I’ve had a fantastic few week’s at Espace HQ. As I’m sure you know, we’ve been implementing a new Transport Management System and even with the amount of preparations which have been involved, the switch from the old system to the new one hasn’t been without teething issues. But I’m pleased to report the issues were just that, teething, and nothing major. The way the team here have pulled together and helped each other through the move has been wonderful to experience and the developments our new system will give us will be worth all the effort that went into the point of go-live and will continue afterwards. My personal motto is “better never stops” and I feel it’s never been more apt to apply it to our tech project too.
Freight Industry Insights December 2024
17-12-2024
It’s not been all technological firefighting though. Late November brought with it another highlight of the Espace year, the Employee Ownership Association Annual Conference. It’s always superbly organised with three inspiring keynote speakers across two days and over 200 breakout sessions with subjects as diverse as “Being an effective EO Trustee” to “Financial freedom to troubled waters – and (hopefully) back again”. The EO community are always ready to share best practices, mistakes and lessons, all in the name of continual improvement for all who wish to be involved.
This last week, our Operations Director, Vanessa Patel and I attended the “Import Export Show” hosted by the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade in London. Through keynote speeches and fireside talks, there was a couple of recurring themes, the reset of trading relations with the EU and the introduction of US tariffs. On the whole, opinion was that the UK will benefit from both, so all being well, 2025 looks like it’ll be a better one in terms international trade than 2024. We’ve invited our local MP, Dave Robertson, to Espace HQ to discuss this and more.
I’ve just received our onboarding pack from the UK Warehouse Association (UKWA) as we begin our journey into the world of 3PL. Do note that our warehouse will be open throughout the festive period to receive and re-deliver loads even if you’re not.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, sang Andy Williams (the 60s crooner not our famous Financial Director!). Perhaps it comes with age, perhaps with an extremely busy diary, but I feel 2024 raced by quicker than any other year I’ve experienced.
No doubt 2025 will be just as eventful. We start the year with the introduction (or maybe not?) of the many times delayed UK Entry Safety and Security declarations, due at the end of January. Whatever the road ahead brings, we will be with you every step of the way.
So as the year approaches it’s close, all of us at Espace send our heartfelt best wishes for a peaceful Christmas time for you and your families and a 2025 filled with what really matters – joy, health and happiness.
If you don’t follow Espace Global Freight on LinkedIn (why ever not?) I’d like to leave you with our superb marketing departments own take on the twelve days on Christmas.
“On the twelfth day of Christmas my freight forwarder gave to me…
• 40 Employee-owners
• One cuddly mascot
• Sustainable transport options
• Over 500 years combined experience
• Just in time solutions
• A van in 90 minutes
• DDP Solutions
• RHD
• Four French speakers
• Reliable customs clearance
• Daily trucks to Europe…
• and competitive rates for air and sea!
Merry Christmas!
Geoff
Visit the Espace Europe Ltd website for more information on Freight Industry Insights December 2024
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