R&S November 2012

Removals & Storage
The Magazine of the British Association of Removers
Features
November 2012 // Issue 460 // 4 On the cover

Masons Moving Group has become one of the best known removals companies in Wales. It is now expanding its European operations, adding to its fleet of vehicles. Page 48
www.bar.co.uk
The secrets to Masons Moving Groups success

Inside this Issue Industry News
>> Removals firm banned from operating abroad >> Bishops Moves BODSweb in action
BAR News
>> Free self-storage leads >> CMG Golf coverage >> Increasing leads with moveme.com
Features
>> Interview with Senior Traffic Commissioner, Beverley Bell >> Get your family tree prepared
Breaking News
>> E-learning for BAR Members >> FEDEMAC broadcasting system launched
November 2012 Removals & Storage
Features
Removals & Storage November 2012
Features
BAR News
Contents Industry News
Contents
06 News from Watford
Expect a call from BARs Commercial Department plus news that the Trading Standards Institute will take over from the Office of Fair Trading to sponsor the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
FEDEMAC looks ahead

New FEDEMAC President, Aivars Usans on EU lobbying, and his pet priority: to develop better links with national removals associations.
07 Industry News
Just a snippet... Removals rm banned from operating abroad Diesel users pay a premium Active supplies self storage for R&D Schofield White & Co in the Romsey Show limelight
44
E-Learning for BAR Members

BAR has teamed up with training specialists Maguire Training to provide e-learning modules at a discounted rate to all Members.
22 BAR News
Latest move.me lead data and ReachLocals internet marketing tips to South Western BAR Members.
40
24 Young Mover Prole

Neil Purdie, Matt Purdie & Sons.
The R&S Interview: Beverley Bell

Senior Transport Commissioner, Beverley Bell, talks to R&S about her approach to non-compliant operators.
26 BAR Services 28 QSS Update 30 Group News 48 Features

The secrets to Masons Moving Groups success Family trees fund RBA Sunnyside Up IT separating the best from the rest Starline reaps benefits of Alberta boom Affiliate profile: First Data Merchant Solutions
50
36 Overseas Group News 38 Interest Group News 40 Training News 44 European News
Self Storage Special
Commercial Moving
56 Diary Dates 57 People News 60 Membership 66 Classied
On the cover: From Left to Right: Gary Clark (Salesman at Watts Truck and Van), Richard Mason, (Operations Manager at Masons), Gordon Mason (Managing Director at Masons) and Phil Butler (Senior Relationships Manager at Lombard North Central)
BAR News
Contact Details: Editorial

Contributions on all aspects of the removals and storage industry are welcome, together with photographs if appropriate. Please contact the Managing Editor, Louise Gale on: Tel: 020 3235 1806 Email: rands-editorial@analyticamedia.com
News from Watford
Advertising
For all enquiries and bookings, please contact Steve Pearce on: Tel: 0117 957 5400 Email: steve@rubiconmarketing.net or sandra@rubiconmarketing.net Deadlines: The booking deadline for all display advertisements for the December 2012 issue of R&S is 5 November.
Subscriptions
Removals & Storage is subscribed to by members of the British Association of Removers in the UK and Overseas. Current annual subscription is 48.00 in the UK and 72.00 overseas. Additional subscriptions are available from BAR (see contact details to the left). Registered as a magazine The British Association of Removers 2012. ISSN 0034-4265
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be scanned, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in part or whole in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the British Association of Removers. Opinions expressed in Removals & Storage are not necessarily those of the publisher, British Association of Removers.The description of a product or service in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the publisher.The publisher does not accept any responsibility for any claims by advertisers.The articles in this publication are for general information only and are not intended to be advice to any specific person.Readers are recommended to seek professional advice before taking or refraining from taking any action on the basis of the contents of any article in this publication.
The British Association of Removers Tel: 01923 699 480 Fax: 01923 699 481 Email: info@bar.co.uk Tangent House, 62 Exchange Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 OTG
President: Ian Studd Director General: Stephen Vickers Company Secretary: James Falkner
Removals & Storage is designed on behalf of The British Association of Removers by: Rubicon Marketing Ltd. Tel: 0117 957 5400 Email: steve@rubiconmarketing.net Removals & Storage is written and edited for the British Association of Removers by Analytica Media Tel: 0203 235 1800 Email: andy@analyticamedia.com
With the rain lashing Watford High Street as this is typed, the Summer and the fun and spectacle that accompanied the Olympic and Paralympic Games already seems a distant memory, but there are things to look forward to. Prominent amongst these are the preparations for the Domestic Mover of the Year and Commercial Mover of the Year competitions next year, 2013. The two competitions have gone from strength to strength in recent years, and the standard of entries has continued to be impressively high. Full details and application forms will feature in the next issue of R&S, so if your company has not yet taken part in one of these prestigious competitions, why not go for it in 2013? Next March, as the Office of Fair Trading begins to wind down, it will give up its role as sponsor for the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme, of which the BARs Code of Practice is a part. Following detailed discussions in which the Association took a very active part, it has now been confirmed the Trading Standards Institute will take up this role. The fact that Trading Standards is a widely recognised name by consumers is important and welcome, but there is much to be done in sorting out the precise details of how TSI will operate as sponsor of the scheme. Further meetings are to take place over the coming few weeks, and a more detailed report will be made to Members in due course. BARTS have recently announced an
innovative new partnership with Maguire Training to allow Members to access the latest in on-line learning for a wide range of subjects such as sales/account management and customer service, leadership, and management skills. These are CPD-registered and BAR Members can benefit from a special discounted rate. Full details are to be found in the Members area on the BAR website. One of the key objectives for BAR is to speak directly to each Member company at least once in any one year, to get views and opinions on the wide range of benefits and services that the Association offers, and to help companies make the most advantage from their membership. This important telephone exercise has now commenced by BARs commercial department, and maintaining good communication with our Members is essential, so please try and make time in your busy day to take the call when it comes.
Copy and advertising deadlines 2012-2013 for future issues of R&S magazine
Article submission: 2nd of the month preceding publication Booking of display Adverts: 10th of the month preceding publication Booking of classified Adverts: 10th of the month preceding publication Booking of trade Adverts: 10th of the month preceding publication Artwork for Adverts: 15th of the month preceding publication
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Industry News
Removals firm banned from operating abroad

The Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England has told a Liverpool-based removals and haulage business that it will be on trial for the foreseeable future and should concentrate on local operations.
The warning came after operator licence holder Patrick Kavanagh, who trades as Kavanagh Removals and Storage, appeared before Simon Evans, Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England, at a public inquiry in Golborne recently. Kavanaghs sole trader business, authorised to operate three vehicles internationally, had been called before the disciplinary hearing following a Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) maintenance investigation where a VOSA examiner had found maintenance system problems and administrative failings at the company. As a result of those findings, Mr Evans ruled that Kavanagh would lose two vehicles and see his licence downgraded, preventing him from operating abroad. The Deputy Traffic Commissioner stopped short of removing Mr Kavanaghs repute which he ruled had been tarnished by the circumstances. This means the operator can continue as his own transport manager. During the inquiry, the Deputy Traffic Commissioner heard how a vehicle examiner from VOSA conducted a maintenance inspection at the operators premises in December 2011, after finding Kavanagh had moved to a new operating centre without informing his office.The examiners report confirmed that Mr Kavanagh had failed to ensure vehicles were given routine safety inspections on the agreed dates, while inspection records were found to be incomplete. The VOSA examiner also identified that drivers were not recording defects in writing, no follow-up action was taken or detailed, a maintenance contract was not in place and the operator had a poor MOT pass rate.Two prohibitions issued to the operators vehicles in 2011 were also taken into consideration by the Deputy Traffic Commissioner. His records revealed the business had no previous maintenance visits on record.
Diesel users pay a premium

Following analysis of wholesale price data from the EU, the AA has called into question the high price of diesel at the pump. UK wholesale prices shown to the AA reveal that at different times during this year, diesel prices have ranged from the same price as petrol to up to 2p a litre cheaper. However, during the period where these prices were equivalent or diesel was cheaper, diesel remained at least 5.4p a litre more expensive than petrol at the pump forcing diesel driving businesses to spend at least 2.5m a day extra on fuel. Since then, despite diesel again becoming cheaper than petrol in the wholesale market, diesel remains at least 4p a litre dearer than petrol at the pump. The Office of Fair Trading announced a preliminary investigation into oil and fuel markets, due to report early next year. As a result, talks between the Government and the fuel industry, initiated by former Transport Secretary Justine Greening, for the speedy introduction of a wholesale price indicator in the UK were put on hold.
Revocation risk Mr Evans determined that the examiners visit had revealed serious issues around meeting licence requirements and considered the prospect of revocation of his licence. However after taking evidence from the operator he concluded that Kavanagh could be compliant. I heard about the personal circumstances of the operator that will have affected his focus on his role both as operator and as transport manager, stated the Deputy Commissioner. I note that somewhat belatedly he has sought the assistance of his son and put in place systems to improve the administration and hence the maintenance regime in his business. Ordering that the licence would be downgraded to standard national preventing him from running vehicles on the continent and curtailed to one vehicle indefinitely, Mr Evans said the operator needed to focus on local issues. He also recorded a number of promises from Kavanagh, in respect of safety inspections, driver defect reporting, rolling road brake testing and preMOT checks. Kavanagh was told that he would have to wait at least six months before he could make an application to run internationally again and that any decision would be subject to his business making satisfactory progress.
For information about the role of the Traffic Commissioners, see the R&S interview with Senior Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell on page 50.
Go-ahead for Portsmouth Road Bridge

Major improvements to tackle a traffic bottleneck on Portsmouths Northern Road Bridge will go ahead thanks to 11m of government funding. The Department for Transport has given final approval to the scheme which will see work on a replacement bridge over the Portsmouth to London railway line at Cosham. The original bridge was built to carry a dual carriageway road but is now too weak to do so and traffic has been restricted to a single lane in each direction for a number of years. The new bridge will allow the dual carriageway to be reinstated as well as removing any weight limit, bringing the bridge up to current national standards. The new bridge is scheduled to open in October 2013. The Department will provide a maximum of 11.09m towards the full scheme cost of 12.62m.
The AA believes delaying these talks has given fuel retailers and suppliers the cover to perpetuate this petrol-diesel price gap for at least the next four months, potentially continuing to push up the travelling cost of trades people, road deliveries and rural workers not to mention car owners who switched to diesel to reduce fuel bills. Edmund King, the AAs president, said: The AA welcomes the OFT investigation but not at the expense of immediate and easily-achieved price transparency, which would have informed the investigation while empowering consumers and businesses at the same time. Filling up a typical 50-litre petrol or diesel fuel tank went up more than 2 from August to September, according to the AA. Regionally, the most expensive area in the UK for petrol is Northern Ireland at 141.1p a litre, while London undercuts even Yorkshire and Humberside to be the cheapest at 139.8p a litre. Scotland beats Northern Ireland in selling the most expensive diesel in the UK, averaging 145.2p a litre, while Yorkshire and Humberside is cheapest at 144.1p.
Industry News
New standards for lorry drivers

New frameworks setting out the competences expected of lorry, bus and coach drivers have been published by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) defining the skills, knowledge and understanding required to drive these vehicles safely and responsibly. The standards address specific issues such as the use of tachographs and the dangers of continuous driving. The National Driving Standard Category C (lorry) and National Driving Standard Category D (bus and coach) outline what drivers need to know, understand and be able to do in areas such as: preparing a vehicle and its occupants for a journey guiding and controlling a vehicle using the road in accordance with the Highway Code driving safely and responsibly in the traffic system reviewing and adjusting driver behaviour over a lifetime.
Driver CPC deadline

Driving Standards Agency Chief Executive, Rosemary Thew, is urging all operators whose drivers have not yet started periodic training, not to leave it until the last minute.
long as possible in the face of the continuing recession. According to statistics obtained by the Freight Transport Association, at the end of July there were 2,980 approved courses and 1,195 approved centres, delivering training for those 528,000 drivers who have made a start, but reports show that to date there still remains a shortfall of 1.3 million days plus an unknown number of drivers who have not yet started the training at all, so it seems that some freight operators still have a lot of work to do. FTA spokesperson James Firth said: The next two years will be a crucial test for the road freight industry. The message to operators is that if they have not yet started to get their drivers trained, they can still do so in time but they need to start now. The worst outcome would be a rush for training in the spring and summer of 2014 as reluctant operators panic ahead of the deadline. Spaces on training courses will be at a premium, with some providers already saying they have every weekend until the deadline fully booked. The Traffic Commissioners have assured the industry that they will take action against drivers found driving without a complete DCPC after the deadline and also against operators who allow drivers to drive without a complete DCPC. The legal obligation to complete DCPC does rest solely with the driver. Traffic Commissioners also appear to be taking a dim view of operators they meet at public inquiry that appear to take no interest in the professional development of their drivers. Having successfully argued for a flexible regulation that gave plenty of time for existing drivers to acquire the necessary training, the FTA considers it is the responsibility of operators to step up and commit to good quality training that delivers a real improvement in driver awareness and knowledge.
Castle Cary rethink for A371

Plans for Network Rail to close the A371 at Castle Cary, Somerset for 15 weeks have been delayed until next Spring after Network Rail officials admitted their failure to consult with local businesses. The work to repair and reinforce Ansford Bridge was due to commence 10 September and finish January 2013. The Road Haulage Association was one of the local business organisations to express concerns about the project. Its objection is based on the cost ramifications of a diversion, possibly in excess of 32 miles, to a transport operation running in and out of Castle Cary several times a day. While accepting that that this work is necessary, particularly from a safety point of view, an RHA spokesperson welcomed delaying the commencement date: It will mean more opportunity for consultation and will help local residents, businesses, transport operators in particular, to be able to plan ahead more effectively.
If the deadline arrives and you drive professionally without a Driver CPC, youll be committing an offence. If youre an operator and you cause or allow your drivers to drive without Driver CPC youll also be committing an offence. The idea of drivers completing regular training throughout their working life is not new many have been doing it for years through operators who recognise the benefits of drivers developing their skills; helping to boost productivity as well as improve road safety. DSA figures show that there is a growing number of active drivers undertaking DCPC training, but the same figures also suggest there is a long way to go to ensure that every licensed driver will be in possession of a current Driver Qualification Card in time for the 10 September 2014 deadline. Drivers who acquired their vocational licence before the introduction of Driver CPC have five years from its introduction to complete the required 35 hours. The deadline for completion of Driver CPC (DCPC) training for lorry drivers is 10 September 2014. Leaving DCPC training to the last minute seems to be the biggest risk as businesses defer any spending as
M4 works begin in Berkshire

A package of maintenance projects that will help keep journeys on the M4 near Reading safe started at the beginning of October. Sections of the motorway will be resurfaced, safety barriers and fences will be renewed and upgraded, concrete on structures will be repaired and bridge components will be replaced as part of the 4.9m investment in the vital route, which is used by more than 100,000 drivers each day. The nine separate schemes all between junctions 10 and 11 of the M4 near Reading - have been closely coordinated to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. Some sections of the work will be completed using temporary overnight lane and hard shoulder closures, other works such as the safety barrier upgrade will require narrow lanes and a temporarily reduced 50mph speed limit. On some nights the M4 or its slip roads will be closed to traffic, with fully signed diversions in place. Weather permitting, the work is expected to be complete by April 2013. For more information, see www.highways.gov.uk/ traffic-information.
Industry News
The dangers of texting and driving

Consumer organisation, Which?, has revealed alarming figures for the impact of using social media when driving, including a 79% reduction in attention when texting.
Small business bank welcomed

