Inspiration for the next generation of forwarders

Chadd Blunt hopes to inspire the next generation of UK freight forwarders and encourage interested young people into the industry in his new role as governor of the Young Forwarder Network. Blunt, CEO of Birmingham-based freight forwarder Millennium Cargo, became a governor of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) Midlands network to help bridge the […]

Stroud takes on BIFA airfreight policy and compliance adviser role

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has confirmed the appointment of David Stroud as its policy and compliance adviser with responsibility for logistics issues relating to airfreight, security and sustainable logistics. David Stroud is a highly experienced industry professional and has held senior management roles with DHL Global Forwarding, Tigers Global Logistics and NNR Global […]

Freight association calls on new UK government to deliver on election promises

Commenting on the results of yesterday’s general election in the UK, Robert Keen, Director General of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) says that members of his trade association will be looking for the newly-elected government to deliver on its promises in regards to Brexit, the withdrawal agreement with the EU, and any future trade […]

BIFA adds Young Forwarder Network events

More events are being added to BIFA’s Young Forwarder Network, with a professional development event being held on 8 August near Heathrow Airport. Having held the last of its initial regional group launches, the British International Freight Association is adding content to its Young Forwarder Network. Professional speaker and coach Rudee Bertie will provide insight […]

BIFA slams UK government for not listening

This week’s news that very few companies have registered for a new government online system designed to protect value added tax revenues on foreign parcels in the event of a no-deal Brexit has led the UK representative body for freight forwarding and logistics companies to question whether the UK Government is listening to advice from […]

BIFA Freight Service Awards open for entry

Entries are now open for the British International Freight Association (BIFA) annual Freight Service Awards competition. Now in their 31st 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 as encouraging and […]

Stubbings and Morley to chair BIFA board

John Stubbings has succeeded Mark Bromley as the elected chair of the British International Freight Association (BIFA), with Rachel Morley being elected vice-chair. Stubbings has been associated with BIFA for years and the group director and company secretary of Woodland Group is also chair of BIFA’s Legal and Insurance Policy Group. Morley, the general manager […]

Guidance on trade in endangered species in no-deal Brexit

Following a recent event organised by the British International Freight Association (BIFA), the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has issued additional guidance on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Robert Keen, director general of the trade association that represents the UK’s freight forwarding sector says: “One of the […]

BIFA Young Forwarder Network goes on tour

Following the successful launch of its Young Forwarder Network (YFN), the British International Freight Association (BIFA), says it will now commence a programme of regional meetings across the UK. The first will take place in Alderley Edge on 11 April, marking the launch of the BIFA YFN regional group in the North West. On 1 […]

UK freight forwarders remain ahead of the curve despite ongoing Brexit uncertainty

Whilst the UK government keeps working, pushing and grinding on to try again to make the case for its Brexit compromise, and MPs carry on hunting, and arguing for alternatives that could take the place of that compromise if it ultimately fails, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) is advising its members to continue preparing […]

British forwarders urged to tell govt how it is

The British International Freight Association, which represents freight forwarders in the UK, is urging its members to respond to the government’s aviation policy consultation on its long-term aviation policy to 2050, which lasts  until 11 April. The full text of the consultation document ‘Aviation 2050 – the future of UK aviation’ is at: https://preview.tinyurl.com/y8fd6th9

Eleven winners in UK freight service awards

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has revealed the winners of its Freight Service Awards Competition 2018. Double Olympic champion Colonel Dame Kelly Holmes hosted this year’s awards luncheon. She gave a motivational speech about what it takes to be a winner whilst dealing with physical and emotional issues. BIFA president Sir Peter Bottomley MP […]

UK freight forwarders ready to clear up the Brexit mess

Responding to the decision yesterday by the UK Parliament to reject a deal, which set out the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union on March 29, Robert Keen, director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) said: “The decision taken by Parliament is historic and needs to be acknowledged. With just a couple of […]

BIFA ‘surprised’ to learn of £8m Brexit customs training money from national press

The trade association for UK freight forwarders has expressed its surprise at the recent report in the Times newspaper that the UK Government is planning to invest £8 million in customs training and automation to support the extra demand for customs brokerage services in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal […]

