Blog Post | BIFA recently hosted its highly anticipated National Conference at The Slate, University of Warwick, marking the first such gathering in nearly two decades.
Whether they were ‘sent to Coventry’, or travelled there of their own accord, all attendees were united in their praise of the two-day event that brought together logistics professionals from across the UK to address pressing industry issues, explore emerging trends, and foster valuable connections.
Commenting afterwards, Steve Parker BIFA director general said: “The National Conference was a resounding success, providing invaluable insights, fostering collaboration, and reinforcing the collective commitment to advancing the UK logistics sector.
“It was really great to get so many of our members together in one room. There was a great atmosphere and it was just fantastic to see so many people, both our members and many other stakeholders who support our industry.
“I love this sort of opportunity to network and get everybody together and then talk about an industry we all love; talk about what we’re all doing and to be able to spend a couple of days considering where we are and where we’re going; under a theme of ‘ignite today and accelerate tomorrow‘.
“We were able to do a lot of that with some really interesting people who came and joined us and shared with us their knowledge and their experience and sometimes their humour, which was really great too.”
Insightful Sessions and Expert Discussions
The conference featured a comprehensive programme covering key topics shaping the logistics landscape. Day one delved into Airfreight, Oceanfreight, Sustainable Logistics, Customs insights, and Legal matters, providing attendees with critical updates and strategic insights.
Among other issues, day two continued with a focus on Cybersecurity, equipping delegates with best practices to safeguard sensitive data in an increasingly digital world.
A standout session, “What Does Trump Mean for Trade?”, offered an in-depth analysis of U.S. trade policies and their global implications, featuring insights from a trade expert recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C.
Additionally, attendees gained early access to BIFA’s updated Standard Trading Conditions, set to be officially released later this year, enabling them to prepare their organisations for upcoming changes.
Networking Opportunities and Industry Showcase
The conference also provided a dynamic exhibition zone where BIFA associate member companies showcased innovative products and services designed to enhance the logistics sector. This platform facilitated meaningful interactions and collaborations among industry stakeholders.
Special guests
The event included a gala dinner featuring Olympian and media personality Kriss Akabusi MBE.
Known for his achievements in athletics, Kriss shared his inspiring journey, motivating attendees to strive for excellence in their professional endeavours.
His after dinner speech will live long in the memory. What a life he has led and he shared it with such emotion and energy.
A Call to Action
One highlight among many was the visit from MP Stella Creasy who spoke and took questions on the UK – EU reset discussions.
She clearly had some views on the EU-UK reset which of course is crucial to every one of BIFA’s members and the industry they serve.
She gave attendees a bit of a wake up call in regards to what we should be doing as an industry and as a trade association.
She politely told attendees that the freight industry is not doing enough to get its points across to Government. That’s something that BIFA will be addressing going forwards.
Concluding Steve Parker said: “This conference was not just about learning; it was about professional growth and staying competitive in our fast-changing field.
“I would have liked to see more members at the event, and we have a few lessons to learn for our next national conference. “I would encourage all logistics professionals to participate in BIFA’s future events to remain at the forefront of the industry.”
Relive The Conference!
The full gallery can be found here – all credits should be given to SeekrVisuals when shared.
Check out our Showreels from this year’s event below!
Article credit: Ian Matheson, Impress Communications
+447894 406762 info@impresscommunications.org
Photo & Video credits: Sam Phillips, SEEKRVISUAL
+447812 453668 samphillipsmedia@outlook.com
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