There has been a warm welcome from the business community to Business Secretary Vince Cables decision to establish a governmentfunded bank to help small and medium sized businesses. The new bank will aim to attract private sector funding so that when fully operational, it could support up to 10bn of new and additional business lending. It will bring together in one place government finance support for small and mid-sized businesses. The bank will operate at arms-length from Government. It will be professionally run and commercially focused. It will facilitate the provision of loans, including long-term capital, to UK firms through banks and other financial institutions. The new institution will operate through the wholesale markets, it will not have any retail presence and will not displace or subsidise banks. Its role is to encourage the development of private sector solutions and enable the market to work properly, not compete with it. Theres no doubt action is needed the banks arent lending enough and we know this, said Phil McCabe, Senior Policy Adviser at the Forum of Private Business. But we really need a dual focus. That is, getting more transparency in high street bank lending and improving ethics in the way banks treat their small business customers, backed by more lending through alternative sources of finance, such as peer-to-peer platforms. Given the new bank will not be active for another 18 months and will operate through existing lenders, he said this is not going to be a quick fix. However it is hoped that the Governments commitment to small businesses will incentivise more investment in small businesses. A newstyle boutique, Government-backed bank for growth firms can bring something new to the business lending toolkit, CBI Director General John Cridland said. The big gripe today from many growth businesses is a gap in the market for long-term investment finance.
The qualitative research follows an RAC study of more than 1,000 motorists which highlighted concerns among motorists of the growing danger of other drivers texting and tweeting at the wheel. Which? sent three researchers to a test centre in Berkshire, where simulators gauged their driving ability and reaction times in various states of distraction. They drove while sober (as a control), and while at the legal alcohol limit. On a separate day they drove while using their phone to chat and text. In all but one of the tests, texting diminished the drivers abilities more than drinking, or any other type of phone use tested. For all three researchers, the average time taken to react to hazards when sober and not distracted was just over a second. After drinking, their reaction time rose to 1.2 seconds, and it was fractionally higher still when speaking on a hands-free kit or handheld mobile phone. But when attempting to write a text
message, the average reaction time jumped to two seconds. The results build on concerns raised by the RACs Report on Motoring 2012 which revealed that three of the top five concerns held by motorists are now about the behaviour of other drivers. In particular, respondents highlighted other drivers using mobile phones and using social media as a big fear factor for their own safety. Welcoming Which?s study, David Bizley of the RAC said New generations of drivers are missing out on vital information about the dangers of driving under the influence of drink and drugs and of using a mobile phone and social media while driving. Similar to Which? we strongly urge the Government to reintroduce a high profile media campaign on the dangers of mobile phone use while driving and to incorporate road safety in the national curriculum.
New record for Felixstowe

Customers at the Port of Felixstowe are benefiting from fast vessel turnarounds on the quayside as a result of a programme of continuous improvements. Felixstowe set a new record for the number of container moves in a 12-hour shift with the recent call of the Maersk Sarnia. A total of 3,431 exchanges were completed on this vessel and in a 12 hour shift, 602 moves were completed by an individual Quayside Gantry Crane, the equivalent of more than 50 moves per hour, at an overall speed of 182 moves per hour across the whole vessel. In the past 12 months the port has achieved an overall improvement of 24% in real operational moves per hour on deep sea vessels.
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Industry News
Small firms essential to the UK jobs market

A recent report published by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) underlines just how important small firms are to strengthening the economy, tackling unemployment, and taking on people who are shut out of the labour market. Back to work: the role of small businesses in employment and enterprise, shows that each year small and medium sized businesses take on around 1.3 million unemployed and disadvantaged people. In contrast, large firms with more than 250 employees hire less than 130,000 on average. The report finds groups such as long term sick, disabled and students, among others, are more likely to be employed by a small business. In fact, 95% of this group that find work in the private sector will work for or start up a small or medium sized business. Almost nine in 10 (88%) unemployed people that are actively looking for work will find a job in, or start up, a small business. Despite these positive signs, the labour market remains fragile. Recently unemployment has fallen, however, confidence in the market remains low while company finances are squeezed with rising costs and falling demand. This report shows that small firms and sole traders can create more jobs, but they need greater support from government policymakers. However the FSB is concerned that changes to the tax system will create more red tape for small firms and could act as a deterrent to taking on staff or starting up. More than 50% of FSB members have said that tax administration is one of the most complex areas for compliance. The FSB believes the introduction of Real-Time Information reporting, which will require a business to report information about employees and wages to HMRC 12 times a year, will be an administrative thorn in the side of small firms and goes against the Government rhetoric on tax simplification and cutting red tape. In addition, small businesses must automatically provide a pension for their staff from 2015, which will be a time consuming and costly process for many. Given that, the FSB has called for the Government to take another look at the impact assessment to assess the true cost of the scheme for the smallest of businesses. The FSB is calling for the National Insurance Contributions holiday to be extended: There are also a lot of new regulatory changes in the pipeline. Our concern is that these changes will add to the already heavy administration burden for small firms meaning they choose not to grow or take on staff.
Freight forwarders call for road funding action

With the increased costs of using the Dartford Crossing, and a parliamentary bill introduced to start charging foreign trucks using UK roads, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) is calling for a long-term strategy for funding the UKs road network.
October 2012 saw a rise in cash payments for HGVs on the Dartford crossing from 3.70 to 5.00, to be followed by a second rise to 6.00 in October 2014. BIFA Director General, Peter Quantrill, said that in relation to the proposed road user charging scheme for foreign lorries, BIFA agrees with the principle that all haulage companies that use UK roads should contribute to the cost of the maintenance and development, regardless of a companys origins. Haulage companies with trucks registered in the UK already do that of course through Excise Duty on Fuel and Road Fund Licences. We anticipate that there will be provisions in the draft legislation that ensure UK hauliers will be will be no worse off, he said. In view of the emphasis by the European Commission on the polluter pays and the road user pays principles, Quantrill says there is a need to properly address the issue of finding a long-term viable solution to our transport needs. In short, how should the road network be funded and by whom?
Devolving local transport decisions

From 2015, more of the decisions on the major transport schemes that have a significant impact on peoples daily lives will be taken at a local level, Transport Minister Norman Baker has said. A public consultation on the devolution of decision-making on major local schemes showed broad support for the proposals, and the Department for Transport will now proceed with its plans outlined in the consultation. Local major transport schemes have traditionally been individually approved and funded by Government under a centralised bidding process. In the future, funding will be allocated locally, allowing priorities to be decided by newly established Local Transport Bodies which will be made up of local transport authorities, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and others with a key interest. Norman Baker said we want decisions on new transport infrastructure to be made more efficiently, and at a more local level than has previously been the case. While it is right for the Government to look at the big picture and co-ordinate schemes with a national impact, there is no substitute for local knowledge. That is why we want to make sure that important decisions affecting the future of towns and cities across England are made by those who best understand the specific issues facing their communities. Decisions on the use of the devolved funding will be made by Local Transport Bodies which will be expected to demonstrate to local stakeholders and central Government that the schemes they will carry forward provide good value for money. Corin Taylor, Senior Economic Adviser at the Institute of Directors, said: This is the right decision, which should give businesses more of a say on key projects in their region and speed up approval of vital work to ease road and rail bottlenecks. Britains Government is over-centralised, with far too many decisions still made in Whitehall, but todays move should restore some much-needed control to local areas. It will now be vital for the new Local Transport Bodies to put together a list of priorities, so that work can start as soon as responsibility is transferred.
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Industry News
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Bishops Move blows the industrys trumpet

A new survey commissioned by Bishops Move has found the welcome news that removals companies are the least challenging service provider to deal with during the process of moving home. When posed the question: Which service provider do you find the most challenging to deal with?, the 1,000 respondents were asked to select from a choice of solicitors, estate agents from the perspective of both the buyer and the seller, utility companies, removal companies and house builders. Whilst historically removal companies may have been the first to be blamed when things went wrong and items turned up broken or didnt turn up at all, just 3% of respondents to this latest survey claimed that the removals company added to their stress. Removal companies apparently caused the least hassle, with just 3% of those questioned laying the blame for any stress at their door. Solicitors and utility companies didnt fare so well, coming out at 30% and 18% respectively. The survey, conducted through market research company OnePoll, also found that estate agents also proved a challenge, whether yours (13%) or theirs (16%).
Local authorities still late payers

A nationwide study to determine how long local authorities in England take to pay supplier invoices has shown just marginal improvements in average payment times since 2009.
The Forum of Private Business carried out identical research three years ago, yet despite governmentimposed targets for councils to pay suppliers within 10 days, on average only 51% of council invoices in the 2011/12 year were settled within this time frame. That compares to 45% in 2009. The data also reveals suppliers are now paid, on average, after 17.5 days a fractional improvement from 2009 when it was 17.9. On the whole, councils in the North West were the quickest payers, while those in Yorkshire were the worst. Although the research highlights problems with prompt payment right across the country, there were some good news stories. The figures show a number of councils paying extremely high percentages of their invoices in less than 10 days. Tonbridge and Malling were the best performing for this indicator at 97.1%, with South Northamptonshire second on 96.1%, and Waverley third on 94.2%. The FSB singled out Northamptonshires 4-day average payment time as exceptional, and suggested that the Local Government Association consider making them a beacon council in prompt payment. There are many authorities who could learn a lot from their example. Overall, just eight councils indicated that the average time taken to settle bills was over 30 days, with Worcestershire County Council by far the slowest payer taking 65 days on average to settle up. Worcestershire reported fairly average response times for the proportion of bills paid within 10 and 30 days indicating that there may be a small number of
contracts that were paid very late. Leicester was in the bottom 10 of proportion of bills paid within 10 and 30 days, although the average time taken to settle their bills was 28 days, putting them just outside the bottom 10. North East Lincolnshire and Hammersmith and Fulham were also highlighted as consistently slow payers by the research. The FSB said late payment is a curse for many small firms, and if local councils cant get it right with all the resources at their disposal, then the private sector will always have an excuse for not doing so either.
Chris Marshall, Bishops Move Marketing Director, said it is well known that moving home can be an extremely stressful time and there will inevitably be some challenges that have to be faced along the way, which is why weve made it our business to do all we can to ensure that the moving itself goes without a hitch. While other service providers involved in the process may cause the blood pressure to rise, when the big day arrives we want our customers to feel reassured that the van will arrive on time, load up all their belongings safely and securely and deliver them in the same tip-top condition to their new address. This means that the customer can concentrate on picking up the keys to their new property and putting the kettle on for a wellearned cuppa!
Financial analysts sound alarm over sales drive

Plimsoll Publishings latest study on the Furniture Removers industry, which was recently updated for September 2012, demonstrates that 115 companies are risking their long-term sustainability in order to increase sales. Although sales have seen an upsurge, the 115 companies continuing with their current business model are in danger of spiralling out of control and are heading for rocky ground. According to the market analysts, one in nine companies are jeopardising their financial health in a bid to boost market share. The new Plimsoll report, which analyses the top 441 businesses in the sector, says that while the majority of the organisations are making solid and informed decisions, there are some firms that need to think about their goals. David Pattison, author of the new market report, said companies need to be wary of their actions. He said of course its exciting to see these companies increase their market share and invigorate the market, but if their financial health continues to decline then all these extra sales will count for nothing. In a market that displays modest growth, its evident that these businesses are impacting on the rest. Of the other 885 companies analysed in the report, under a third have seen their sales dramatically decline. Due to the 115 companies surging ahead, the others in the industry are facing the consequences.
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Industry News
Warning on fraudulent operators

The International Association of Movers (IAM) has alerted BAR to an operator who is falsely claiming to be a member of its association. When British-Ltd. International Transports requested a deposit of 4,000 within 24 hours for shipping a car to Portugal, the customer became suspicious and contacted the IAM. The total charge for the proposed transaction was 8,000. The company is not a member of the IAM or of the California Moving and Storage Association (CMSA), despite its claims in its commercial correspondence and despite using the IAM logo on its website. If you have any doubts about a company and its membership of a professional association, always get in touch with BAR to confirm any affiliations. BAR is in daily contact with moving associations across the world and will be able to quickly check whether the suspect company really is a member.
Ingrams move Bannatyne Fitness

With the expert support of Ingrams Removers and Storers, 94 staff at Bannatyne Fitness Limited relocated their head office in Darlington, County Durham, to nearby state-of-the-art new premises.
Kevin Pedelty led a team of 14 staff accompanied by 4 vehicles to carry out the move. Working off carefully prepared floor plans and an IT specification, the move included Ingrams staff packing and unpacking 600 crates and carrying out all computer disconnections and reconnections. One important aspect of the contract was the precise timing of Bannatynes national call centre move. The office contents required packing and moving late on the Friday afternoon, with unpacking and office furniture placed in the correct positions over the weekend using floor plans, ready for the national call centre to be fully operational the following Monday
morning. At Bannatynes new premises, specialised quilted padded door covers were used to protect all doors, door frames and the new access to prevent any potential damage. Bannatynes Project Manager Mark Thornhill was delighted with the service. Ingrams constantly put me totally at ease with the logistical challenges of moving from our old head office building to our new corporate space in Darlington. The planning and quality of staff were excellent and we would have no hesitation in recommending them to others. Nothing was too much trouble.
Expect Move go ape!

The team at Expect Move enjoyed an exciting teambuilding day in September on a challenging series of jungle activities in Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire. Management and staff celebrated the end of a busy summer season by testing their nerves on a daring jungle walk through the tree tops. It was a great day and very good for team spirit amongst the office staff and the crew, Managing Director Peter Weltenius told R&S. Everyone did their utmost to complete the course! We all enjoyed an exhilarating and fun day out, Senior Coordinator Jo Marques agrees. After their exertions on the jungle work, staff relaxed at the Old Swan for a well-earned lunch in recognition of all their efforts and achievements.
Musical move for Harrow Green

Harrow Green has been appointed by Chethams School of Music in Manchester to relocate the furniture, storage and resource materials from the old school premises to a new 31m, sevenstorey school building. This project is the latest in a number of school moves undertaken by Harrow Green in the northwest with a combined value in excess of 350,000.
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Industry News
Agility GRMS golf day raises funds for BLESMA

Agility GRMS recently organised a very successful golf day to raise funds for serving and ex-service men and women at South Cerney Golf Couse.
BAR Affiliate Agility GRMS manages the removals for all Ministry of Defence personnel moving worldwide. To give something back to the armed forces, the company and its suppliers have for some time now been making generous donations to BLESMA, the British Limbless Ex Service Mens Association, which is the national charity for limbless serving and exservice men and women and their dependants. Agility GRMS has the goal of raising 10,000 per year for the charity for the duration of its contract with the MoD. And, it looks very likely that they will meet their aim. Funds raised for BLESMA at Agility GRMS Septembers golf day totalled 845. The golf day was the latest in a long series of activities undertaken by the company with 7,400 raised before the Summer,
Active supplies self storage for R&D Schofield
followed by Agility GRMS staff recently running a 10 km charity run which raised a further 1,240 for this very worthy cause. BLESMAs General Secretary Jerome Church said the effort, hard work and sacrifice by Agility GRMS will go a long way in helping our brave servicemen and women when they return home from duty with appalling injuries, which can have devastating lifelong effects. We are immensely grateful for their determination.
Golfing wins Agility GRMS also provided the winning team for the golf day, just pipping Doree Bonner and Bishops Move. Geoff Watson of Doree Bonner was the medal winner, with Russell Start of Pickfords winning the Stableford competition ahead of Michael Jennings of Agility GRMS. Gordan Lyall of Doree Bonner won the nearest to pin award, while Louis Spies of White & Co. went home as winner of the Longest Drive.
White & Co Louis Spies, White & Co Mike Ingram Fox Dan Fox, Fox Jonathan Denning
BAR Affiliate, Active Supply & Design, has provided key technical support to R&D Schofield Ltd in its decision to add self storage to its portfolio of services. R&D Schofields move to new premises last year provided the space for the installation of an initial 54 self storage units. Specialists in self storage construction and design solutions, Active Supply & Design assisted this BAR Member throughout the process including supplying and installing the units and giving their advice on the day-to-day aspects of running the self storage operation. The initial offering consists of units varying in size from 15 sq. ft. to 100 sq. ft., with a total of 2,935 sq. ft. of net lettable space. Matthew Schofield of R&D Schofield told R&S how helpful the Active team were in guiding him through the process of setting up the new self storage operations. Active Supply & Design liaised with building control in order to ensure compliance with regulations, including for example, the specifications for lighting, smoke detectors etc. for fire safety certificates. According to Matthew, the self storage business has already provided us with a new stream of income in spite of significant local competition.
Bishops Chris Marshall, Bishops Mike Herald Agility Simon Mercier
Pickfords Russell Start, Pickfords Mark Taylor D Bonner Gordon lyall, D Bonner Geoff Watson
White & Co Ian Nicholson, White & Co Marc Dack Fox Chris Carpenter, Fox Mike White

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Industry News
Mobeltransport commits to UN Compact

Mobeltransport Danmark has reaffirmed its long tradition of corporate social responsibility by joining the United Nations Global Compact. We have now taken a public commitment to the advancement of the Global Compacts 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anticorruption, said Niels Bach, the companys CEO. For us, signing the Global Compact is not just a publicity stunt or about making us look better than we are. It is about dealing constructively and systematically with the environmental and social challenges in our daily business and then making real changes. In a related development, Mobeltransport Danmark also attained ISO 14001 environmental certification. Environmental impact is an increasingly important issue across the globe, said Fie Hollis, who is responsible for business certifications at Mobeltransport Danmark. Sorting and recycling packing debris is no longer enough as increasing pressure is coming from a number of sources including local authorities, corporate clients, private customers, our own employees and shareholders to formalise and measure our environmental performance.
Fox triumphs at Interdean rugby sevens

Congratulations to the Fox International Rugby 7s team who travelled to Acton to compete in the Interdean rugby tournament. With only one reserve player, the team competed in 5 games, winning all to get to the final. In the final they trailed by one unconverted try with only seconds remaining. The referee awarded a scrum to Fox on their 10-metre line and called it as the last play of the match. Several passes followed by an 80-metre sprint saw Ceri Young touch down, promptly converted by Dan Fox to win the tournament, just proving that a family team can compete at the highest level in sport and in business!
Anglo Pacific moves theatre shows

Dazzling, Spellbinding, Glorious just some of the words used by theatre critics both sides of the Atlantic to describe Theatre Royal Baths tour of The Caretaker starring Hollywood legend Jonathan Pryce. These glowing reviews would have not been possible had specialist theatrical movers Anglo Pacific not adhered strictly to their shipping script. Eugene Hibbert, General Manager of Theatre Royal Bath, explains, for The Caretaker we had to ship a 40ft container of set, costumes, props, wigs and technical items from the UK over to the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, on to New Yorks Brooklyn Academy of Music and then back to Bath. If we dont deliver on time, apart from actors acting with no scenery, a disappointed paying audience of thousands and my P45 landing on my desk, theres also a large contractual penalty clause for Theatre Royal Bath Productions. Thankfully, we know were in safe hands with Anglo Pacific and everything went very well to schedule and to budget. The Caretaker is not the only production that Anglo Pacific has helped the Theatre Royal Bath with this year. Their version of Shakespeares The Tempest, starring Tim Pigott-Smith as Prospero, also required a 20ft container of props, puppets, costumes and musical instruments to be hired from across the Atlantic from The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. With the show now closed in Bath, Anglo Pacific is in the process of returning the consignment back to the United States. Theatre Royal Bath can now close the curtain on a hectic summer touring schedule.
Niels Bach, CEO Mobeltransport Danmark.

