BIFA welcomes greater clarity on EU exit procedures revisions
One week on from a seminar held by the British International Freight Association (BIFA) to address some of the unfinished issues faced by the logistics industry following the UK’s departure from the EU, BIFA has welcomed the quick response from UK government to some of the many questions raised by participants. With an uncanny sense […]
BIFA welcomes HMRC announcement
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) clarifying the final implementation date when a new computer system will replace an existing system used for processing Customs declarations. BIFA director general, Robert Keen states: “Our members will be pleased with the clarity that is being provided following […]
Brexit: prepare for rule changes
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is encouraging businesses engaged in visible trade between the UK and EU, and the freight and logistics companies that serve them, to make sure that they are fully prepared for rule changes that will take effect over the next six months following an initial postponement. In March, BIFA welcomed […]
BIFA: The voice of British freight
ACW spoke to the voice of British freight, Robert Keen, director general, The British International Freight Association (BIFA). ACW: The spotlight has been on the logistics sector during the pandemic. How has the sector coped with the challenges? Keen: Logistics businesses have shown impressive resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting their operations swiftly and efficiently […]
BIFA Freight Service Awards now open for entry
Entries are now open for the British International Freight Association (BIFA) – www.bifa.org – annual Freight Service Awards competition. Now in their 33rd year, BIFA’s Freight Service Awards are open to all Members of the trade association, which represents UK companies engaged in the international movement of freight by all modes of transport. As well […]
BIFA issues advice on Delayed Declaration Scheme
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is advising its members to be very careful with any business that they are offered from traders that have taken advantage of HMRC’s Delayed Declaration Scheme, but which have not taken out a CFSP authorisation in their own right and are now trying to find a Customs Agent to […]
BIFA elects new national chair and vice-chair
Rachel Morley has succeeded John Stubbings as the elected National Chair of BIFA – the British International Freight Association – for a two-year period. Morley, regional manager Western Europe at BIFA member company, OIA Global, who has been vice chair for the past two years, was appointed a director of BIFA in 2017 and chairs […]
Freight association remains lukewarm on freeports concept
Commenting on today’s publication of the International Trade Committee’s report on UK freeports, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) says that the findings will do little to change the indifference to the freeports concept felt by the majority of its members. “From a purely Customs viewpoint, the benefits of freeports are marginal and provide very […]
Young Forwarder Network reaches half century
Just two years after it was launched in March 2019, the British International Freight Association’s Young Forwarder Network (YFN) has passed the milestone of 50 events, which is made all the more impressive considering the massive disruption caused to the sector from COVID-19 and the UK’s exit from the EU. In its first year, 741 […]
Freight association welcomes further government support for apprentice recruitment
The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association that represents UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, says that it welcomes the news that the government is increasing incentive payments to companies that hire a new apprentice. Employers will now receive £3,000 for new apprentices of any age who join their organisation from April 1 […]
Extension of Border Operating Model deadline is no surprise, says BIFA
“It’s no surprise that the Government has extended the deadline for the introduction of checks and customs declarations on imports to the UK from the EU,” said Robert Keen, director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA). “The experience of our members since January 1st 2021 has clearly shown that large sectors of the […]
Freight association encourages members to consider recruiting apprentices
As National Apprenticeship week comes nears its end, the British International Freight Association has repeated its call for freight forwarding and logistics companies to consider recruiting apprentices. An executive director of BIFA, Carl Hobbis said: “We know it’s a tough call, with the pandemic and the post transition period continuing to disrupt many freight forwarders’ […]
BIFA Freight Service award winners
Despite a year beset by multiple operational difficulties and uncertainties, BIFA notes that there were many outstanding entries in the BIFA Freight Service Awards 2020. In the Air Cargo Services category, which was sponsored by ASM UK, Simarco Worldwide Logistics triumphed over fellow finalists DHL Global Forwarding, Kerry Logistics and Ligentia Global. Winner of the Ocean Services Award, sponsored by […]
BIFA’s 2020 Freight Service Awards shortlist
21 freight forwarding companies have been shortlisted as finalists for the eight service categories of this year’s British International Freight Association’s Freight Service Awards, with 12 individuals making the finalists shortlist in the Apprentice of the Year and Young Freight Forwarder categories. Those shortlisted in the various categories are as follows: Air Cargo Services Award – […]
BIFA: Freight association surveys members on Brexit preparedness
As part of research on the preparedness of the UK’s freight forwarding and logistics sectors for the end of the Transition period on December 31, 2020, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) is again surveying its members. Director General, Robert Keen says: “One of trade association’s main roles is member engagement, ensuring that members are […]
BIFA welcomes further UK government investment in employment support
