The Spring Meeting of the British & Irish Association of Fastener Distributors turned its focus on the implications of BREXIT for its membership. Matthew Fleming, from KPMG Legal Services, provided another thought provoking presentation to a strongly attended meeting.
Around eighty senior managers from UK and Irish fastener distributors met in Stratford upon Avon to hear another incisive presentation from Matthew Fleming, KPMG Legal Services Partner. This was Matthew’s second visit to BIAFD – the first a year previously when, amidst almost complete uncertainty, he bravely began to unravel the issues on which distribution businesses would need to focus. This time, with a bit more to work on, Matthew identified which provisions of the Draft Withdrawal Agreement were agreed and which remained to be resolved, albeit with a reminder that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”. He also reminded BIAFD members that, while the 21-month transition period provided “breathing space”, it was not yet legally binding. With uncertainty still the watchword then, Matthew succinctly identified “triage issues” on which businesses needed to act – ranging from ‘survival’ mitigations to keep the business running under different BREXIT scenarios, to positioning the business to maximise its chances to thrive in a post BREXIT world. The session concluded with a lively questions and answers session.
There are two keys to growing success of BIAFD events. The association is deeply committed to ensuring its members are better informed. That includes e-news feeds and regular Bulletins, ‘early warnings’ on technical, standards and regulatory developments, and detailed briefings on key issues. However, this meeting once again demonstrated the value of investing a day away from the business to hear personally from and interact with authoritative speakers. Just as valuable is the unique opportunity to network with peers from across the UK and Ireland in an environment focused on the common challenges that face all fastener distributors, whatever their scale or location.
BIAFD membership starts at just GB£400 a year, a very small investment to be better informed in an uncertain and dynamic business environment. Find out more by visiting www.biafd.org or emailing info@biafd.org.uk
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 15 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector - interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe.
Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the Magazine is renowned.
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