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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
BIFA shares Parliament’s concerns over Customs plans post-Brexit
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says that the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee is right to have concerns over the UK government and HMRC’s plans for Customs procedures post-Brexit. Commenting after the publication of a report by the Committee, the trade association for UK freight forwarders agrees that more needs to be done […]
BIFA calls for end to congestion at Heathrow’s cargo centre
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says increasing air cargo volumes at Heathrow Airport are only exacerbating “age-old problems” for companies that have to use the gateway’s cargo centre. Director general, Robert Keen says the centre, which is widely known as the horseshoe is as “bad as its ever been”. He adds: “Congestion at the horseshoe […]
Freight forwarders want more detail on Customs proposals
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) says it is no surprise the UK government paper is all about possible trade and customs arrangements post-Brexit but has called for more detail on Customs plans. The UK will leave the European Union (EU) in March 2019 after triggering Article 50 in March this year and yesterday the government published […]
Queen’s Speech disappoints BIFA director general
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen says it is “very disappointing” the pre-election pledge to invest £40 billion in UK transport infrastructure and expand aviation capacity was overlooked in today’s Queen’s Speech. UK Prime Minister Theresa May put forward a heavily watered-down speech today after she failed to gain a mandate through a majority […]
BIFA urges for Brexit uncertainty not to delay key logistics decisions
British International Freight Association (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen has urged the UK Government not to let Brexit uncertainties delay key logistics infrastructure decisions. The association was commenting ahead of news about whether there will be a Queen’s Speech and the planned start of Brexit negotiations on Monday with the European Union. Keen says: “The goalposts […]
BIFA calls for ‘big decisions’ as UK goes to the polls
The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen says ahead of the results of today’s UK General Eelection that it is time for the UK Government to make some big decisions. Keen says: “In the year since the Brexit vote, the UK has been in a period of great uncertainty on the political […]
BIFA names policy and compliance officer as Brexit nears
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has appointed Pawel Jarza as policy and compliance advisor with responsibility for issues concerning Customs. This role will involve working with the trade, HMRC and other bodies to ensure customs processes and policies represent the best solutions for both trade and regulators particularly as new routines and solutions emerge during […]
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, […]
BIFA calls on UK Government to do more for logistics
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is calling on the UK Chancellor Philip Hammond to do more for the freight and logistics sector ahead of tomorrow’s UK Budget. BIFA director general, Robert Keen says the economic outlook post Brexit “looks challenging” and there is considerable uncertainty concerning the UK’s future trading relations with Europe. He adds: […]
BIFA promotes two onto its board
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) Board and Council has approved the promotion of Robert Windsor (pictured above) and Spencer Stevenson (pictured below) to directors. Windsor joined the BIFA secretariat in June 2009, and will continue to lead the trade association’s representational work with government and many other organisations that BIFA seeks to influence on behalf […]
BIFA urges caution when seeking Brexit advice
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is encouraging its members to carefully consider the options when seeking advice on the likely implications to their business and services of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union (EU). Director general, Robert Keen says: “There has been a huge volume of announcements and press coverage on the […]
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 […]
Forwarders gives cautious welcome to Heathrow expansion
The trade association that represents the UK’s freight forwarding and logistics businesses has given a cautious welcome to today’s news that the government has approved a third runway at Heathrow. British International Freight Association (BIFA) director general, Robert Keen says: “Today’s news appears to be the beginning of the end of years of procrastination over […]
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 […]