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Industry News
Factoring deal helps Monkey Removals expand

Lincoln-based Monkey Removals has expanded into the commercial sector after securing a factoring facility from Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance. The funding enabled the firm to secure a significant contract with City of Lincoln Council. The business, which was established in 2009, has 15 employees and an annual turnover in excess of 460,000. The factoring facility advances the value of up to 90% of the firms invoices, boosting its cash flow. It allows the company to prepare for trading peaks and troughs and frees up time that would have previously been spent on administrative tasks. The company expects its annual turnover to grow as it targets expansion for its services further across Europe. Nicki Sutherland, director at Monkey Removals, said demand for our professional service has increased significantly and we needed an injection of working capital to cater to the larger commercial requests we were receiving. The banks Commercial Finance funding has provided the support Monkey Removals needed to target new business. We no longer have to wait for commercial customers to pay their bills to provide the company with a cash flow boost, which has allowed us to focus on the day-to-day operation of the firm.
Nicki Sutherland of Monkey Removals with Lloyds Bank representatives Nick Winrow and Moseley
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Industry News
ONeil redesigns website

Its worth taking a look at the website of BAR Affiliate, ONeil Software, which has been completely redesigned. Not long ago, websites were created to ensure that companies had some type of representation online, says Ian Thomas, Executive Vice President of ONeil Software. However, in this fast-paced world, web design, digital marketing and web development are changing almost daily. So its extremely important that your website changes with the times and stays fresh and updated. Since a good web design is an online storefront, a primary goal of ONeils redesigned website is to provide valuable, up-to-date content, to keep visitors coming back. Fresh material added regularly helps ONeils customers find out the latest on the companys products, activities and services within the records storage and management industry. This content serves as a valuable resource for their customers and shows prospects how actual customers are benefiting from the use of ONeils software and its services. In addition, ONeil wanted to create an easy browsing experience. If visitors get lost or confused during their online travels, chances are they wont return to the website, so faster access to information is key, according to Ian Thomas. That means no more searching through a lot of pages, looking for information buried behind menus and options. The ONeil website now provides as much information as possible, with just two or three clicks of the mouse.
White & Co in the Romsey Show limelight

A horse-drawn pantechnicon from White & Company enjoyed pride of place in September at the Romsey Show, drawing admiring gazes from upwards of 60,000 visitors.
The vehicle came away from the show with the First Reserve prize and did a great job in stimulating the interest of the local community and raising the profile of White & Company. The vehicle is a 3-ton horse-drawn Tunnel Van and is an original part of the establishment from the early days of White & Company. It was built for the company in Portsmouth in 1889 and was used in the Portsmouth area to transfer trunks and baggage from the Great Western Railway Station at Portsmouth to various locations in the Portsmouth and Chichester areas. At the turn of the 20th century White & Company in Portsmouth had 12 such vans and had some 36 Shire horses in stables behind its furniture depository. When the vehicle is full to capacity it holds 700 cubic feet of furniture and effects. The vehicle weighs 3 tons in itself and is capable of holding 5 tons of weight. This would mean that a team of two Shire horses could have easily pulled a total of 8 tons over cobbled streets.
This vehicle was retired from active service in 1920 and spent the next 45 years laid up in the warehouse. It was reconditioned and lovingly restored in 1968 under the direction of Dudley White, the grandson of the founder of White & Company. It has been displayed in both Jersey and Guernsey and various vintage shows throughout the South East of England. For the last 15 years it has been resident at an industrial museum in Basingstoke. In 1910, ten years before this vehicle was retired from service, our company had grown to operate and own 42 horse drawn Tunnel Vans and the stables had increased to accommodate nearly 100 Shire horses, Chief Executive Ian Palmer says. Although this is the only horse drawn Tunnel Van that we now own, our fleet has grown to 208 vehicles. Our company ledgers show that in 1910 we moved a client, Mr Taylor, from Bournemouth to Portsmouth using three of these vehicles. The cost to undertake the task was 1,9 shillings & 3d and the driver was paid 6d for having to stay away from home overnight!

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Industry News
Bringing an end to Polio
GB Liners and White & Company have decided to support Rotary Internationals drive to eradicate polio by carrying publicity for the campaign on their vehicles. Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland is involved in an international campaign to eliminate polio which can cause paralysis and sometimes death. It strikes children mainly under the age of five in countries in Asia and Africa. Because there is no cure for polio, the best protection is prevention in the form of a vaccine. A polio-free world is potentially in sight: last year there were just 700 cases worldwide, the lowest in history. However considerable funding is still required to carry on vaccination campaigns in order to bring this debilitating disease to an end once and for all. Both GB Liners and White & Company are proud to be doing their bit to try and end polio now. For more information about the campaign, please see www.endpolio.org.
L-R: Phil Hambleton and Chris Duddle (GB Liners), Past BAR President, Robin Mason, currently District Governor for the Rotary district that includes Hull, Keith Davison, District Governor for the Rotary district that includes Leeds, Richard Tallant and Victoria Shingles (White & Company, Leeds).
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Industry News
Fits and starts in housing market

The housing market has continued to sputter along, with sale volumes lower and house prices depressed. However, there are some indications that 2012 may end on a more positive note for the housing market. Measures on the supply side, such as the NewBuy scheme and planning reforms, could lead to an increase in the number of houses being built and breathe new life into the market.
Rightmove.co.uks House Price Index monitors changes in house prices both annually and monthly, providing a comprehensive view on the current state of the property market in England and Wales. Its recently released figures for October saw a jump in new seller average asking prices of 3.5% (+8,310), the biggest increase for eight months. The average price of a property going on to the market in October was 243,168, up by 1.5% from that of a year ago. Miles Shipside, Director and Housing Market Analyst at Rightmove, said the upturn in asking prices is most likely attributable to the continued shortage of new property supply. Since all regions saw increases, with above average rises in London (+4.8%), South East, West Midlands (both +3.9%) and North West (+3.8%), this would suggest evidence of some life in the market, he said. The prospect of a few active selling weeks before the winter slowdown means estate agents are keen to attract fresh stock to try and land more buyers. However, this stock-building could backfire if they agree to overambitious pricing to please a seller, as it could curb a potential buyers enthusiasm to arrange a viewing if the over-priced alarm bell starts ringing. The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has reported that activity in the UK housing sector contracted in August, with a slight decrease in both the supply of property and demand from prospective buyers. Its members reported the number of available houses on the market decreased, moving from an average of 61 per branch in July to 60 in August. Similarly, house hunter levels dropped slightly from an average of 293 in July to just 288 in August per branch. The housing market report also found that the number of sales made by agents remained static for a record six consecutive months. The average branch sold seven properties in August. Figures from the Land Registry confirmed that during June 2012 the number of completed house sales in England and Wales decreased by 3% to 56,077 compared with 57,702 in June 2011. In the second quarter, the number of property transactions increased slightly over the last year. From March to June 2011 there was an average of 51,044 sales per month. In the same months in 2012, the figure was 52,715 per month. In terms of prices, the August data from the Land Registrys House Price Index shows an annual price increase of 0.7% which takes the average property value in England and Wales to 163,376, the same level as in July. The number of properties sold in England and Wales for over 1 million in June 2012 increased by 35% to 647 from 478 in June 2011. Figures from the Ofce for National Statistics recorded UK house prices increasing by 2.0% in the 12 months to July 2012, which was down from a 2.3% increase in the 12 months to June. House prices remained relatively stable across most of the UK although prices in London continue to increase whilst Northern Ireland prices are falling. The year-on-year increase reflected growth of 2.4% in England, which was offset by declines in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland of 1.1%, 0.2% and 10.9% respectively. Excluding London and the South East, UK house prices increased by 0.6% in the 12 months to July 2012. Data from September house price indices did not give much hope for a speedy recovery in the housing market. Nationwide, which covers the whole of the UK and is based on a sample of loans issued in any given month, reported that house prices declined by 0.4% in September, after recording a 1.1% rise in August. Prices are now 1.4% lower than in September 2011. This data was mirrored in the Halifaxs report for September which also recorded house prices falling by 0.4%. For the Halifax, this third consecutive monthly fall more than offset the two successive rises earlier in the year in May and June. However, although buying and selling remains subdued, home sales were very stable, at between 75,000 and 77,000 per month between May and August. Overall, sales in the three months to August were 3% higher than in the same period last year. Martin Ellis, Halifax Housing Economist, said: The generally weak economic climate remains a significant constraint on housing
demand. The relatively low level of mortgage payments in relation to income, however, continues to provide support for house prices. We expect house prices to be broadly unchanged over the rest of this year and into 2013.
Miles Shipside, Rightmove
source: Rightmove
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The prospect of a few active selling weeks before the winter slowdown means estate agents are keen to attract fresh stock to try and land more buyers.
BAR News
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BAR News
High level of interest in moveme.com leads

There has been a high level of interest from BAR Members in real time leads from moveme.com, since BAR and TwentyCi, the owners of the website, reached a wide-ranging partnership last month.
In September, there were 1,364 leads available during the month across the UK from Moveme.com and partner websites such as Zoopla. The highest number of leads were generated in the following postcode areas: SW, SE, N, E, B, NW, NG, M, LS and MK. In the same month, traffic to the sites Move Planner was an impressive 37,500 unique visitors. Because of the nature of the service, these visitors are people who will be in the process of moving house and who will therefore be likely to need a removal company in the near future. With demand high across the country, Moveme.com is keen to speak to BAR member companies in postcode areas where people are requesting quotes but where they currently dont have enough companies to service the leads: NG, M, MK, LE, SO, LS, CV, NN, ME and BD. Increasing lead volumes TwentyCi is also due to launch the Home Move Planner on Confused.com in the next few weeks, which it expects will have a significant impact on traffic and the number of leads they can supply. At the same time, the company is rolling out a number of new advertising strategies that should lead to a spike in lead volumes. These include a PR campaign to increase awareness of the moveme.com site itself, some exciting new affiliate deals to draw traffic to the move planners and a large scale investment in PPC (pay per click) and other online advertising. Leads are available exclusively to BAR Members at a specially negotiated rate of 3.00 across the UK. There is no extra cost to filter the leads by property size (e.g. number of bedrooms) and Members can test the leads as part of a no obligation, one month trial. Katy Moore, TwentyCis Account Manager told R&S: Moveme.com and BAR are working closely to ensure that there is real distinction between a Removals lead and a Man & Van lead, with the intention that Members who only deal with larger moves will not be inundated with leads for movers who are not willing to pay for that kind of service. A number of changes have been made to the site very recently which should make sure that this is the case. Under Offer & Sold Direct Mail Leads In September, Moveme.com also introduced a new source of data to their direct mail leads. These additional leads are supplied at the point at which a survey has been carried out on a property (usually after an offer has been made). Analysis shows that 85% of these properties sell within 8 weeks, making these leads a great opportunity for BAR Members to contact movers at the very point at which they start to think about needing removal services. According to Katy, one BAR Member who has been using these leads for a number of months now
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estimates that as much as 60% of its business comes from this data. Were aware that not all removal companies have experience in, or the time to devote to direct mail marketing and as such were always more than happy to answer any questions you may have and make suggestions as to how you can make the leads work best for your company. Responding to feedback from BAR Members, Moveme.com has also introduced a new pricing structure for these leads, providing the option to select by property price (e.g. over 100,000, over 150,000 etc.) whilst still benefiting from the exclusive 20% discount available to BAR Members. For more information contact the removals team at TwentyCi on 01908 829300 or info@moveme.com
Moveme.com and BAR are working closely to ensure that there is real distinction between a Removals lead and a Man & Van lead, with the intention that Members who only deal with larger moves will not be inundated with leads for movers who are not willing to pay for that kind of service.
BAR News
South Western Area looks at Internet marketing

Members of BARs South Western Area enjoyed a fruitful meeting in late September, with useful presentations from Brian Maidman and from BAR Affiliate ReachLocal about Internet marketing.
Shamus Mahmood of ReachLocal provided great tips about how removal companies can convert clicks onto their landing pages into the real business of phone calls and enquiries. One of the questions I often get asked by BAR Members is why do I get lots of clicks but not much new business from my website, Shamus told the meeting, before running through a number of ways that removal companies can improve their online conversion ratios (see box). After the presentation, members quizzed Shamus about the value of being on social networking sites, the pricing of pay per click on sites such as Google and yell.com, and the value for money of their investments in online marketing. Brian Maidman, one of BARs Directly Elected Directors, provided a well-received overview of all the major changes that are on-going at BAR, including an update on the new membership criteria, changes to the BAR website, the imminent phasing out of the OFT Code, and the arrival of VAT for the self-storage sector. Brian also encouraged local Members to register their interest in the apprenticeship scheme as this will enable funding to kick in from Training Skills Logistics. Members were impressed by everything BAR is working on and setting up, Area Secretary Sue Christophers told R&S. We felt that the BAR is working really hard for Members, and is striding into the future. All in all it was a really positive meeting.
Converting clicks into enquiries 1. Make sure your phone number is the most prominent thing on your landing page. Make it big, bold and easy to read. 2. State your call to action, such as Call Now for a Free Quote, at the top of your page. 3. Put your value proposition at the top of the landing page. 4. Have all key information in the front and centre of the page. 5. Provide alternatives to the phone, such as a contact form, for people who dont want to call. 6. Shorten contact forms only include as many fields as you need to. 7. Steer clear of distracting links. 8. Use a simple design, with professional images, a simple colour scheme. Hire a professional website designer. 9. Cut down on copy. Use only enough text to communicate key messages. 10. Convey trust and authenticity. Display your logo, testimonials, accreditations and badges, as well as authentic photos or even videos of your business.
Source: ReachLocal
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Young Mover Profile BAR News
New Purdie delivered!

