BIFAlink cover - British International Freight Association

20thanniversary
www.bifa.org
In another example of provision
of urgent information, the concept of
General Average was explained
relating to insurance claims
following the beaching of the
containership MSC Napoli off the
Devon coast early in 2007.
Other topical coverage has
included the forwarding industry’s
social responsibility in fostering a
cleaner environment and dealing
with the export of waste.
The thorny subject of forwarder
licensing surfaces from time to time
and the role and training of the
Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser has
featured over the years, as has the
training relating to the handling of
dangerous cargo for all the various
transport modes.
e-freight
Paperless trading has also been
addressed, particularly IATA’s
e-freight initiative, as has the UK’s
draft National Policy Statement for
Ports, with BIFAlink’s concern that
UK ports need to develop to retain
their status as main line ports of call,
especially given the tendency towards
larger vessels, ‘slow steaming’, and
rationalisation of port calls.
During the 20 years, BIFAlink has
flagged the widening range of
services that BIFA offers to its
members, as well as seeking
exposure for the forwarding industry
per se through initiatives such as the
Freight Service Awards.
One of the prime tools of
❝Comprehensive
levels of
training are
the lifeblood
of any
industry or
association
that stands
the test of
time, as it
must attract
the young,
with their
fresh ideas
and
approaches.
❞
communication today is the
Internet. The first reference to the
BIFA role in developing services is
found in 1995, with the website
www.bifa.org launched early in
1997, progressively updated, and
enhanced into a dynamic resource
for both industry and BIFA news,
but retaining the original links for
directory-type information and
published resources.
BIFAlink has keenly portrayed
the industry’s professionalism. Its
pages have witnessed development
of the Code of Conduct, the
introduction of the Guide to
Logistics Agreements in 2006 to
assist members formulating their
own customer contracts, and
changing BIFA membership criteria,
most recently in 2007, when
applications from all new companies
seeking membership were accepted
only as Probationary Trading
Members. To advance to Registered
Trading Member (RTM) status it
became necessary to demonstrate
levels of competency and training to
a BIFA auditor.
A comprehensive training
programme for both new entrants and
those seeking Continuous Professional
Development (CPD), with an everwidening
course scope, certainly aids
professionalism and an in-depth
understanding of the business.
BIFAlink highlighted the fact that
over 1,000 people were trained in
2004, the same year that BTEC
approval was gained for some of
BIFA’s courses. By 2009, delegate
numbers had reached 2,000.
Co-operation with the logistics
sector’s skills council, Skills for
Logistics, followed with a view to
new National Occupational
Standards (NOS) for the industry.
Training
Comprehensive levels of training are
the lifeblood of any industry or
association that stands the test of
time, as it must attract the young,
with their fresh ideas and
approaches.
In this respect, BIFAlink reported
in 1998 the start of the Young
Freight Forwarder of the Year
Award, launched at the FIATA
World Congress in Sydney with the
aim of recognising and encouraging
the industry’s new talent. It has
become a star event on the calendar,
featuring candidates pre-qualified as
national award winners going on to
the global stage.
As part of a BIFAlink profile this
year, one of the 2009 UK Young
Freight Forwarder of the Year
finalists, James Crosby from Damco,
told journalist Giles Large of the
reasoning behind his desire to work
overseas to further his knowledge. “I
do not want to become one of those
people who becomes stale, and this
industry is changing so much and so
quickly,” he commented.
With such zest from the new
generation, the next 20 years look
pretty encouraging for BIFAlink. ■
20 October 2010