members fully in mind. The individual listed as the main contact for each BIFA Member can now manage their organisation’s details, update branch information, and maintain the website accounts for their employees, adding and removing colleagues as and when required. All employees of BIFA Members can now use their BIFA website account to book training courses, have exclusive access to the Member-only areas of the website, including information and resources curated by the Policy and Compliance team, plus keep their BIFA eNewsletter preferences up to date. Member Search It is particularly important that you keep your company details updated to ensure that cargo owners can find you. The Member Search function will return results based on location, company name or specialisation, putting your details in front of potential customers. Remember that if you are adding a new location you will need to contact bifamembership@bifa.org to get the record set up. New Members New applications for trading and associate membership can now be submitted online. ACTION REQUIRED: All employees of BIFA Members All employees of BIFA Member companies are urged to activate their new website account in order to access the Member Portal and exclusive content: 1. Visit www.bifa.org 2. Click Login on the top right hand corner. 3. On the login screen, click Password Reset and enter your company email address. 4. If you are already registered on our Member database, then you will receive a link via email to reset your password. 5. If an error message appears, please contact bifacomms@bifa.org so that we can verify your Membership with BIFA.
All employees of BIFA Members can now use their BIFA website account to book training courses New website reaches another milestone
T wo months ago, BIFA’s new- look website went live. There have been some teething issues, but a concerted effort by the BIFA Communications team, the website provider and the CRM provider has seen the website reach another milestone this month with
the successful integration of training course dates. The website will not be static; images and content will be updated regularly to ensure that the information remains relevant and current, and the News page should be your first port of call for breaking
September 2023 | 17
www.bifa.org
BIFA Awards
Anticipating customer needs
Young Freight Forwarder Award
Virgin Atlantic Cargo is proud to sponsor BIFA’s Young Freight
BIFA Young Freight Forwarder of the Year fi nalist Dalya Henry brought a shipper’s perspective with her when she joined ITD Global in what was originally a temporary role. Five years on, she has progressed to run the company’s freight operations
airfreight them in one go. This results in a better price and better visibility; customers track one shipment with ITD, rather than numerous shipments with various couriers. “This has given our customers a better service that they did not even necessarily know they needed.” Dalya has also helped implement freight management software that allows customers to self-serve. Agreeing that personal service is vital in logistics, she said: “It is good to be able to offer customers the option.” Forwarder Award to recognise and encourage the next generation of industry leaders. As well as rewarding the progress of the best young people, this award helps to highlight the vital role freight forwarders play in the growth and development of the industry. VAC recognises the importance of developing and retaining talented young people and is confident this award will help to attract more recruits that want to build a future career in a sector that is so important to the economy and international trade.
P rior to joining ITD Global, Dalya Henry was head fashion buyer at Henri
Lloyd. She moved to ITD in 2018 and immediately loved being “on the other side of the fence”. She re fl ected: “I had little experience of freight forwarding, but I had transferable skills from my previous role. I understand how pivotal it can be for a company to get stock to where it needs to be on time, and I also understand how important it is to answer questions before customers need to ask.” Stepping up Dalya headed up ITD’s air freighting of PPE to NHS Trusts during COVID- 19, before stepping into her current role as head of the company’s freight operations.
“ We now consolidate all their shipments in our Shenzhen warehouse and airfreight
She has been instrumental in setting up a new air freight consolidation service. “Customers had been importing from China using couriers,” she explained. “We now consolidate all their shipments in our Shenzhen warehouse and
them in one go.
A change of direction
Apprentice of the Year Award
share their insights about the industry and tell inspiring stories about their career in freight. It is all about getting as many young people into the industry as possible.” A highlight for Joel so far was a talk by a former apprentice who became a managing director, proving that “the sky is the limit”. For now, though, he is focused on developing his all-round knowledge of freight forwarding before deciding which path to choose. Seetec Outsource Training & Skills is a leading provider of innovative training, education and recruitment. Seetec Outsource has delivered thousands of successful programmes to a range of small and large organisations nationwide and helped many people into employment. Seetec Outsource provides apprenticeships and traineeships on a range of subjects at various levels.
Following a degree in sports rehab, Joel Amado decided to take a chance on something totally unrelated: freight forwarding. Being part of a team at Aramex has seen him become deeply invested in logistics
“The balance of work and the apprenticeship was almost – almost! – impossible,” Joel Amado said. “But I want to help as much as I can, so I want to learn more and more. I always ask the rest of the team if I can do anything for them, and vice versa; it is a great team.” Joel’s positive, proactive approach has not gone unrecognised. Besides reaching the finals of BIFA’s Apprentice of the Year category for 2022, he was named ‘Hero of the Month’ at Aramex in March 2022. “It is a bit like employee of the month and I won it because of my contribution to the team and because of how well my apprenticeship (which I completed in
October) was going,” he said. Joel is also on BIFA’s Young Freight Forwarder Network committee – which he sees as an opportunity to explore his potential and get out of his comfort zone. “With our events, we hope to encourage people to follow in the same footsteps as our speakers, who talk about leadership,
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