Young Mover Neil Purdie (pictured) at Matt Purdie & Sons in Scotland talks to R&S about the importance of standards and about the latest addition to his family!
Matt Purdie & Sons is one of the best known familyrun firms in the BAR and in the removing industry in the UK. Neil Purdie, who has been at the company for eleven years, has just added to those family numbers with a new baby boy, called Max. Neil left school at sixteen and worked for the local council for a year and a half, during which time he completed a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Business Administration. This was completed on a part-time basis as he worked with construction services, assisting the architects in measuring up buildings, changing plans and other jobs. I enjoyed this thoroughly, however I saw a future with the family business and started here as soon as I got my licence at the age of seventeen. Neil started out on the vans and then worked his way up through the company. Currently he is kept busy by surveys and tenders and is also part of the quality management team that is responsible for keeping standards up to date and completing monthly audits. Both Neil and fellow Executive Director Audrey completed the ISO 14001 environmental standard earlier this year. He hopes that BARs role will continue to focus on standards for the foreseeable future. Being involved with the auditing process has allowed me to understand the importance of standards. This would raise the credence of any good BAR company and let people know the difference between a good company and a van and man. I feel this would benefit all removal companies and would set a benchmark for a good standard of work. For Neil, being involved with the auditing lets you identify any problems and rectify them sooner, or perhaps find new ways of doing something to make any individual task simpler or quicker. This can be from the initial point of contact from the customer, throughout the move itself or finalising the paperwork in the office. Auditing gives you the chance to really understand every aspect of removals and we would never really have audited anything if it had not been for our BS standards. A night at the dogs He is a strong supporter of the Young Movers scheme and has enjoyed attending many events in recent years. It has been a fantastic venture for me personally as I have met loads of colleagues that I would now class as friends throughout the UK, he explains. It gives you the chance to meet people that you have worked with in the past and build up a working relationship for the future. Its a great networking scheme. I see the friendships that some of the older generations have made over the years and have kept up, not only on a business basis but also on a personal basis. The Young Movers gives you the chance to meet people earlier in your career and make the most of the opportunity put in front of you. Neil is very encouraged by the increasing number of people he has seen at Young Mover events in the last couple of years. The support of the BAR and its members is crucial to the continued success of the scheme, he says. His own favourite event was the dog racing night at Perrys Bar, which was Neils first experience of a day at the dogs.
I see the friendships that some of the older generations have made over the years and have kept up, not only on a business basis but also on a personal basis. The Young Movers gives you the chance to meet people earlier in your career and make the most of the opportunity put in front of you.
Are we your preferred supplier - if not, why not?

Our companys sole purpose since its inception in 1977 is to serve the membership to supply good quality, innovative packaging products at low prices. This is achieved by buying jointly on your behalf and passing on the discount achieved from this bulk purchasing power! As a member, we should be your preferred supplier but are we? For many of you the answer will be yes but for those of you that say no then we would like to know why? Your feedback is important so please ring us on 01342 870087 or you can simply email sales@barservices.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you.
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BAR News
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BAR Services BAR News
BAR Services Board appoints Mark Chudley

In June this year, BAR Services was delighted to welcome Mark Chudley to its existing Board of Directors. Mark owns his own successful company Chudley International which is based in Somerset. Many members may also know Mark for his roles as National Council Chairman, Western Area Chairman and currently as the FEDEMAC representative a role he took over from David Trenchard. But how did Mark begin his 35 years in the removal industry?
As with all good stories, it starts with a girl! At 17 years old, Mark (pictured) met Dawn Blatchford. Dawn is the daughter of Derek who then owned Blatchpack in Exeter. At the time, Mark was focused on a career with Royal Insurance, however, a Saturday job and holiday work with Blatchpack changed his career path and he began working permanently for Derek. As a trainee, Mark began by manually typing inventories and eventually learning how to estimate. This led to Mark taking control of the overseas surveying. During this period, Mark married Dawn and they went on to have two children: Joanne, who is now a tax accountant and a mother of two, and Adam currently works for Chudley International and also has two children. In 1978, Derek announced that the Manager at the Stockport branch had left and asked Mark to run the premises as Acting Manager until a permanent one was found. After only 18 months in the business this was a daunting prospect. Four years later, after running Stockport, Mark returned to Exeter when the business was sold to Malcolm Halley. It was during this time that Mark had his first dealings with BAR Services and built up a strong and lasting relationship with its then General Manager, Tony Allen. Antiques shipping Unfortunately, Mark and Dawns marriage did not survive and this had an obvious impact on Marks career. Mark learnt much from his time at Blatchpack and in his words will always be grateful to Derek for imparting his knowledge. However, it was time to look for alternative ways of earning a living. Marks latter years at Blatchpack had given him experience in the antique shipping trade. With this knowledge, Mark went on to work for a dealer, Mike Bell, who had showrooms in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Mark worked with Mike for six years until 1994 when the recession hit and Marks hours were reduced. Again, although it seemed like doors were closing, it gave Mark the opportunity to start out on his own. Armed with an ex-AA van, a trailer and a guy called Tim, Mark packed containers for antiques dealers and furniture manufacturers on site. He feels the credibility of Mike Bell helped him in the early days. The foundations for Chudley International were being laid. Mark was supported by his second wife Lynne, who not only drove vans and acted as porter on trips to Paris flea markets, but also said nothing when all their money was ploughed back in to the business.
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Mark is always someone to see the best in everything and he comments those early days were the fun days in business, when we had little but loved every new opportunity we got. Both this attitude and hard work has led to a thriving business that now boasts a 12,000 ft warehouse and seven vehicles. Antiques shipping is still 60% of the work that the company undertakes. Chudley International is very much a family business. In 1996, Marks brother came to help out in his holidays and still remains after 16 years. Lynnes daughter Sarah joined the team in 2002, to run the accounts, and both Adam and Joanne have active roles as Move Manager and Company Secretary. Supporting BAR Services With his busy schedule, why has Mark agreed to become the newest BAR Services Director? Mark joined the BAR in 2004 and feels that it changed his business giving it a far more professional approach. Since he joined, Mark has always been a loyal BAR Services customer as he feels not only are its products of a high standard but that the team works closely with him to help develop his business. This may be done by sourcing and developing new products that will be of benefit by either reducing costs or promoting a good image. BAR Services is our company, its for our benefit and it helps us, says Mark referring to the fact BAR Services is owned
by BAR Members. Mark comments that General Manager, Miranda Hyder works tirelessly to keep ahead of the game as the recent new RB carton development shows. Another factor that helped Mark decide to join the Board was that it would be an ideal opportunity for him to be able to impart his own knowledge from his years in the industry and also strengthen his relationship with the BAR. He also believes that he too will benefit from the wealth of industry knowledge that sits around the table. The irony is not lost on Mark that indeed Derek Blatchford was involved in the beginnings of BAR Services and this gives him a personal link to helping the survival of the business. Mark is very supportive of the new website link that allows BAR Members customers to buy directly through the BAR Services website and believes this will be successful. For the future, he would like to see BAR Services again holding stock in its own warehouse but realises this may not be realistic at this stage. Whilst Mark acknowledges that competition is tough, he feels that as long as Miranda and her team, with the support of the Board, continue to source and supply innovative products at competitive prices then the future of BAR Services is bright. Mark hopes to spend many years on the Board and to use his industry experience to pro-actively contribute to the future success of BAR Services.
BAR News
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QSS News BAR
QSS News
New certification for BMI Britannia Movers International plc have now achieved the Overseas Moving Standard (BS 8564) great news for everyone at the company and for their many customers. In addition, BMI has also received confirmation of its new FIDI / FAIM ISO (FAIM 2.0 version) certification.
Quality Service Standards Ltd (QSS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BAR. QSS is an independent audit body. It helps BAR Members achieve and maintain certification for the specialist industry standards BS EN 12522 (Domestic), BS EN 14873 (Storage), BS EN 15696 (Self storage), BS 8522 (Commercial) and BS 8564 (Overseas) as well as ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 14001 (Environmental) and the standards for shredding and document storage.
Contact
If any company wishes to adjust its audit and certication date to a more convenient time of the year, before it becomes xed, this is the opportunity to do so please contact Chris Waymouth at QSS on 01923 699480 or at chris.waymouth@bar.co.uk
BAR Training Services

Training from the Removals Experts
Removals Essentials
Brand new course Removals Essentials to be priced 985.00 + VAT, this course will be delivered onsite as practical skills training where we will demonstrate the correct methods for manual handling, vehicle loading, wrapping and packing with delegates taking part in all practical excersises, there will be no classroom element. Course content:- Manual Handling, Health & Safety, Vehicle Loading, Packing (fragile and non fragile), Wrapping, Tail Lifts, Risk Assessment.
BRAND NEW
for 2012!
This is a practical course, with no classroom element

Course can be delivered onsite for your convenience, Please contact BAR Training
Services for full details at training@bar.co.uk or 01923 699 484
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Olympics BAR News Monitor
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CMG Profile CMG News BAR
The Commercial Moving Group (CMG) is a dedicated group of companies within the British Association of Removers that specialise in all aspects of commercial relocations.
CMG launches marketing drive

For some time now, members of the Commercial Moving Group of BAR have been keen for the CMG to raise its profile in the marketplace. In response to this groundswell of opinion, the CMG has developed a marketing strategy that is designed to increase awareness of the CMG brand and of the standards required for CMG membership.
The overall objective of the marketing strategy, explains Richard Hill of Delivery Services (CMG Marketing Sub-Committee), is to work towards BS 8522 becoming a pre-requisite of prequalification for tenders and key criteria in the procurement of commercial moving services in both public and private sectors. This will position CMG members as a primary source for clients selecting a reputable Commercial removals contractor. There are some very clear unique selling points for the CMG in the marketplace, Richard says, including Reputation, Experience, Security, Quality, Professionalism, Peace of Mind, Reliability and Predictability For Richard, the launch of the CMG website has been central to the marketing plans, providing an active link for Members to the marketplace and vice versa. It provides a networking forum for members and free weekly sales leads as well as a platform for marketing member services. The new website is being complemented by advertorials and articles in specialist media and attendance at conferences for procurement professionals. The launch of the CMG website was accompanied by a press release and over 10,000 Facility Managers, Project Managers, and Council contacts were notified of the event. Getting out there The CMG is also undertaking sector-specific marketing initiatives that can generate quantifiable business results. These sectors include local and national government, healthcare, education and heritage, and in the private sector verticals including construction, facilities management and property management, financial services and the media. The CMG is in the process of establishing corporate alliances with a range of relevant industry bodies, including the British Property Federation, the British Medical Association, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. These close relationships will serve to keep the CMG brand highly visible with major users of commercial removal services.

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In collaboration with the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), the CMG has also developed an important piece of marketing literature: The Good Practice Guide to Commercial Removals. The CMG is also targeting procurement officers who are preparing a relocation framework or tender, using its very own tender tracker database. We are all facing similar market issues, Richard says. There has been a general reduction in commercial moving activity. All CMG members need to work together to raise and maintain standards in the industry. Ultimately, the CMG depends on its members to market it. So the next step is for CMG members to ramp up their activity at the local level to promote the CMG and refer clients to the new CMG website to help them prepare their moves. For more information, see www.barcommercialmovinggroup.co.uk
There are some very clear unique selling points for the CMG in the marketplace, including Reputation, Experience, Security, Quality, Professionalism, Peace of Mind, Reliability and Predictability.
CMG News Industry News
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CMG Newsle CMG Profi BAR
The Commercial Moving Group (CMG) is a dedicated group of companies within the British Association of Removers that specialise in all aspects of commercial relocations.
CMG Councillor Sarah Cole

Sarah Cole, Legal and Quality Director of Universal Commercial Relocation, is a newly appointed councillor of the CMG. She spoke to R&S about her plans to contribute to the CMG, and about how companies such as Universal need to ensure the highest levels of professionalism if they are to perform well in public and private sector relocation tenders.
Universal Commercial Relocation was founded in 1978 by Sarahs parents, Managing Director Bill Murray and fellow Director Mairead Murray. Sarah works alongside General Manager Patrick Molloy, another member of the family, as Legal and Quality Director. Universals main areas of business are office removals, commercial storage, records storage and destruction, and confidential shredding. Sarah (pictured) says that although Universal has been a Member of BAR for many years, and joined the CMG in 1995, the company had not been actively involved with BAR and its Groups. It was only on reading R&S and learning about the benefits of group membership for commercial moving members that Sarah first decided to attend a CMG meeting at Watford in February 2012. I was impressed by the obvious commitment of the Councillors and BAR to roll out initiatives which would have tangible and commercial benefits for their members from winning new business with lead generation, to building a dedicated apprenticeship scheme for the industry, she says. I wanted to get involved and participate in CMGs drive to raise the profile of our Group as the professionals that sets us apart from many other companies in the business. Sarah was appointed as a Councillor earlier this year. She has joined the CMG Training sub-committee where she is involved in the ambitious development work on the apprenticeship scheme headed up by Loren Webster of BAR Training Services and CMGs Deputy Chairman Kevin Mack. Universal plans to take advantage of the scheme and recruit new personnel through the scheme in 2013, Sarah discloses. The scheme fits in very well with our long-standing tradition of training our operatives from inception with a view to them coming up the ranks and staying with the business as they develop and progress. The development of a recognised and industry specific vocational qualification is a very useful initiative which will only enhance our training and development programme. Sarah herself joined Universal in 2002, following a career as a commercial property solicitor in the City of London for the previous 10 years. In my time as a solicitor, it was the business aspect of my work and the development of strong client relationships that I found the most interesting, she explains. Joining the family business has given me an exciting opportunity to build on this experience and be part of a close knit team committed to its workforce and to its customers. Our commercial relocation business has the same underlying principles and approach as the law firms I worked in offering a highly professional, reliable, and cost effective solution to blue chip companies where delivery to our clients is business critical. Compliance is key Sarah explains that whereas it used to be a companys expertise, name in the market and references that were key in winning new business, public and private sector clients are now increasingly focused on compliance in their approach to tenders. It is overseeing this aspect that is her main responsibility at Universal, and it is a part of the business that should be of paramount importance to all commercial movers. As a trained auditor, I head up the team looking after our Quality and Environmental Management systems which cover many areas of our performance from training and development, health and safety, to sustainability and innovation, she says. Our QSS accreditations in ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and BS 8522 have been at the heart of this approach. We have also looked to participate in other industry recognised initiatives such as FORS administered by Transport for London which focuses on safe, green and efficient fleet management. I was delighted to be registered as a FORS Practitioner in May 2012. Professionalism has always been at the heart of the Directors approach to our services and our clients, and their ability to retain clients and staff over so many years despite the rapidly changing face of the business world is testament to this.
Sarah Cole, Legal and Quality Director

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I wanted to get involved and participate in CMGs drive to raise the profile of our Group as the professionals that sets us apart from many other companies in the business.
CMG News BAR News
Challenging golf conditions in an historic setting

The CMG golf competition, sponsored by Basil Fry, saw an excellent turnout, with 34 players prepared to take on the Old Course at the St Pierre Golf & Country Club, near Chepstow.
Set in the rolling hills of South Wales, the 14th century manor house, which now includes the clubhouse, was entrusted with the safekeeping of the Crown Jewels by King Henry V during the battle of Agincourt. Eight centuries later, two equally important pieces of silverware, the CMG Trophy (for CMG members) and the Guest trophy (for key suppliers) sat waiting to be claimed by their rightful heirs. With the promise of sunny spells turning to wintery showers later, those teeing off early sought to put a few points on the scorecard in the individual Stableford competition before conditions deteriorated. For once, the weather report was true! 1st Tee: Most got away safely, even if it took three shots off the tee! 9th green: By the halfway point, some of the players were flagging. By all accounts, the course was playing tough, with a whipping wind making course management all the harder and undulating greens stealing away precious points. 18th green: The signature hole of the Old Course. A 235-yard par-three requiring a tee shot over water to an elevated green, with a hungry bunker. Most groups were by this time sodden and, after a five-hour round and with the clubhouse in sight, keen to grab a swift beverage before the Seminar began.
Results CMG Trophy 1st Simon Compton (24) Harrow Green 37pts 2nd Scott Poulton (12) Harrow Green 35pts 3rd Ted Mooney (13) Company Moves 31pts Guest Trophy 1st Barry Kempton (10) Abrahams Crates 27pts 2nd Malcolm Pearson (18) Reason Global 24pts 3rd Nick Flaxman (24) Pluscrates 23pts O/C Longest Drive Simon Darvall, Business Moving Group Nearest the Pin Paul Tracy, Pickfords
Simon Compton, CMG Trophy winner
Mark Herrington, the CMG Chairman wishes to extend his thanks to the organising committee of Kevin Mack, Rod Seeland and Nigel Shaw.
Barry Kempton, Guest Trophy winner
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Features
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Features
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Overseas Group News BAR News
The Overseas Group (OG) is a dedicated group of companies within the British Association of Removers that specialise in all aspects of overseas relocations.
Overseas Group Council

