The British International Freight Association (BIFA) recently marked the launch of its Solent branch of the Young Forwarder Network (YFN) with an engaging visit to the Wallenius Wilhelmsen ro-ro terminal at the Port of Southampton. This new branch boosts the number of YFN regional groups to seven, joining the existing groups in London Heathrow, London East, Avonmouth, North West, Anglia, and the Midlands.
Members of the new Solent branch enjoyed an exclusive tour, courtesy of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s RoRo Solutions Academy Workshop. Ben Dempsey, Manager Customer Growth (Liner Sales UK & Ireland) at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean & Solutions, expressed his excitement: “It was an honour to be chosen for the inaugural event of this new regional branch of the YFN; and we were proud to be able to showcase the shipping line’s ro-ro business to the next generation of industry leaders. It was inspiring to see such curiosity and passion on display from young executives that were present on the tour, who will no doubt go forward to shape the industry sustainably in their careers.”
BIFA’s YFN, established in 2019, offers members valuable opportunities to enhance their careers through professional development events, skill-sharing, and industry visits. During the pandemic lockdown, YFN expanded into the virtual realm, ensuring members could continue networking and learning online. This virtual network remains active, hosting events monthly for members across the nation.
The YFN’s dual format—real and virtual—aims to promote logistics and forwarding as exciting career choices, with BIFA members encouraged to inspire the next generation within their communities. Paul Cunningham, BIFA’s regional representative for the South and South West Region, remarked, “I look forward to working with the local organizing committee of our new Solent regional group to attract new members and develop a program of events that are both educational and provide opportunities for networking. Five years on from the start of the YFN, we have held over 138 events ranging from the educational, such as presentations on specific aspects of the freight and logistics industry, to purely social. The YFN Group on LinkedIn is now a community of almost 2,700 followers.”
The YFN is more than just a networking platform; it’s a crucial initiative for grooming the future leaders of the freight forwarding industry. By providing a mix of educational and social events, the YFN is laying the groundwork for the industry’s future, ensuring it remains vibrant and dynamic.