The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association that represents UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, says that it welcomes the package of measures unveiled by the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday to scale up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships. Director general, Robert Keen says: “Whilst our members are currently rightly focused on […]
BIFA offers free bitesize training for young people
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) next event following the relaunch of its Young Forwarder Network (YFN) online will feature some free ‘bitesize’ training run by BIFA trainers, Graeme Wilkinson and Carl Hobbis. Set to take place online on Wednesday July 8, the training will be focused around Customs Procedures Codes and will be available […]
UK freight association welcomes further funding for customs training
The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association that represents UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, says that it hopes the package of measures unveiled by HMRC recently to accelerate growth of the UK’s customs intermediary sector is successful. Director general, Robert Keen says: “Whilst we welcome the additional funding, as we did when […]
UK freight forwarders pin hopes on a trade deal
Commenting on the confirmation by the UK government of new border controls and procedures from the end of the Transition Period, the trade association for UK freight forwarders questioned whether the phased transition will succeed in giving the companies that manage cross-border trade between the UK and EU enough time to make the necessary preparations […]
Virtual Bake Off gets Young Forwarder Network off to a tasty relaunch
Katie-Louise Thompson-Friend (pictured above), customer service co-ordinator, at the Woodland Group, beat off strong competition to win a virtual Bake Off, which was organised by the British International Freight Association (BIFA), to relaunch its Young Forwarder Network online. BIFA’s virtual Bake Off was the first of many upcoming online events for the trade association’s Young […]
Freight association believes extension of Brexit transition period still likely
As the stalled negotiations between the UK and EU started again this week, the head of the British International Freight Association has described the UK government’s insistence that it will not ask to extend the 11-month transition period as a very risky move. Robert Keen, the director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) […]
Freight forwarders says HMRC is acting pragmatically over new Customs declarations
Having been critical of HMRC in the past, the trade association that represents UK freight forwarders has welcomed the announcement that the government body is extending the implementation timeline for a new computer system for processing customs entries The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed the latest announcement by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) […]
Freight association welcomes government support for exporters
The trade association that represents the companies that handle the supply chains for much of the UK’s visible international exports has welcomed the news that exporters are going to get additional support from the government. The British International Freight Association (BIFA) welcomes the additional support that the Department for International Trade (DIT) is making available […]
BIFA: ‘Irresponsible’ to refuse a Brexit extension request
Robert Keen, director general of British International Freight Association has warned that amid coronavirus chaos and with Brexit negotiations at a standstill, not asking for an extension on Brexit will be irresponsible. He stated: “The government is still insisting it will not request an extension, saying the December 31st deadline is enshrined in law, but […]
BIFA’s Young Forwarders Network celebrates 1st birthday
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) Young Forwarders Network (YFN) is celebrating one year of operation. The YFN was launched in March 2019 to create several regional networking groups, run by young forwarders and designed to help early talent and young BIFA members develop their knowledge and professional skills, but in a more social environment. […]
BIFA welcomes deadline extension for Customs grant scheme applications
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) welcomes the news that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has extended the deadline for businesses to apply for customs support funding to 31 January 2021. The scheme, first announced in September 2019, had been due to close on 31 January 2020. To date, applications have been made for around […]
Freight forwarders call for greater transparency and clarity in the development of a post-Brexit trading relationship
Ahead of the UK’s departure from the EU later today, the director general of the trade association that represents companies that handle the majority of the UK’s visible trade is calling for greater transparency and clarity in the effort to develop a new post-Brexit trading relationship. Robert Keen, director general of the British International Freight […]
Ade Adepitan reveals winners of UK freight industry ‘Oscars’
Ade Adepitan, one of the UK’s most well-known Paralympians and broadcasters has revealed the winners of the British International Freight Association’s Freight Service Awards 2019. At a glittering awards ceremony, host Adepitan announced eight winners from the 33 freight forwarding companies that were shortlisted as finalists, as well as three individual award winners. The winners […]
Davies Turner picks up freight industry ‘Oscar’
Davies Turner, the UK’s largest independent freight forwarding and logistics company, has taken first place in the European Logistics category of the UK’s premier freight and logistics awards event. The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) Freight Service Awards have been organised annually for over 30 years and are rightly seen as the Oscars of the UK […]
BIFA warns of looming deadline for Customs grant scheme applications
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is again reminding its members of a looming deadline by which they can apply for funding from a £16 million grant scheme. Originally announced by the UK government in October 2019, the scheme represents an additional round of funding for employee training and IT improvements for customs intermediaries, traders and […]