At its October meeting, the OG Council discussed a number of topics relevant to international movers, including standards and marketing of the OG.
New Website The Overseas Group website is nearing completion and should be ready to go live at the end of this year. The websites main objectives are to supplement the Members own corporate websites and to promote the benefits of using an Overseas Group Member over a BAR Member or non-BAR Member. Annual Conference 2013 Preparations are now underway by the Overseas Group in relation to its presence at the BAR Annual Conference in Newcastle next May. The OG will organise 3 workshops among the subjects being considered are Marine Insurance, Alternative Shipping and an Open Forum Q&A Session where 3 OG Council Members will take questions from the floor. Standards There are now seven BAR members that have the Overseas Standard (BS 8564) and a further seven companies have purchased a copy of the standard which is a solid indication of interest. At the same time, there are moves at the international level to advance the status of an international standard. BAR Director General Stephen Vickers reported to the OG Council that the USA had tried to make the ISO 17451, an international standard, through a fast-track process. BAR lodged an appeal setting out a considerable number of concerns regarding the impractical level of detail required for the inventory and serious flaws in how it would be implemented. BAR also provided information to FEDEMAC who contacted their associations to lobby against the standard being forced through. Following formal representations by BAR and FEDEMAC at the ISO TC122 committee meeting on 20 September, a resolution was passed requiring the process to start again. Since the development of the standard is likely to stay on the international agenda, BAR and QSS will become actively involved in any work groups being established and it was agreed that a member of the OG Council will also be involved as a representative for BAR in any work group on this topic. Containers OG Council members expressed their growing concerns with containers arriving late and of poor/ dirty quality as well as being charged demurrage fees with little discretion applied.
The Overseas Group membership currently consists of 54 Members. There are 149 BAR International Associates. For more information on joining the Overseas Group contact: email: commercial@bar.co.uk or Tel: 01923 699 483
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BAR News

Library Packing and Removals
Brand new course designed, based on member feedback aimed at training operative foremen, packers and estimators in the methodologies for packing and removing libraries and extensive filing systems. Course content:- Library Classifications, Sequential order, Labelling and packing the crate, Methods for packing a library, Using existing shelving, Mobile shelving, Crew organisation, Special collections and Integrating collections.
Course Dates 2012

27 November 2012 Course to be held at BAR, Watford
BRAND NEW
for 2012!
Just 199 + VAT p/p (BAR Member)
Course can be delivered onsite for your convenience, Please contact BAR Training
Services for full details at training@bar.co.uk or 01923 699 484
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Self Storage Group BAR News
The Self Storage Special Interest Group was established in response to the needs of many Members who now include self storage as an important element in their service offerings. The Group offers a forum for companies to promote and develop their self-storage operations and is designed to encourage best practice in the self-storage industry.
Free self storage leads

As part of BARs alliance with move.me, BAR will be making available via the BAR website a Move Planner to assist anyone moving.
The Move Planner will generate template emails to provide customers with key information at specific times of the move. One of these emails will be entitled Arrange Self Storage in order to prompt the consumer to use a BAR Self Storage Special Interest Group (SSSIG) member and will include a link to the section of the BAR website where these members are listed. To facilitate the search for a BAR Self Storage Special Interest Group member, BAR will activate within the next month a Self Storage icon and enquiry form, allowing SSSIG members to receive these leads absolutely free of charge. If you are part of the SSSIG, please make sure you complete your self storage matrix, opt-in to receive the free self storage leads and set up your self storage contact. If you are not yet part of the SSSIG, it is worth noting that there is no annual subscription fee for membership of this group, so contact the BAR commercial department on 01923 699 483 to join!
Shore Porters invests 2m in storage

Aberdeen-based Shore Porters is investing 2m in new storage facilities in the centre of the city.
Building work at the Cotton Street site near the harbour is expected to be completed in February next year, and will provide Shore Porters with more than double the capacity of its existing warehouse. The site will be used for commercial, domestic and archive storage. Partner Keith Brown said the decision to invest was due to the increased demand that Shore Porters is experiencing for storage services, which was testing the capacity of its existing facilities. This has been a year of significant and exciting capital expenditure for Shore Porters, with the investment in the new warehouse following hard on the heels of the 500,000 renovation of the companys fleet of vehicles earlier in 2012.
For more information contact The Shore Porters Society: 1 Baltic Place, Aberdeen, Scotland AB11 5EW Tel: +44 (0)1224 569569 www.shoreporters.com
Kevin Brown, partner, Shore Porters
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BAR News
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Training News BAR
Learning on the move with Maguire

Year after year, BAR Members say that access to BAR Training Services is one of the most valuable benefits of membership. But it isnt always easy to make the time to attend training courses in person. Now BAR has teamed up with training specialists Maguire Training to provide e-learning modules at a discounted rate to all Members.
The partnership between BAR and Maguire Training will provide BAR Members with access to the widely-used Maguire Training E-Learning platform. Members will have access via the BAR portal to nearly 100 modules of learning, covering subjects such as leadership, finance, sales and selling, customer service, marketing, coaching, management and supervisory skills development. Each module lasts approximately 30 minutes and is presented by Maguires own experienced trainers in an engaging video format, so it is just like being in a classroom. At the end of the module the learner can take a short test and will receive a certificate to record their achievement. We appreciate that not everyone can come to BARTS for classroom training, and not every business can afford to take their people away from work for training, says Loren Webster at BARTS. That is why we are moving towards offering blended training, with e-learning as well as classroom training and exercises. The partnership with Maguire means that we can ease the pressure on small businesses, and at an attractive discounted rate. BAR Members have access to the modules at a preferential rate of 20 per module, instead of the usual rate of 25. Importantly, every module is CPD (Continuing Professional Development) compliant and counts towards CPD points Maguire Training is one of the UKs leading learning and development companies. BAR Members can develop the skills of their managers, sales people and customer-facing staff to the highest standards, says Andy Foster, Director of Training at Maguire Training. E-learning really can take place anywhere at computers, on tablets and on smartphones. So its learning on the move for movers! Raising standards in the removals industry BAR Members can also use the platform to record and monitor all of the e-learning that their employees undertake. Maguire are offering to work with Training Managers throughout the industry to integrate e-learning into their existing employee development strategies, explains Maguires e-learning Director Andy Stopps. David Rickersey, Commercial Director at Maguire, says that the two organisations share the same commitment to continued professional and
Andy Foster, Director of Training, Maguire Training.
To get the discount offer code for these courses, please refer to the Members section of the BAR website: www.bar.co.uk/trade/mybar/training/ elearning.aspx
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personal development. He believes the agreement with BAR will make a very positive contribution to raising standards and enhancing education in the removals industry. BAR shares our training philosophy to place people development at the top of the list of their priorities for Members, he says. Maguire Training has developed strategic partnerships with many of the UKs leading trade and membership associations. BAR is amongst the oldest, most credible and active of those associations and so this strategic partnership is one of our most prestigious. BAR and Maguire Training share similar values and our combined goal is to help BAR Members to train and develop their staff at every level. The launch of the general training modules marks only the beginning of what promises to be a long and rewarding partnership between BAR and Maguire. Loren Webster says the e-learning modules will also be used as part of the newly launched Apprenticeship scheme. In the future, cooperation between the two organisations will extend to the development of industry-specific content and modules look out for exciting news at next years Conference!
BAR Members can develop the skills of their managers, sales people and customer-facing staff to the highest standards.

Training News BAR News

BARTS 2012 Training Dates All courses taking place at BAR Watford*
BTEC in Removals Management
The course can now be completed in 5 days meaning less time away from your place of work! Upon completion of the later exam, successful students will be presented with a nationally recognised BTEC qualification.
Introduction to Estimating
Ideal for staff who are new to the role. This 1 day course focuses on teaching students the unit system, methods of estimating, risk assessment, the role of the Estimator and selling services to the customer Quantity Assessment The Role of the Estimator Health & Safety Contract Conditions Communication Techniques Removals Insurance
Course Dates 2012

10-14 December
Course Dates 2012

5 November
NEWLY IMPROVED for 2012!
BRAND NEW
for 2012!
1,675 + VAT p/p (BAR Member)

BTEC Award in Practical Estimating
This 2 day course is practically based and is designed to teach students the art of estimating as well as face to face sales techniques, covering topics such as: Quantity Assessment The Role of the Estimator Health & Safety Contract Conditions Communication Techniques Removals Insurance

Selling Skills/Promoting the BAR OFT Code of Practice
This 1 day course is designed to enhance sales skills and to demonstrate the most effective way of promoting the BAR OFT Code of Practice to win business, covering topics such as: The Role of the Salesperson Marketing Prospecting & Negotiating Promoting the OFT Code Communication & Presentation Identifying Customer Needs Closing the Sale
Course Dates 2012

6 & 7 November
Course Dates 2012

21 November
NEWLY IMPROVED for 2012!
545 + VAT p/p (BAR Member)

*BAR Training Services train you at BAR in Watford, in the BAR areas or at your premises.

For further details contact BAR.
1 Day (7 hours) Driver CPC Course Dates 2012

Prices start from as little as 49.25 + VAT per driver, delivered on site at your premises
JAUPT APPROVED CENTRE AC00191
To book Call: 01923 699484 or email: training@bar.co.uk
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Training News BAR
BAR Training Services carry out a range of training courses for removals companies. Peter Walters, BARTS Field Trainer, provides a roundup of the courses recently delivered. For full feedback from delegates and for more information on all courses, please go to www.removalstraining.co.uk
Recent training course with Burke Bros

BAR Training Services delivered a 1-day Introduction to Estimating training course at the premises of Burke Bros in Wolverhampton. Of the 6 delegates, 5 were from Burke Bros and 1 from Movecorp. This was the first time that the course had been delivered on site, and the course focused on how to cube up using feet and inch measurements. BARTS Field Trainer Peter Walters set a task for the delegates to work out the cube of an item measuring 2 6 x 6 3 x 1 9. I found a common mistake with many of the trainees; they were measuring 2.6 x 6.3 x 1.9, which works out at 31.12 cube. I explained that in these circumstances, it may be easier to cube it in inches and divide by 1,728 to get the cubic feet, which works out to 27.3 cubic feet.
Feedback includes:
Matt Williams, Movecorp: Despite having a decent knowledge of estimating, I found the course to be extremely beneficial. The course tutor was very thorough with the explanation of each topic. An enjoyable day. Melissa Dale, Burke Bros: It has been quite insightful into estimating and I believe I have better knowledge and understanding of how to estimate now. Mandy Evans, Burke Bros: Informative and useful knowledge to help me do my job better and learn new skills. I liked the interaction and tasks. Helpful and easy to understand format and information used, thank you. Claire Kelly, Burke Bros: Excellent tutor who explained things in simple terms until we understood. Eleanor Goulcher, Burke Bros: I believe this course has opened my eyes to estimating. Now that I have obtained the basic knowledge, I have a further understanding of the whole removal process. Our trainer was extremely helpful in explaining concepts of estimating of which we were unsure.
Barts Field Trainer, Peter Walters
November handy tip

When moving multi-drawer cabinets or carousels, consider shrink wrapping them to keep the drawers or contents from falling out.

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BAR News
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European News Industry
FEDEMAC looks ahead

Aivars Usans is the new President of FEDEMAC, the Federation of European Movers Associations. He spoke to R&S about the main legislative challenges facing the European removals industry, about the lobbying work that FEDEMAC is carrying out at the political level, and about how he plans to develop better links with national removals associations.
Aivars Usans (pictured) has been an active member of the Latvian business community since the Baltic country became independent from the then Soviet Union in 1991. In the newly autonomous country, he was closely involved in the process of developing a private sector almost from scratch. Before setting up FF International Movers, he was employed by a Dutch transport company, giving him a perspective on the removals industry from a Western European country. Aivars became a Board member of FEDEMAC in 2003. He says being a member of the board has enabled him to think European and understand issues relating to the removals industry at a much wider level. FEDEMACs main raison dtre is at a central European political level in representing the industry and lobbying, Aivars explains. Removing legislation completely, simply because it may be unpopular with operators, is of course almost impossible as many other interests have to be taken into consideration e.g. the environment, congestion, safety, etc. The core of FEDEMACs work consists of discussions with the European Commission, the European Parliament (with its National MEPs) and the Member States. Over the years, FEDEMAC has chalked up many successes in ensuring legislation does not go against the interests of the European removal industry. This work is carried out behind the scenes, with little fanfare, and with almost no headlines; FEDEMAC is most successful, Aivars explains, in the very earliest stages of legislative proposals, years before these proposals hit the mainstream media. Much of the success arising out of lobbying goes unappreciated, he says. FEDEMAC and its members can be most influential at the beginning of the process during discussions with the European Commission. Aivars priorities In Europe, road transport alone is subject to more than 2,000 separate pieces of legislation, so FEDEMAC has a key role to play in representing the voice of the European removals industry in the legislative process. Aivars highlights a number of areas where FEDEMAC is actively lobbying European institutions, including environmental and emission controls, biofuels, road charging, weights and dimensions, cabotage, digital tachograghs and driving/rest hours. Enforcement procedures are also under review and it is likely that future arrangements will be more targeted, more strictly enforced and based on a Europe-wide system in effect making many offences subject to national records even if the infringement occurred in a another EU country, he adds. FEDEMAC will continue to make sure that the
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industrys voice is heard loud and clear at a European political level, but it needs to be supported by national associations and operators themselves to have real chances of success. There is no doubt that now more than ever, there is a need to unite and work as a team to defend our industry and to make sure that it has an important role to play in the future. Aivars has set himself the ambition of improving networking and communication between FEDEMAC associations and their members. FEDEMAC supports the European removals industry not only by representing the industry in the law-making process, but also by enabling the exchange of information between associations and thereby indirectly providing companies with the means to easily network with each other for hire of staff, destination services and exchange of best practice, Since its members are always the most important part of FEDEMAC, the task of maintaining and improving close communication is and will be one of my pet priorities, Aivars says. I am keen to develop better direct links with the end user the member companies of the national trade associations, such as the BAR. I am thinking more towards the placing of FEDEMAC in the middle of the action and information
flow by using 24/7 accessible information exchange platforms and improving access to communication, making sure that FEDEMAC is always making the best use of the latest IT technology and media. Some new projects are already underway although it is too early to publicise them at this moment as a number of steps still need to be taken, but I can safely say these are closely related to the interests of members.
I am keen to develop better direct links with the end user the member companies of the national trade associations, such as the BAR.
European News Industry News
FEDEMAC General Assembly 2012