BIFA expands training team with key appointment

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has expanded its training team with the appointment of Claire Capaccioli as trainer – freight and customs procedures. For some time the trade association for freight forwarding companies has anticipated a significant increase in the training requirements of its members. BIFA training development manager Carl Hobbis says: “One year […]

BIFA slams ‘patronising’ British government advice on no-deal

It is interesting that the UK Government has today supplied information to businesses on trading with the EU if there is no Brexit deal, says the British International Freight Association (BIFA). “As most of the visible trade that takes place between the EU and the UK is managed by freight forwarders and logistics professionals on behalf […]

Will Brexit mean anarchy in the UK?

With huge changes in international trade caused by Brexit and the implementation of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), all eyes will be on Birmingham next June with the 12th Multimodal being held at the NEC, writes Stuart Flitton. Among the many challenges forwarders are facing is the impending launch of CDS, which will replace the […]

BIFA: Only a lengthy Brexit transition can prepare for CDS introduction

Forwarders in Britain are pinning their hopes on a lengthy Brexit transition so that they can prepare for the introduction of the new Customs Declaration Service, says Robert Keen, director-general of the British International Freight Association. Keen, HMRC and the customs software supplier Agency Sector Management (ASM) are running a series of seminars on CDS […]

UK supply chain gets up to speed on new Customs declaration

Supply chain stakeholders across the UK have been flocking to seminars to get up to speed on the new system for UK Customs declarations coming into force next month. The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is set to replace HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF), which has been in […]

Cabinet approves Heathrow runway, MPs to vote within weeks

A third runway at Heathrow Airport has been approved by the Cabinet, ready for a vote in parliament in the coming weeks. Speaking to members of parliament in the House of Commons, transport secretary Chris Grayling stressed the importance of expanding Heathrow, highlighting its significance to the national economy. Addressing MPs, Grayling said that the […]

Transport Committee wants to talk Brexit with BIFA members

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is urging members to make their views known as the UK Parliamentary Transport Committee launches an inquiry into the impact of Brexit on UK freight operations. The inquiry will look into matters including the scale and nature of the challenges and opportunities Brexit presents to UK freight companies and […]

UK freight association welcomes new International Freight Forwarding Specialist apprenticeship

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed the news that the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) has delivered the final approval of the course assessment plan, which means that the International Freight Forwarding Specialist apprenticeship is now available for delivery. Over the past 18 months, BIFA has been supporting a trailblazer group of employers from […]

ASM to stage tripartite seminars on UK Customs changes

Heathrow-based Agency Sector Management (ASM), alongside the British International Freight Association (BIFA) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), will be running a series of seminars ahead of August’s phased launch of the Customs Declaration System (CDS), the system set to completely replace the existing system for Customs declarations in the UK. The ASM-BIFA-HMRC CDS seminars […]

Multimodal 2017: BIFA says Brexit implications for trade still unknown

Nobody really knows what the Brexit implications are for trade, the British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen told delegates at the Brexit Briefing at Multimodal 2017 in Birmingham. He event brought along a crystal ball to emphasise the point, explaining” “We, like most people, have heard all sorts of ‘facts’ and figures, […]

UK forwarders welcome industrial strategy but look for action

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by UK Prime Minister Theresa May that the Government plans to build an industrial strategy to deliver a high-skilled and competitive economy. BIFA’s director general, Robert Keen (pictured above) says the initiatives should provide a welcome boost for British industry and have a positive impact on […]

Freight none the wiser about Brexit impact warns BIFA

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says freight forwarders are none the wiser about how Brexit will impact freight following Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech on the UK’s plans to leave the European Union. The association’s director general, Robert Keen says though the speech has delivered some clarity on plans to leave the single market […]

Brexit: BIFA fears Heathrow expansion decision will be further delayed

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has expressed its concerns that a decision on expanding the UK’s aviation capacity will be delayed further in the aftermath of the country leaving the European Union. The UK public voted to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June, with prime minister (PM) David Cameron resigning […]