www.bifa.org
Robert Keen’s Column
BIFAlink
BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266 Web site:
www.bifa.org E-mail:
bifa@bifa.org (A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: 391973. VAT Registration: 216476363)
Director General Robert Keen
r.keen@
bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor
r.windsor@
bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson
s.stevenson@
bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor Mike Jones
m.jones@
bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor Pawel Jarza
p.jarza@bifa.org Training Development Manager Carl Hobbis
c.hobbis@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond
s.hammond@bifa.org Administration Controller Jane Robinson
j.robinson@
bifa.org
Published by Park Lane Publishing
peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors Robert Keen, Robert Windsor, Mike Jones, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond, Pawel Jarza
Regional Consultants to BIFA Scotland and the Borders Len Hobbs:
bifa.scot@
gmail.com Northern Ireland Carson McMullan:
carsonconluce@aol.com Midlands and the North Paul Young:
youngyes@aol.com London West and the South West Colin Young:
young_colin.t21@btinternet.com Anglia, London East and the South East Paul Newman:
paul@pnauk.com
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.
October 2018
Brexit talks reach a critical juncture
So, we reach October and the political party conference season. No doubt there will be rancorous debate about Brexit in both of the main political parties, but more importantly the European Council meeting later this month is widely seen as the last chance for a negotiated exit plan for the UK to leave the EU being agreed.
In recent weeks the prospect a ‘no deal’ position has accelerated, so the decision we
were hoping for this month may be further postponed. At BIFA we are still resisting pointless speculation on what the future holds for BIFA Members. We have noticed an increase in enquiries from firms currently trading with the EU following the recent ‘no deal’ guidance papers issued by the government where our sector has been highlighted
as a source of advice. In August, I visited Northern Ireland for a catch-up with our man on the spot, Carson McMullan, and to assist
him with the visit of an IATA Ambassador who was interested in the border between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. As part of the visit we were taken on a tour of Warrenpoint Port to see the vast amount of materials that are driven from the Republic of Ireland to be shipped from Northern Ireland. Following the tour, we crossed the Carlingford Lough, and then drove in the Republic of Ireland to Newry in Northern Ireland alongside the Newry River. When I asked when we would be crossing the border, I was informed we had just passed through it. It is amazing how seamless the current border is, and I was informed at Warrenpoint that some vehicle routes from the Republic of Ireland involve a lorry crossing the border four times on a delivery journey! Let us hope that this situation continues post-Brexit.
In this edition of BIFAlink you will find on page 13 information about the latest revision to Derek O’Brien’s
book Know your Trading Conditions, which has been updated to reflect the changes from the 2005A BIFA STC to the 2017 edition issued late last year. If you have not moved over to the 2017 STC yet, then look at the information page on the BIFA website for guidance.
As regular BIFAlink readers will know, I often talk about visits to BIFA Member offices and back in August it
was a privilege to be invited to see BIFA Member TPS Global Logistics receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise from The Lord Lieutenant of Kent. I first met the owner, Matt Smith, many years ago when he had a small office at Feltham and it was great to see how the size of the operation has grown since then. TPS Global laid on a BBQ reception for all its staff and families, and the close-knit teamwork and camaraderie is a great testament to Matt and his team.
Finally, it is time to plug the BIFA Awards. As I mentioned recently, this gives me more worries than anything
else at BIFA as entries all seem to come in at the last minute, and I spend the days before wondering whether we will be able to put on a show. It is so easy to enter and do not be put off if you think it is only for the major firms as many of our smaller Members get recognised for their great niche services. The Awards Lunch and presentations are also a great industry event and this year we have Dame Kelly Holmes as our guest speaker and presenter – see you there in January.
Robert Keen Director General
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