Innsbruck, the capital city of the Austrian Tyrol and a popular Winter sports destination, was home to this years FEDEMAC General Assembly, writes Mark Chuddley of Chuddley International who represented BAR at this event.
Renowned for holding the Winter Olympics of 1964 and then again in 1976, Innsbruck is the only city so far to host it twice. Those of us who have been around since the infamous Bedford was generally our choice of removal vehicle will recall Franz Klammers spectacular win in the mens downhill. FEDEMAC, the national associations European association exists primarily to network and maintain links between the member countries and thus give strength in lobbying at a political level. It is therefore always encouraging when more European countries join FEDEMAC, as Bulgaria did in 2012. They were represented at the Assembly by Stefan Dimitrov who leads their new Association of nine members. Up until 1989/90 Bulgaria was very much part of the Soviet Bloc and thus everything was state controlled. The Bulgarian Movers Association is helped and encouraged not only by FEDEMAC but particularly also by the BAR, who provided all of the guidance they needed to establish their structure, governance and operating codes. Old and new faces Arnaldo Righetti from Italy was due to mark the end of his three year term as President at this conference, but due to illness, was unable to attend and was represented by Lucien Pot of the Netherlands, himself a past President. The roll call was an opportunity to welcome some new faces, particularly Diane De Winter representing the Belgium Movers Association and Zbigniew Osiak from Artmovers in Poland. Aivars Usans from Latvia became the new President of FEDEMAC. The Board also welcomed Serge Fontaine from France. The Board thanked and said goodbye to Lucien Pot and Denis Caulfield from Ireland who are both retiring. There were presentations from two of FEDEMACs commercial partners: DKV, who are already affiliates to the BAR and are now also commercial partners to FEDEMAC. With a 5bn turnover, 89,000 customers, 54,000 acceptance points of which 25,000 sell fuel, they have an excellent European cover. Staff with iPhones can download a DKV app and they also have a toll box solution for the new Eco-Tax being introduced next year (see below). ROLDO Rent talked about the supply of crates and other items, mainly for the commercial move. Despite having 20 depots and supporting over 1,000 removals a day, they dont operate in the UK. Political work Tony Richman, the well-known face of lobbying for FEDEMAC gave a report on some of his activities during the year. Lobbying is a long process as we all know, but recent successes with the Harmonised Code for Household Effects and the Inter-EU VAT Reclaim, demonstrate its importance. FEDEMAC are concerned that the development of an
Stephen Vickers and Mark Chuddley representing BAR at the recent FEDEMAC General Assembly.
ISO numeric inventory code could become compulsory. This is a standard created by IAM and is now an ANSI code. In the opinion of BAR it is virtually unworkable and would increase the administration on every move. BAR made representations to BSI to prevent this being fast-tracked into an ISO and together with representations from FEDEMAC at a European level, forced ISO to literally start again by adopting Resolution 73/2012 at a recent ISO meeting where it was agreed that: TC 122 will direct the project back to Committee Draft (Stage 30.00) due to comments received by CEN TC 320, United Kingdom, DIN, and SIS, that the work item was not properly presented to the correct mirror committees within Europe. A newly created committee (TC 122/WG11) will meet to discuss this in Washington D.C. in December 2012. Many countries make charges for foreign vehicles as we know. Most will be aware of the UKs plans to change the method of taxing vehicles in the next few years. Road tax will be replaced by a permit that can be charged on a daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis. Vehicles registered in the UK will still pay on a six-monthly or annual basis, but visiting vehicles can be then charged on a pro-rata basis according to the length of trip. This will bring the UK in line with most European countries. Further information can be found at http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft2012-03/annex-c.pdf The French are another stage ahead, and next year the new French Eco Tax will apply. Ecomouv (which is a subsidiary company of Autostrade per LItalia) will be responsible for the infrastructure and the collection of the new HGV tolls that come into place in France mid-2013. Although we may all be used to the autoroute tolls on the continent, now in the name of the environment, we will be paying for using approximately 15,000 km of national roads in France. The charge is weighted by area, but on average, it looks like each kilometre we drive will add 0.12 cents
to our costs. Personally, I hope my competitors will increase their charges to cover this additional burden, but based on past experience, I wonder if it will be another cost that gets absorbed? The tolls will be calculated from an On Board Unit that works via the satellite network. Just in case anyone is thinking of pulling a fuse, there are mobile and fixed checkpoints to ensure the system functions. There is much more detail about the system on the official website: www.ecomouv.com. It is also worth looking at www.dkv-euroservice.com as they offer a comprehensive system for payment of tolls and supply of the on board units. Its encouraging to see BAR lead the way in some of the FEDEMAC initiatives. A Europe-wide broadcast system, proposed by BAR and based on the one available on the BAR website, is now being launched. More information on this is on page 46.) Austrian style On the Friday evening we took the mountain train and then a cable car to 1900 m. Along with the members of the Austrian Association we enjoyed an evening of music, wine and traditional food, followed by a spectacular firework display. It seems the Austrian idea of a conference is a two-hour meeting (which includes 30 minutes for coffee) followed by two days of partying ! Once the meetings were over, our hosts took us to Bergisel Olympic ski jump on the Saturday afternoon. Looking down the 98m ramp from the top, it was somewhat disconcerting to see that the view of each competitor as they left the ramp to fly through the air was the cemetery immediately adjacent to the landing area! After a Gala dinner, the General Assembly ended with the usual round of thanks and I left Innsbruck reflecting on a very pleasant weekend and realising that most movers in the EU face the same problems we just pronounce them differently.
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European News Industry
FEDEMAC launches its Europe-wide Broadcast System

Good news for BAR Members the very useful BAR broadcast function that is exclusively available via the BAR website has been adapted for use across Europe.
Using the BAR Broadcast function as its model, FEDEMAC has developed a new resource to allow FEDEMAC member companies to ask for, offer or provide trade assistance to or from other FEDEMAC member companies. As with the BAR system, the FEDEMAC broadcast function enables instant contact with other member companies across Europe on matters such as general trade assistance, backloads, surveys, local knowledge. Launched at the beginning of November, the new Europe-wide function represents a significant benefit to BAR Members as it is exclusive to FEDEMAC member companies and therefore only BAR Members in the UK will have access to the system. A BAR export There is no doubt that the BAR has played a prominent role in the launch of this important new function for removals companies across Europe. Based on its successful experiences of operating a broadcast system internally amongst BAR Members, the BAR proposed, championed and then devoted time and expertise to support the development of the Europe-wide system in association with FEDEMAC. A key requirement by BAR was to enhance the functionality of the Directory on the public-facing section of the FEDEMAC site. For BAR Director General, Stephen Vickers: The combination of having a more consumerfriendly website for FEDEMAC plus this new Europewide Broadcast system for the exclusive use of FEDEMAC member companies will ensure that BAR Members remain movers of choice at home and abroad.
How it will work The FEDEMAC function contains a good deal of similarities to the BAR system. The key thing to note is that wherever you see the bullhorn, you can access and start the broadcast function! Users of the system can opt in or out on an individual company basis and also manage an exclusion list. Broadcasts will be done using a basic email function and based on experience from the BAR function, it is advisable to make the request clear with dates and specific information, set out how urgent the information is and also how the other member company should contact you with a return email address or telephone number. The email addresses that broadcasts are sent to will be the email address
that appears in your individual company directory listing. If this is wrong then please contact BAR who will arrange any update with FEDEMAC. A detailed guide to explain how BAR Members can use the broadcast function is now available in the Members section on the BAR website. All FEDEMAC Members and member companies will automatically be part of this new system as agreed by their representatives at the FEDEMAC General Assemblies in 2011 and 2012, with the exception of the German Association, AMOE, and its members, who will not be part of this facility at the go live date. However individual AMOE member companies can choose to opt in to this function. For more information, go to www.fedemac.eu
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As with the BAR system, the FEDEMAC broadcast function enables instant contact with other member companies across Europe on matters such as general trade assistance, backloads, surveys, local knowledge.
European News Industry News
Mega trucks benefits shown to European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament have heard practical evidence about how use of the European Modular System (EMS) truck combinations, so-called gigaliners or mega trucks, can improve the efficiency of combined transport and further contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
During a debate hosted by Belgian Liberal MEP Philippe De Backer, key industry speakers presented first results of some of the EMS trials in combined transport both in Germany and The Netherlands where successful EMS combined transport has been ongoing for a number of years. Wolfgang Thoma, CEO of Ansorge Logistik in Germany said our trials using EMS in combined road-rail transport are showing positive results. Solutions exist to using these vehicle combinations in combined road/rail transport. Our personal experience and the results clearly show that we can reduce our carbon footprint by around 30%, by reduced fuel consumption, and reduce overall costs for the entire combined transport chain. Rarely does a win-win situation like this arise. Similarly Andr Pluimers, CEO of Bolk Transport demonstrated how EMS vehicles are used in combined road-inland waterway transport in the Netherlands. Practical operational experience and government-facilitated trails from The Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany have repeatedly demonstrated the advantages of using EMS including in combined transport. The EMS offers the road transport sector the opportunity to reduce its environmental impact at source as well as bringing improvements in the efficiency of the entire transport chain. Addressing the debate, IRU General Delegate Michael Nielsen, said the evidence from real-world operations and trials of EMS in combined transport clearly demonstrates that these vehicle combinations, using standardised loading units compatible with maritime, inland waterway and rail freight transport have a vital role to play in creating better, rather than more, road transport.
Hamburg sees Russia WTO opportunities

Russia joined the World Trade Organisation in August 2012, and the port of Hamburg is positioning itself to benefit from the significant boost in trade relations with Europe that is now expected. The dismantling of trade barriers will strengthen Hamburgs role as the leading hub of Russias trade with the European Union and the world, Jutta Ludwig, CEO of Hamburg Business Development Corporation said. Hamburgs position in Russian trade and as bridgehead of the Russian economy will be further strengthened. The Port of Hamburg is of particular importance to Russia. It is the central hub for Russias trade with the European Union. Russia has already become the ports second most important trade partner in container traffic, with container handling increasing by more than 35% to 595,000 TEU in 2011. In addition to the trade of Russian goods, a high number of Russian companies have settled in Hamburg, particularly in the logistics and shipping sectors, in order to expand their operations in the EU.

Commercial Estimating
A specially designed course for the commercial estimator, expanding the knowledge of Estimating in general. The course focuses on calculating volume, methods for Estimating in the Commercial environment, what to look out for and questions to ask the customer. This course will make estimating large office moves less daunting for the less experienced estimator and includes a practical exercise, where delegates will experience estimating in a real time situation. Why is volume important How do we calculate volume Things to be aware of when estimating furniture Estimating the amount of packing crates, questions to be asked, method of a site viewing What should be included in a commercial quotation, practical exercise.
Course Dates 2012

28 November Course to be held at BAR Headquarters, Watford between 10:00am and 16:00pm
BRAND NEW
for 2012!
Just 199 + VAT per person
To book Call: 01923 699484 or email: training@bar.co.uk
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Features
The secret to Masons success
In the last one hundred years, Masons Moving Group has become one of the best known removals companies in Wales. The family-owned company is now expanding its European operations, adding to its fleet of vehicles, and successfully diversifying into new business areas.
More than one hundred years after Sidney Mason set up the company as a horse-and-cart operation in Barry, South Wales, Masons Moving Group is continuing to expand and to diversify into new business areas. But although the companys warehousing and its fleet of vehicles would be unrecognisable today to Sidney, the values and principles of this familyowned company have remained a constant strength over the years. The culture of the company has always been to maintain a first class professional service to each individual customer, including old fashioned values supported by modern, up-to-date methods, explains Managing Director Gordon Mason. Gordon and his two brothers Brett and Richard are the third generation of the Masons to own and operate the business. Through wars, recessions, depressions and unprecedented technological changes, Masons has provided best-in-class removal and storage services to an ever increasing number of clients. First class fleet Earlier this year, Masons took delivery of two DAF XF105.410 vehicles that have been liveried to suit two of the companys fast growing European operations. The first vehicle, a Masons Worldwide liveried vehicle, will be dedicated to the companys French operation and the rest of Europe. At the same time, as the company has a franchise arrangement with the Bishops Move Group, the vehicle will be liveried as Bishops Move and will be devoted to the movement of military personnel to and from all areas of North West Europe. The franchise is a bolt-on to our normal services, Gordon says. As Bishops Move Cardiff, it has given us access to corporate moving on a national and international basis. Our involvement with Bishops Move Group increased our turnover by 35% last year, and we have got to the stage this year where we are again running weekly scheduled vehicles into North West and Central Europe, with dedicated trained staff. Over the last three years, we have substantially increased our European and overseas business. The bulk of our work is now in Europe, which involves our own dedicated road trains on regular scheduled trips to the Benelux countries, Germany and France. Both vehicles were provided by Watts Truck
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Features
& Van at Cardiff and the vehicle bodies were supplied by Unique Van Bodies at Warrington. The core business of Masons continues to be local, national and international moving and containerised storage. However, the Mason family has also diversified into new activities that complement the core removals and storage businesses. For over six years, The Business Centre has been providing fully serviced office accommodation, business suites and serviced offices. As Masons Moving Group is a member of the BARs Commercial Moving Group and has years of experience in providing moving services to the commercial sector, Gordon says it made sense to add a new range of services for this segment of the market. At the same time, Masons has also made a successful expansion into the self-storage sector in South Wales. Space Centre Self-Storage offers businesses and households state-of-the art storage facilities, with easy access from the M4, Cardiff International Airport, the
Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff. There are obvious synergies between self-storage and domestic removals business; anyone using Masons to move items into the Space Centre will benefit from a 10% discount on the cost of removal. A modern company steeped in family history Over the years, Masons has experienced periods of dramatic social and economic change. Sidneys business was originally heavily geared towards selling second hand furniture. It was only after the Second World War that Sidneys son Eric and wife Esme bought the first removal van, an ex-army Bedford Pantechnicon, and decided that the removals business of the company had to take precedent, as the furniture market had collapsed. Now Gordon, Brett and Richard are successfully steering Masons through the economic downturn, the emergence of the Internet, and ever increasing competitive pressure.
Throughout all these changes, it is the spirit of the Masons family that has ensured that the business has adapted, evolved and prospered. Gordon Mason joined the company when he was just 15 years old but that does not make him the longest serving member of the team! Amazingly, Esme herself is still playing a part at Masons, some 52 years after she began working there. It is this unwavering commitment to family values and professional service which has seen Masons emerge as one of the most respected removals firms in the country. With a modernised fleet and new services to offer, the company is going confidently into the future. Our ambitions are to continue to provide a high level of service, make improvements where necessary for the future, and maintain our market share, Gordon Mason says. We have experienced rapid growth in Europe in particular, and I see no reason why we wont be around for another 100 years!
The culture of the company has always been to maintain a first class professional service to each individual customer, including old fashioned values supported by modern, up-to-date methods. The franchise is a bolt-on to our normal services. As Bishops Move Cardiff, it has given us access to corporate moving on a national and international basis.
Gordon Mason, Managing Director, Masons Moving Group
For more details please contact Masons Moving Group: Tel: 01446 73 33 30 www.masonsmovingroup.co.uk
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The R&S Interview: Beverley Bell, Senior Traffic Commissioner

Beverley Bell was appointed Senior Traffic Commissioner on 1 June 2012 and will hold the post for the next four years. She is the second Senior Traffic Commissioner appointed following the changes in the Local Transport Act 2008 that brought in new responsibilities to determine how the traffic commissioners perform their statutory functions. Before taking on this role, she had been Acting Senior Transport Commissioner for 8 months, following 11 years as Traffic Commissioner for the North West Traffic Area.
R&S: As Senior Trafc Commissioner (STC), what special responsibilities and powers do you have for ensuring there is a level playing eld for all operators? Beverley Bell: All traffic commissioners (TCs) have the same powers regarding fair competition and as STC I do not have any in addition to those. All TCs like to approach regulation in the same way and the current Statutory Guidance Documents set out the approach that we take. One of our key roles is to ensure that operators in the industry can compete with each other on a level playing field. It is important to us as traffic commissioners that operators who commit to a compliant regime can expect us to deal robustly with those who fail to offer the same commitment and gain an unfair commercial advantage over those businesses who do keep their vehicles roadworthy and ensure their drivers are not breaching the regulations. R&S: What experience do you have of working with the Removals Industry? Beverley Bell: I have no more experience of the removals industry than any of the other sectors where goods vehicles are required for business but I was delighted to give a presentation at an event run by the British Association of Removers. All TCs are always keen to engage with any sectors of the industry so that we can better understand the issues that are relevant to them. R&S: Do you have any special message for the British Association of Removers, whose members are facing increasing pressure from noncompliant operators? Beverley Bell: All TCs understand that it is a difficult time for the industry generally and that margins have become tighter for some businesses with continuing financial uncertainty. TCs rely on VOSA to refer cases of non-compliant operators to us and when these cases are referred we do not hesitate to take strong action where needed. Our wide range of powers enables us to take many different types of action that can be tailored to the individual case revoking licences where the operator is unable or unwilling to operate compliantly or suspending the licence or reducing the fleet where the operator has shown a clear commitment to getting it right. R&S: How is the relationship between VOSA and the Trafc Commissioners changing? Beverley Bell: The Framework Document is clear about our relationship with VOSA and we now have a better dialogue with VOSA about TCs jurisdiction and VOSAs activities. TCs want to work with VOSA as they target the serially and seriously non compliant so that we can regulate robustly in response to their activity, to give the industry confidence that active intervention will make a real difference to operator behaviour. R&S: You have a reputation as a reformer and moderniser. What plans do you have for the next four years as STC?
Beverley Bell, Senior Traffic Commissioner
R&S: What advice would you give people who now have to prove that they are of good repute when requesting a licence from a TC? Beverley Bell: Standard national and international operators have always had to prove they are of good repute and the Statutory Guidance Document on Good Repute, issued last year, explains in more detail how important this is to those both applying for, and holding, standard operator licences. Licences are issued on the basis that the operator will comply with the requirements and that the application form has been fully and honestly completed indeed this relationship of trust is fundamental to the operator licensing system. So TCs always advise applicants and existing operators to be honest and open with them as this will go a long way to establishing that trust. R&S: How important is it to you that the Trafc Commissioners are independent from VOSA? How do you react to industry concerns that your independence is being undermined? Beverley Bell: It is vital that TCs are independent and we all believe that the publication of the Framework Document, signed by the Minister and myself in June this year clearly sets out the importance of that independence. It has enabled the industry, the civil servants who work on our behalf and the public to understand and be reassured by the relationships that exist in the regulatory environment and how those working in that environment are committed to the principles of road safety and fair competition.
Beverley Bell: All TCs are committed to reform and modernisation and whilst the last 12 months have been very busy in sorting out a number of outstanding issues we are all now looking forward to seeing just how we can become even more effective and make a real difference. These discussions are still in the early stages and cannot yet be shared with you but watch this space!
The Traffic Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State as statutorily independent Licensing Authorities responsible for bus, coach and goods vehicle operators. They can also take disciplinary action against bus, coach and lorry drivers who commit road and certain other offences.
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The Framework Document is clear about our relationship with VOSA and we now have a better dialogue with VOSA about Trade Commissioners jurisdiction and VOSAs activities.
Features
New Member Profile: Sunnyside Up

