UFO Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

This year, the Universal Freight Organisation (UFO) is celebrating its 10th anniversary thanks to your ongoing confidence and support.
 
Here is how we were formed ...
 
My career began in a garage as a car mechanic but after realising that engine oil can really damage your nails (!), a twist of fate took me to the Centre for International Briefing at Farnham Castle.  The organisation runs Intercultural Business Training and Assignment Briefings for expatriates who are going to live and work overseas.  Customers included Unilever, Shell, Motorola, the Ministry of Defence and the Sheraton Hotel chain amongst others.  Shortly after I began work with them, I was promoted to Manager of the Resource Centre for Europe.

 

After 5 years at the Castle, I needed a new challenge and so turned my hand to journalism.  I became Editor of a British Tourist Authority magazine called ‘London Planner’.  Overseas visitors request over 30,000 copies each month, so some of you may even have read it over the years.
 
I then returned to office-based work and gained valuable experience working in the Marketing Department of a large American engineering company. However, the position lacked flexibility and I craved a more creative role.
 
Fortunately, at the beginning of 1998, I was offered a position with a UK based freight forwarder network.  This new challenge was just what I was looking for.  I handled the day to day management of the network and during my time with them, I raised their membership from under 20 to over 70.  I also organised and attended their overseas meetings in USA, Brazil, Italy, Vietnam, Thailand, Netherlands and Russia.
 
I really enjoyed this experience and in January 2000, launched the Universal Freight Organisation (UFO).
 
We held our 1st Annual Network Meeting in February 2001 in London with 8 founding companies; CelerityTank Logistics (UFO Shanghai), ISYS Logistique (UFO France), KMS Logistics (Singapore), Express Air Freight (USA New York), KS Global Logistics (UFO Hong Kong), Bibby International formerly Archfield Shipping (UFO Great Britain), World Commerce (UFO Malaysia) and Broadline Services (UFO Nigeria).

 

 

I am proud to say that all these companies are still with us today.

 

Over the years we have grown steadily in strength and by reputation and in 2009, we welcomed over 100 delegates to our meeting in Cambodia.

 

 

Please follow this link to look at all our Official Group Photographs through the years.

 

There are many achievements that we have made together and for me, one of the proudest was in January 2007 when we became one of the only freight networks in the world to achieve ISO 9001:2000 certification.  I am also equally proud of the UFO Foundation, where Members have raise funds for many international charities (read more).

 

However, I'll be honest and state that the past decade hasn't all been a wonderful high.  I discovered how ‘good’ companies can turn ‘bad’ and some members (thankfully only a very small number) have left leaving debt behind.  To me this was a rude awakening.  Combining my passion of connecting people together with operating a business has been a tremendous source of conflict. 

 

I have had to accept that the practice of business networking and building relations will be missed on a handful of companies.  Fortunately the absolute majority of companies and people within UFO are decent and perform in a conscientious, diligent and professional manner.

 

Although I have been and will always remain in the driving seat, UFO has taken on our Office Manager, Judith Mellett who has helped at 5 of our annual gatherings.  I’d like to say THANK YOU to Judith for her continued administrative back-up, loyalty and friendship.
 
I firmly believe the benefits of UFO membership that have been developed over the years will keep UFO strong and hopeful for the future (view here).
 
To celebrate our 10th Anniversary at our upcoming meeting, we have exclusively hired the hotel nightclub and DJ so that we can dance the night away with fellow delegates … or sit, relax and enjoy the entertainment.  We have arranged an open bar until midnight, which includes all alcoholic and soft drinks.  To mark the occasion, each delegate will also be presented with a special gift during the evening.
 
Whether you have been a Member for 10 years or 10 weeks, what matters to me is that your UFO Membership is a positive one.  I can only hope that the friendships and memories created in UFO are cherished for decades to come.

 

 

 

Every single UFO Member should celebrate the fact that you have chosen to join a professional but family orientated network and I hope you will be with us for many more years.
 
Thank you all very much for choosing the Universal Freight Organisation and for giving me an excellent reason to remain passionate about business networking.
 
Kind regards,

 

RACHEL HUMPHREY
Chairwoman