Less than two years after a company re-launch, Sunnyside Removals UK has joined BAR. R&S spoke to Office Manager Julie Allistone about the growth of the companys business and Sunnysides aspirations as a new BAR Member.
Sunnyside Removals Ltd was originally founded in the mid-1970s and then re-launched by Managing Director Mark Wylie in December 2010. Based in Fleet on the borders of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, the companys main areas of business are domestic removals and storage, although it also undertakes some commercial work. Domestic removals, nationwide is the main part of our business, in addition to our short- and long-term storage facility which holds in excess of 200 containers. The companys location just off Junction 4a of the M3 gives Sunnysides team quick and easy access to their many journeys along the nationwide motorway network. Investment and growth After a period of investments and makeover, Sunnyside now boasts a sizeable modern fleet of specialist vehicles, suitable for the smallest to the very largest loads. All the companys vehicles are fitted with GPS vehicle tracking systems to determine location and support fuel economy. At the heart of the company are its 20 full-time staff, many of whom have long years of experience in the industry and at Sunnyside. It is their experience and motivation which have seen Sunnyside through its re-launch and which have ensured that is prospering in todays tougher market conditions. The economic downturn has affected our company, Julie explains. We have responded by re-assessing our customer service levels and implementing re-training to improve key performances in our representation in the market place. Reviewing our office procedures and making improvements where required is essential to keep customer service levels high in a market place demanding high standards. These are times of exciting change for the company. As well as joining BAR, Sunnyside Removals is also a Trial Franchisee of Bishops Move for military removals. These new responsibilities and challenges will help the company enhance its positioning in the market and win new business. In particular, she says that she is looking forward to being part of the Bishops team in the coming years as part of the contract. Now that they are BAR Members, Sunnyside Removals is looking forward to taking up all the opportunities, benefits and services that BAR membership provides. The industry in recent years has become more competitively active on price and high service levels are being demanded, she says. House movers, renters and buyers often underestimate the expense of moving day. We feel that by joining BAR we will increase the general publics awareness of our company and of what is involved in moving.
Mark Wylie, Director
Reviewing our office procedures and making improvements where required is essential to keep customer service levels high in a market place demanding high standards.
For more information contact Sunnyside Removals: Tel: 0845 602 5063 or 01252 616 633 www.sunnysideremovals.co.uk
Sunnyside Taxi.
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Electronic payments from First Data Merchant Solutions

First Data Merchant Solutions became a BAR Affiliate in September. The company enables Members to accept credit and debit cards easily, securely and reliably, and is offering all Members a free health check of their existing payment systems.
The credit and debit card services provided by First Data Merchant Solutions mean that BAR Members can easily accept payments over the telephone, in person, or over the Internet. Its a fundamental component of any companys infrastructure for business, and First Data Merchant Solutions says its objective is to provide a high quality service and better deal for Members than anyone else in the market. We are 100 per cent focused on electronic payments which means we work hard to ensure the service we offer adds value for our customers, and we take a consultative approach to working with our customers, says Brad Palmer, Business Development Manager for Partnerships at First Data Merchant Solutions. We try to keep our services simple and reliable so Members can get on with running their business. Brad says the Virtual Terminal solutions offered by the company are designed above all with customers in mind and are very straightforward to use. The company is now inviting BAR Members to carry out a free health check on their card acceptance service. This is a no-obligation opportunity to review their current card costs and business profile to see if we can offer a better value service, Brad says. Its not always just about the rates we can offer. We may also be able to offer alternative ways to approach other aspects of their card acceptance service that can reduce costs. First Data Merchant Solutions forms part of a global payments business which currently serves over six million merchants around the world. The payments market is evolving fast and the company is developing new products and services to improve payments for both Merchants and their customers, one area being contactless payments so called tap-and-go payments using mobile phones. Looking to the future, it is also researching ways of integrating mobile payments with the ubiquitous world of social media and the mobile Internet, so that consumers can make a purchase with the minimum of hassle, wherever they are. But in the removals industry, Brad says it is the companys long-standing expertise in standard telephone, Internet and face-to-face payments that will be of greatest value to BAR Members. We hope to shortly be able to share a case study with Members that outlines a recent example of where we have been able to improve one removal companys processing and reconciliation whilst delivering significant cost savings, he says.
Compliance with some of the security rules around card acceptance can be an overhead so we have developed a compliance product that is aimed at minimising the time and effort required to meet those standards.
Brad Palmer, Business Development Manager
For more information contact First Data Merchant Solutions: Tel: 0800 652 5808 www.firstdatams.com e: psales@firstdatacorp.co.uk
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Its not always just about the rates we can offer. We may also be able to offer alternative ways to approach other aspects of their card acceptance service that can reduce costs.
European News Features Industry News
How a web of IT separates the best from the rest

By Peter Bishop, ICT Director, Bishops Move To have any chance of being a leading player in the market, and that counts for any industry, technology should be at the forefront of the business. Ten years ago we introduced our own Bishops Operational Database System (BODSweb) a fully integrated Customer Relationship Management system which handles all enquiries, quotations, work sheets, storage and invoicing across all our branches and franchises throughout the UK.
Having been the first removals company to introduce such a system, we can share first-hand knowledge the impact it has had in enhancing the customer experience with Bishops Move. The evolution of BODSweb over the past decade has mirrored the growth and expansion of the company. It started life as a simple management tool written on a BBC Micro Computer using the basic programming language. It then progressed into an access database, running in each branch separately, with reports consolidated manually every month. However, it is now a fully featured web-based system which is an important feature of the company. Lets look at how it enables us to make life easier for the customer. BODSweb in action When a customer first gets in touch, the BODSweb will save the details of the enquiry and can use an online calendar to book the visit of the estimator. It will then email details of the visit to the customer and follows this up with an SMS text reminder the day before the visit. The estimator can either perform a traditional manual survey, or use the Bishops Checkmate tablet based system to record their full inventory. The system then creates a quote, the customer is then emailed with the full quote details and, one the customer accepts our reasonable quotes, creates confirmation letters, work sheets and invoices. This is all linked to our accounts system which means each electronic invoice is sent with a link to a secure online payment system. It can also create customer documentation in Word format in case further editing is required before being converted into a final PDF document. The BODSweb is also used to help us manage and allocate staff and vehicles across the entire company and produces work sheets both in summary and for each individual job. This means we can determine how time is managed
throughout the company which enables us to increase profitability and evaluate and improve performance levels. Having been tailored to match how the company works, BODSweb has been designed and customwritten in house by senior members of staff and myself. It handles all operational requirements and is also fully integrated with our self-storage business. What also gives us all added flexibility is that the system also works externally from any PC with an internet connection.
For ten years our BODSweb system has made the lives of not only our employees, but also our customers, much easier. It provides all the necessary tools to ensure the customer goes away satisfied and enjoys a smooth, trouble-free enquiry and overall experience with Bishops Move.
To find out more, visit; www.bishopsmove.com

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Family trees fund RBA
The Removers Benevolent Association (RBA) is the removal industrys very own charity. It provides invaluable support to current and former members of our industry at times of need. R&S caught up with RBA Trustee John Court (pictured) to discuss an unusual way in which he has begun fundraising for the RBA researching Members family trees!
John Court will need no introduction to many in the removals trade. The co-founder and then Chief Executive of Britannia Movers International Plc, following 20 years of experience, first at Pickfords then developing his own businesses in Stourbridge, Birmingham, Coventry and Kidderminster, was also BAR Treasurer for 7 years until 2008. Its fair to say that what John doesnt know about moving isnt worth knowing! For the last five years John has been bringing his industry experience and drive to the Board of the RBA, where he holds one of the four Trustee positions. As such he is responsible for monitoring and examining claims made to the RBA and, in agreement with the other Trustees, making suitable awards where warranted. In addition to attending meetings of the trustees all expenses paid out of their own pockets John also keeps a watchful eye on the performance of the RBA funds and investments. As it is the interest paid from these funds, rather than the capital itself, that is used to make any awards, it is reassuring to know that the trustees monitor these closely. John is now combining his personal interest in family history with his duties as an RBA Trustee. In return for a modest donation to the RBA fund, John explains that he will research any BAR Members family history and provide them with a family tree. And as anyone who has worked in the removals business with him will testify, a professional, high quality job is guaranteed. My own interest in family history was sparked by an aunt, now aged 99, who informed me recently that one of our family was a signatory to the Versailles Peace Treaty, John says. I found this difficult to believe so checked it out online and was astounded to find she was right; he actually signed it on behalf of President Woodrow Wilson. This led me to many more amazing facts and stories about my family. Having now worked on a
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Your family tree To get started on a family tree, all that is needed are the current family names, dates and places of birth and marriage, and basic information on your parents. Ideally, a BAR Member would provide enough basic information to take John to a starting point of 1911, where he can then work back using public records. These can go as far back as the late sixteenth century, although John warns that this does depend on the older records having survived the ravages of time. Unusual names can often be easier to track whereas the name Smith or Jones could present many headaches, he says. Generously, John will not charge for his own work, time and site subscriptions, although a modest fee is required to cover the costs of obtaining certificates where necessary to enable accurate verifications. For example, to enable a donation to the RBA fund of around 250 - 300, it is estimated that the total charge would be around 350. Brief family trees can be undertaken for a little less. All a BAR Member needs to do is to contact me to discuss and then supply the basic information. I would keep in touch for queries etc. and I can go ahead from there, he says. Removals is an industry that is still dominated by family-owned companies, many of whom have been in the same business for several generations. Johns research through the records could well uncover many hidden connections to the people and events of British history, and all in the worthiest of causes. We look forward to writing about his discoveries in future editions of R&S!
Feedback: Do you have ideas for how the RBA can raise funds? All suggestions welcome! Please send to The Company Secretary by email: info@bar.co.uk
To get in touch with John: email: court@lunch.plus.com Tel: 01384 396366
number of family trees for friends and colleagues I thought my experience could be put to wider use while serving to contribute additional funding to the RBA.
My own interest in family history was sparked by an aunt, now aged 99, who informed me recently that one of our family was a signatory to the Versailles Peace Treaty.
Features
Starline reaps benefits of Alberta boom

Canadas HighStar Group is a diversified and fast growing provider of moving services. Its international arm, Starline Overseas Moving, has now joined BAR as an International Associate. Founder and President Don Kachur spoke to R&S about the expansion of Starline and about his passion for using technology in the removals business.
The HighStar Group comprises of a series of companies that undertake domestic and international moves and provide technology services to the removals industry. booming Alberta Oil Sands, and became one of the top three bookers in United Van Lines Canada. By now, Don was the sole owner and he set his sights on the overseas market. When serving on the Board of the Canadian Association of Movers, Don had the good fortune of meeting fellow board member, Jim Thompson of Crown Relocations. Don and Jim hit it off and Jim invited Don to Hong Kong to meet his staff and learn about the overseas business. Before long, Starline Overseas Moving was born and FIDI membership was not far behind. In Alberta, which contains some of the worlds largest oil reserves, major oil companies are recruiting internationally, leading to surging immigration and high levels of business for Starline. In total, Don says that 70 vehicles leave the groups Edmonton and Calgary offices every morning on their way to residential, commercial and overseas moves. The Province of Alberta is booming, even with the worldwide slowdown, Don says. Oil companies from around the world are making billion dollar investments in production. The bad news is that employees are almost impossible to find locally. Major oil companies are recruiting around the world making Alberta one of the prime destinations for immigrants. Indeed, Starline Overseas receives almost half of its business from members of FIDI and IAM. Technology leader Don also has a passion for technology, especially the potential of the internet. The HighStar tech team is responsible for establishing and operating MovesOnline.com, an award winning online inventory system that enables consumers to prepare their own inventories. BAR membership will help us tailor our web app for the UK market as well as introducing an online inventory tool that can be used and branded on any movers website, Don says. BARs efforts in online marketing have paved the way for us and made UK removers more receptive to online sales. Don explains that in the US, there has been some resistance to online estimates and Internet-based competition, with the American Moving & Storing Association initially rejecting the Internet as a marketing tool and insisting on mandatory inhouse visits. In the UK, partly thanks to BARs efforts, there is more openness to harnessing the power of the Internet, he says. 35% of customers now prefer or insist on an online exchange of information as opposed to a phone call or a visit, he says. This percentage will continue to grow as the web generation hits their 30s and begins to use the service of removers.
Casey Kachur, grandson of Peter Kachur, manages the Calgary branch.
Members of the group include Highland Moving and Storage, a domestic mover and part of United Van Lines; Starline Overseas Moving, a UTS, IAM and FIDI associate; and two technology companies related to the moving industry including ReloVision, a comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) package for movers, and MovesOnline.com, an online web tool that movers use on their own websites to collect accurate moving inventories 24/7 from their customers.
Nate Edwards, VP International, Starline Overseas Moving
Don Kachur and partner Willy Peters at the BAR Annual Conference 2012
For more information, see www.starlineoverseas.com or contact nate@starlineoverseas.com
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The company was founded as Jims Express and Transfer by Peter Kachur in 1938. In the mid-1960s his son Norman, then just in his early 20s, took over the company. Don Kachur, Norms younger brother and the current President, was in high school at the time. Once Don had completed his degree in Philosophy at the University of Alberta and had done his mandatory baby boomer stint of travelling and working for four years in Australia, he returned home to purchase shares in the company and join his brother in the office located in their family garage. Don had higher ambitions for the company to operate as more than just a local delivery company. He quickly joined a van line and began learning about the long distance moving business. Before long, Jims Express, which had now become Highland Moving, had key accounts in the
Anne Kachur, dispatcher, with son Don at the wheel.
Major oil companies are recruiting around the world making Alberta one of the prime destinations for immigrants. Indeed, Starline Overseas receives almost half of its business from members of FIDI and IAM.
Diary Dates BAR News
Diary Dates
BOARD, COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS 2012/13 Board of Directors December 5 2012 National Council February 5 2013 Overseas Group Council February 6 2013 CMG Council February 7 2013 BAR AREA MEETINGS 2012/13 East Anglia Area Contact: Gary Beattie 01767 312869 gary@clarkandrose.co.uk November 13 2012 East Met Area Contact: Paul Freeman 0800 413335 nealesremovals@btconnect.com East Midlands Area Contact: Andy Wade 01476 579210 andy@fnworldwide.com November 14 2012 Kent Area Contact: Tom Bourne 01797 228000 tomb@uts-bournes.co.uk New Met Area Contact: Julie Thompson 01932 410100 Julie@luxfords.co.uk March 12 2013 - AGM Novotel Hotel, Heathrow
Do you have any Diary Dates?

E-mail them to: rands-editorial@analyticamedia.com To view diary dates/events, please log into MyBAR and click on the Calendar/Events and BAR Calendar tabs where you can view full details including time, date, location and agendas (when available). To view area minutes, please log into MyBAR and click on the BAR Areas tab and then one of the 15 areas listed. Minutes from past 2012 area meetings can be viewed and downloaded (where available).
Northern Area Contact: Alan Hoggin 0191 5491194 alan@harkersremovers.co.uk North West Area Contact: Annette Harris 0161 6534455 annette.harris@anglopacific.co.uk Northern Ireland Area Contact: Dominic Murray 02890 748588 Dominicmurray@coastways -storage.com Scotland Area Contact: Georgina Berry 0151 502220 georginaberry@btinternet.com November 13 2012 Southern Area Contact: Peter Doman 01372 385985 peterd@basilfry.co.uk South Western Area Contact: Sue Christophers 01637 872529 sue@mjchristophers.co.uk Sussex Area Contact: Miranda Hyder 01342 870087 Miranda@barservices.co.uk
Western Area Contact: Ria Russell 01278 447099 ria@britannialanesofsomerset.co.uk November 13 2012 - Brent Knoll Somerset, TA9 4HL West Midlands Area Contact: Sarah Pargeter 01384 377786 spargeter@fox-moving.com Yorkshire Area Contact: Graham Puddephatt 0845 6021775 GrahamPuddephatt@reasoninsurance.com November 24 2012 - Diner/Dance January 17 2013 - AGM
56
People News IndustryNews
Ballard Removals celebrates 60 in style

Its not every day you see a whole fleet of removals vehicles drive past your window. East Markham locals could have been forgiven for thinking that the whole village was moving home, when the main fleet of Ballard Removals vans turned out to mark the 60th birthday of the founder of one of the longest established household removals firms in the East Midlands.
New face at John Mason International

Its been a summer of many new young faces for BAR Member companies! On 27 August, Simon Mason and wife Sadye became proud parents of Montgomery Paul Mason, weighing in at a healthy 8 pounds and 11 ounces. R&S joins all the staff at John Mason International in congratulating Simon and Sadye and welcoming Monty!
Obituary: Shelley Chamberlain

It is with great sadness that we have to report that Shelley Chamberlain has lost her brave fight against cancer. Her friends and family paid their respects on 29 October which would have been her 42nd birthday. Together with her husband Lee, she owned and ran Easymove Worldwide, based in Swindon. Everyone who knew Shelley has remarked on her generous spirit and determinedness to give hope and strength to others, in particular to Lee and their three children, Simone, Bryce and Ava. Mark Chudley, BAR Western Area Chairman, told R&S: I knew Shelley through the BAR and we have worked together a few times. When Shelley came to our meetings, it was like a light had been switched on in the room. She was beautiful, friendly and just one of the worlds nicest people. Shelley spent her last days in Prospect Hospice, Swindon. If anyone wants to make a donation to the hospice in her memory, they can send it to her husband Lee Chamberlain at Easymove, Unit 17 Rushy Platt Industrial Estate, Caen View, Swindon SN5 8WQ.
The multi-vehicle drive-by of Ballard Removals vehicles, a franchise of Bishops Move, had heads turning as it passed the Queens Hotel on East Markham High Street and served as a timely reminder of how far the company has travelled since it was established in the North Nottinghamshire village in 1979. After beginning his working life as a miner, Richard Ballard, along with his wife Janette, founded the East Midlands-based removals business 33 years ago with just one transit van. Over the past three decades the business has gone from strength to strength, with the fleet of vehicles now totalling 11 and the company employing a team of 30 staff. Today, Richards eldest son, Matthew, is Operations Manager for the firm and was driving the lead road train in the drive-by to celebrate his fathers special birthday. He said Dad was born and bred in East Markham so to see his lifes work drive past him in
the village where he has lived all his life was very special. Due to our seven-day trans-European commitments, its very rare that our fleet of vehicles are all at the base at the same time these days. But with a little careful planning the entire fleet was in attendance to help mark Dads special birthday and it was an ideal opportunity for him to see the entire fleet roll past him. Joe Ballard, Richards youngest son who manages the warehouse and the fleet maintenance added, The last few years of business have been very demanding, but despite a challenging environment we continue to successfully expand. Seeing all our vehicles drive down East Markham high street made this achievement feel very real and it was a really proud moment, both for Dad and for everyone involved in the day to day running of Ballards.

57
BAR News Letters
58
Industry News
The Professional Advisers Panel is a brand new initiative specifically designed to offer members extended support across every aspect of their business. This is a development of our highly successful Insurance Broker Panel scheme whereby BAR members receive unlimited support, guidance and advice from qualified specialist companies within the UK. We are constantly
looking at ways to support our members businesses; therefore, if this initiative proves to be a success, we will develop the Professional Advisers Panel even further into other relevant areas such as Health & Safety and Environmental services.
For any FREE* independent insurance, financial or legal advice, please contact a BAR Professional Adviser partner.
Insurance
Basil Fry & Co Ltd Reason Global Insurance
Tel: 01372 385 985 Email: broking@basilfry.co.uk Website: www.basilfry.co.uk
Tel: 01273 739961 Email: info@reason-global.com Website: www.reason-global.com
Financial
Wellers
Legal
Backhouse Jones Solicitors
Tel: 0207 630 6665 Email: BAR@wellersaccountants.co.uk Website: www.wellersaccountants.co.uk
Tel: 01254 828 300 Email: enquiries@backhouses.co.uk Website: www.backhousejones.co.uk
in association with
59
Memberships BAR News
BAR Memberships November 2012

Registered: The following Members have registered: Self Storage Special Interest Group Sawbridgeworth Self Storage Ltd Memb No: D057 Additional Trading Name Britannia Cestrian an ATN of Britannia Fleet Removals Memb No: F011 Rectors Lane Pentre Deeside CH5 2DH Applications: BAR has received the following applications for: National & European Group Crutch Brothers Removals & Storage Ltd 22 Morley Road Tonbridge Kent TN9 1RA Tel: 01732 359043 Web: www.crutchbros.com Cotswold Carriers Removals Limited Warehouse No. 2 The Walk Hook Norton Road Chipping Norton Oxon OX7 5TG Tel: 01608 730 500 Web: www.cotswoldcarriers.com 1st Choice Removals Unit 11 Canford Business Park Magna Road Wimbourne Dorset BH21 3BT Tel: 01202 570970 Web: www.1stchoiceremovals.net International Associate Service De Demenagement International LTE M3 Motorway Behind (Engen) Industrial Zone Riche Terre Port Louis Mauritius Tel: (+230) 247 2400 Web: www.demenagement.mu Additional Trading Name Marshalls Removals & Storage an ATN of M.J Christophers & Son Memb No: C001 Resignations: BAR is sorry to lose the membership of the following companies whilst thanking them for their support: National & European Group A&N Removals Memb No: A115 Cadogan Tate Business Moving Ltd Memb No: C107 Pitt & Scott Memb No: P064 The Transporter Removals Ltd Memb No: T066 Additional Trading Names Cadogan Tate Worldwide an ATN of Cadogan Tate Ltd Memb No: C106 Cadogan Tate Residential an ATN of Cadogan Tate Ltd Memb No: C106 International Associates Pak Van Services Memb No: P301 Target Moving & Relocations Memb No: T324 Crown Relocations Hong Kong Memb No: C308 National Affiliate Vancraft Memb No: V002 Terminations: Non-Payment of Subscription National & European Group and CMG Group Exclusive Group Ltd and ATN Exclusive Move Solutions Memb No: E028 National & European Group Benjamin Oswald UK Holdings Ltd Memb No: B122 MTV Removal & Delivery Ltd Memb No: M075 R B Steel & Co Memb No: S049 Suttons Removals Memb No: S067 International Associates Corrib Removals Ltd Memb No: C337 IAL (Nigeria) Ltd Memb No: I406 Mudanzas Trallero SA Memb No: T321 Oman Moving & Storage Ltd Memb No: O301 National Affiliates ECB Group Memb No: E027 Essex Bodies Limited Memb No: E032
Any Member wishing to make any comment regarding an application should do so in writing to BAR Head Office within 21 days of receipt of this notification. Details of membership applications in process may also be found on the BAR website: www.bar.co.uk
60
Trade Services
Ireland Channel Islands
EASYMOVES and UK & UK and Ireland
Weekly Service between Ireland Part Load Specilaists with Competitive rates and fastest times available Tel:00353 9066 23457 or Freephone UK on 0800 3284984 or Ireland on 1850 35 75 75 Email:info@easymoves.net
Memb No:E309
YOU R MOVE IN SAFE HANDS
Scotland/Europe
Isle of Man
France
Scotland and Islands
SHETLAND ISLES IAN F REID

Removals & Storage
Units 5&6, Lower Blackhill Ind. Estate, Lerwick, ZE1 ODG
Regular nationwide service

Tel: 01595 696268 Fax: 01595 693515
Email: mail@ianreidremovals.com
61
Trade Services
Switzerland
This space is available from just 33 a month

When booked as a mono unit for a series of 12 issues.
Germany
Germany and Austria
WH HUMPHREY & SON LTD
Weekly Groupage Service

Full origin and destination services available. German speaking staff Contact Darrel or Justin Tel: 0208 144 0734 Fax: 0844 770 7111 Email: Darrelb@humphreys-moving.com
Italy Austria
TRADE ROUTES TO
-AND OF COURSE
ROUTE FRANCE EN 01732 358900 WHEN SERVICE MATTERS
ITALY
paul@bearsbyremovals.co.uk
Regular runs to all areas Full or part loads Receiving depot 10mins from M25 J5 ...or we collect All deliveries and collections carried out by our own crews Phone Paul for advice and genuine delivery/collection times
62
Trade Services
Cyprus and Malta Spain Scandinavia
WEEKLY
MALLORCA MENORCA MAINLAND SPAIN FRANCE

REGULAR
IBIZA PORTUGAL CYPRUS NORWAY
TEL: 01202 576514 FAX: 01202 574011
Memb No: W001
Europe
spain@whiteandcompany.co.uk www.whitesmovingandstorage.com
Purely The Balearics, No Bull!
Trade Storage
Weekly Scheduled Service, Containerised Storage Depots Holder of Spanish Transport Licence for our Tranship vehicles Unrivaled Infrastructure in Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza Excellent Rates, Payment in Euros or GBP accepted UK Office: 01843 585055, sales@webbsremovals.com Mallorca Office: 0034 971 693566, webbs@spain.cc Trade website: www.william-worldwide-webb.com
Greece
GREECEd by Roa
&ITALY EN ROUTE
7 day transit time Twice-monthly departures British Crews & Professional Service Highly recommended in Greece
00 44 1733 311 561 | enquiries@nomad.eu.com
With over 200,000 sq ft of storage we can service all your needs in both North and South London. Just bring in your loose storage and we will provide the containers for you to fill. We also sell packing materials at our one stop shop.
Europe
Please email: sarah.boreham@ edwardsremovals.com or call 0208 762 0777
Weekly Service for the Trade. Call now for best rates Depots in Preston, Chester, Alicante, Malaga Email: info@moversint.co.uk Web: www.moversint.co.uk
France - Spain - Portugal - Italy PRESTON 01772 651570
www.nomad-international.com
63
Trade Services
Europe
United Arab Emirates
Israel
India
China
Singapore
Caribbean
Qatar
For Sale


64
Trade Services
Worldwide
Worldwide
Trade Storage
Training
G&R Advert 60x60mm:Layout 1 Piano Specialists
20/10/08
16
NO NEED TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE FOR YOUR TRAINING

OPERATIVE TRAINING THAT COMES TO YOUR FRONT DOOR REMOVAL SPECIFIC HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING ON SITE
PACKING MANUAL HANDLING EXPORT WRAPPING VEHICLE LOADING CONTAINER LOADING
THE PIANO SPECIALISTS

A family run business, Est. in 1968.
We offer Trade storage at competitive rates. Undercover Loading & Unloading Flexible hours 6.00 p/w no handling charge
www.trekremovals.com sales@trekremovals.com
Tel: 0800 1389242 or 01708 552981

Specialist Services Space to Hire
LOCAL MOVING WORLDWIDE SHIPPING WEEKLY EUROPEAN SERVICE

Recommended by the worlds finest piano manufacturers, auctioneers, music colleges & academies.
HEALTH & SAFETY POLICIES HEALTH & SAFETY ASSESSMENT ACCIDENT CONTROL FIRST AID RISK ASSESSMENT HSE COMPLIANCE
Mem. No G005
Call BARTS on 01923 699484 or email training@bar.co.uk

Warehouse Containers
100 BOLLO LANE, CHISWICK, LONDON W4 5LX Tel: +44 (0) 20 8994 9733 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8995 0855
Email: info@gandrremovals.co.uk www.gandrremovals.co.uk
Trailer Hire
For Sale

65
Classifieds
Vans for Sale Opportunities
REMOVAL TRUCKS FOR SALE

All MOT and taxed, ready to go
Are You Looking To Sell?

We are looking to buy good quality household moving and storage companies in London and the home counties. Please call 07933 123 123 in full confidence for a quick decision.
For Sale
Merc Vancraft / 56 reg

London compliant vancaft, 3 x container, 21ft x 9ft luton dropwell barn doors, tie rails
Euro 5 2007 / 56 reg

London compliant, 5 x container, tie rails, barn doors 30ft x 9ft body dropwell, sleeper cab
For Sale: Cheshire Business

A. Houghton Removals began in 1926 and has been in the family ever since. Due to retirement the current owner is no longer able to maintain the business. Call 0161 480 3434, or email: info@ahoughtonremovals.co.uk www.houghtonremovals.co.uk
Other trucks available, please ask

See our web site: www.removaltrucks.co.uk or email your requirements to: mike@removaltrucks.co.uk
ASK FOR MIKE FAHEY 07730 309 699

Situations Vacant
Clockwork Removals and Storage are entering into a new stage in the Companies progression and we are looking for some dynamic people to join the team. Clockwork has big plans for the coming years and in order to reach those planned goals it needs the best people on board. If you feel you have the right skills and drive to meet with the Companies plans and want to join a progressive forward thinking business, now could be the time. We are looking for achievers and forward thinking professionals with a pedigree in success. In return we are offering a great financial package and benefits for the right people. Sales Manager (Director elect)
Professional Manager with extensive knowledge of the Domestic, European, Worldwide and Commercial sectors, Extensive P&L understanding, Natural leader, Senior presentation skills. Main role To manager the Sales of the business and ensure the budgets are met and exceeded where possible Develop where needed and man manage the sales team, in order to grow the businesses sales Prepare and present, proposals to senior executives and board members Prepare and propose budgets Be able to travel extensively if required to achieve the goals needed
Commercial Business Development Manager

Professional Manager, Excellent track record in developing business at all levels, Understanding of margin business Extensive knowledge of P&L, Hands on approach to developing business. Main role To drive forward and develop Commercial Sales throughout the business Manage a commercial team Increase the brand awareness through service and performance Have the ability to pre plan and forecast sales Be able to travel extensively if required to achieve the goals needed
Applications by CV & covering letter to: Head of HR, Jenny Burnham, Clockwork Removals, 38-40 West Harbour Road, Granton, Edinburgh, EH51PU or jenny.burnham@clockworkremovals.co.uk Closing Date: December 3rd 2012
66
Classifieds BAR News

Advertising Deadlines
Sell it, Fill it, R&S it!

Your R&S is the perfect vehicle to advertise your: Business Vehicles Vacancies And much more besides!
Call Sandra on 0117 957 5400 for details

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R&amp;S November 2012

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Removals & Storage

The Magazine of the British Association of Removers

November 2012 // Issue 460 // 4 On the cover

The secrets to Masons Moving Groups success

November 2012 Removals & Storage

Removals & Storage November 2012

November 2012 Removals & Storage

Removals & Storage November 2012

Contents Industry News

FEDEMAC looks ahead

E-Learning for BAR Members

24 Young Mover Prole

The R&S Interview: Beverley Bell

26 BAR Services 28 QSS Update 30 Group News 48 Features

56 Diary Dates 57 People News 60 Membership 66 Classied

November 2012 Removals & Storage

Contact Details: Editorial

News from Watford

Follow BAR on:

Removals & Storage November 2012

Removals firm banned from operating abroad

Diesel users pay a premium

Go-ahead for Portsmouth Road Bridge

November 2012 Removals & Storage

New standards for lorry drivers

Driver CPC deadline

Castle Cary rethink for A371

M4 works begin in Berkshire

Removals & Storage November 2012

The dangers of texting and driving

Small business bank welcomed

New record for Felixstowe

Do you have any news to share with R&S readers?

November 2012 Removals & Storage

Small firms essential to the UK jobs market

Freight forwarders call for road funding action

Devolving local transport decisions

Removals & Storage November 2012

November 2012 Removals & Storage

Bishops Move blows the industrys trumpet

Local authorities still late payers

Financial analysts sound alarm over sales drive

Removals & Storage November 2012

November 2012 Removals & Storage

Warning on fraudulent operators

Ingrams move Bannatyne Fitness

Expect Move go ape!

Musical move for Harrow Green

Removals & Storage November 2012

Agility GRMS golf day raises funds for BLESMA

Active supplies self storage for R&D Schofield

Bishops Chris Marshall, Bishops Mike Herald Agility Simon Mercier

Do you have any news to share with R&S readers?

November 2012 Removals & Storage

Mobeltransport commits to UN Compact

Fox triumphs at Interdean rugby sevens

Anglo Pacific moves theatre shows

Niels Bach, CEO Mobeltransport Danmark.

Do you have any news to share with R&S readers?

Removals & Storage November 2012

Factoring deal helps Monkey Removals expand

November 2012 Removals & Storage

ONeil redesigns website

R&S November 2012

R&S November 2012