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BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS LTD

REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2018

RBA CHAIRMAN’SREPORT

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

DIRECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT

BAR (SERVICES)DIRECTOR’S REPORT

QSS CHAIRMAN’SREPORT

APG CHAIRMAN’SREPORT

08

09

36

56

69

70

INCORPORATING: quality service standards ltd

BAR services ltd

Removers Benevolent Association

ADVANCEDPAYMENTGUARANTEE

contents

‘BAR IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE IN THE REMOVALS INDUSTRY FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF REMOVERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS’

notice of annual GENERAL MEETINGS

Organisation & Governance

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Director General’s Report

BAR Director’s Report & Financial Statements for the y/e DECEMBER 2018

04

05-07

08

09

36

10-35

BAR (Services) Chairman’s Report

BAR (Services) Director’s Report & Financial Statements for the y/e DECEMBER 2018

37-57

QSS Chairman’s Report

QSS Director’s Report & Financial Statementsfor the y/e DECEMBER 2018

56

57-68

RBA Chairman’s Report

BAR APG Scheme Trust Chairman’s Report

RBA Report & Accounts for the y/e DECEMBER 2018

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69

71-80

mission statement:

INCORPORATING: quality service standards ltd

BAR services ltd


ADVANCEDPAYMENTGUARANTEE

BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2018 PAGE 3

BAR in numbers2018 ACTIVITY

The removals industry is one that makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. The BAR membership represents the very best of the sector in the UK, totalling more than 411 companies and 555 branches/locations.

In 2018 this comprised over 11,000 staff, operating more than 4,000 vehicles, carrying out more than half a million moves.

9.5% trade

TOTA

L NUMBER MOVES

% OF BUSINESS

55% DOMESTIC

290,328

24% CORPORATE

22% OVERSEAS

116,373

66% PRIVATE

TOTA

L NUMBER STAFF

NUMBER OF VEHICLES

10% TRADE

531,140

23% COMMERCIAL

124,439

%39%

UNDER 3.5T 1,741

61% OVER 3.5T

2,758

4,499

11,05563%

MANUAL6,965

12% MANAGeMENT

1,358

25% CLERICAL

/SALES 2,732


Notice of Annual General Meeting and Special ResolutionsFriday 24 May 2019BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS LTDNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the British Association of Removers Ltd (as part of the Annual Conference), will be held at 9.30 am on Friday 24 May 2019, at the Crown Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR, United Kingdom, for the following purposes:

1. To receive the Association’s Accounts, and the Reports of the Directors and Auditors, for the year ended 31 December 2018.2. To appoint Wellers Accountants as Auditors of the company until the next AGM, at a fee to be agreed by the Board of Directors.3. To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following Special Resolutions, in accordance with Article 30(b): 3.1 To elect the officers of the Board of Directors for the coming two years: a) To elect as President of the Association, Mr Ian Palmer, White & Co PLC, to serve for a period of two years from Friday 24th May 2019. b) To elect as Vice-President of the Association, Mr Mark Chudley, Chudley International, to serve for a period of two years from Friday 24th May 2019.4. To transact any other business which may be properly transacted at an Annual General Meeting. 4.1 To note that Mr Daniel Braddock, GB Liners Ltd, was elected as a Directly Elected Director to serve for a period of three years from Friday 24th May 2019.

By order of the Board of DirectorsPaul Swindon

Company Secretary26th April 2019

Registered Office: Tangent House, 62 Exchange Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0TG. Company Registration Number: 133531.

Due to the size of the publication and the cost of printing, copies of the BAR Report & Accounts 2018, and any supporting documentation, will be available in electronic format only and may be downloaded from the www.bar.co.uk/agm19 or available upon request by emailing the BAR Company Secretary.

Every Member is entitled to attend and vote may appoint a proxy in accordance with, and with the powers conferred by, Articles 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 of the Articles of Association, to attend and vote in his or her stead. To be effective, a form of proxy together with any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed, must reach the registered office no later than 10.00am, Monday 20th May 2019.

To enable comprehensive answers to be given to any questions in connection with the Agenda, those questions should be submitted to the BAR Company Secretary no later than 5pm, Thursday 16th May 2019.

REMOVERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Removers Benevolent Association, will immediately follow the BAR AGM, at the Crown Plaza Stratford-up-on-Avon, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR, United Kingdom, for the following purposes;

1. To receive the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2018.2. To confirm the composition of the RBA, in accordance with 8(a) of the RBA Rules; a) To confirm the composition of the Board of Trustees and Committee members.3. To confirm the appointment of Wellers Accountants as Auditors for the coming year.4. To transact any other business which may be properly transacted at an Annual General Meeting.

On behalf of the Board of TrusteesPaul Swindon


Registered Charity Number: 284012. Registered Office: Tangent House, 62 Exchange Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0TG.

Copies of the RBA Annual Accounts 2018 can be found in the main BAR Report & Accounts 2018. Due to the size of the publication and the cost of printing, copies of the BAR Report & Accounts 2018, and any supporting documentation, will be available in electronic format only and may be downloaded from the www.bar.co.uk/agm19 or available upon request by emailing the BAR Company Secretary.


BAR ADVANCED PAYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME TRUSTNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ANNUAL MEETING of the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee Scheme Trust will immediately follow the RBA AGM, at the Crown Plaza Stratford-up-on-Avon, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR, United Kingdom, for the following purposes;

1. To receive the Report of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.2. To confirm the composition of the BAR APG Scheme Trust, in accordance with 17.1 of the BAR APG Scheme Trust;3. To transact any other business which may be properly transacted at an Annual Meeting.

On behalf of the Board of TrusteesPaul Swindon


Registered Office: Tangent House, 62 Exchange Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0TG.

Copies of the BAR APG Scheme Trust Annual Report 2018 can be found in the main BAR Report & Accounts 2018. Due to the size of the publication and the cost of printing, copies of the BAR Report & Accounts 2018, and any supporting documentation, will be available in electronic format only and may be downloaded from the www.bar.co.uk/agm19 or available upon request by emailing the BAR Company Secretary.



Organisation & GovernanceBRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS LTD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Position Name Member CompanyPresident Tony Tickner Eurogroup International Movers LtdVice President Ian Palmer White & Co plcDirector General Ian Studd BAR National Council Chairman Mike Andrews Britannia Bradshaws Overseas Group Chairman Chris Mackley Gerson Relocation LtdCommercial Moving Group Chairman Nigel Shaw Specialised Movers LtdBAR (Services) Chairman Mark Chudley Chudley International Directly Elected by the Membership Angus Russell Britannia Lanes of Somerset & BristolDirectly Elected by the Membership David Strank Strank’s Removals & Storage Ltd Directly Elected by the Membership Neal Lambert George Lambert & Son LtdCompany Secretary Paul Swindon BAR

ADVISORY COMMITTEE Position Name Member CompanyPresident Tony Tickner Eurogroup International Movers Ltd Vice President Ian Palmer White & Co plc Director General Ian Studd BAR Nominated by the Board David Strank Strank’s Removals & Storage Ltd Co-opted by the Committee Gary Wheadon D. Sully & Son Ltd Company Secretary Paul Swindon BAR

BAR HEAD OFFICEPosition Name TeamDirector General Ian Studd Company Secretary Paul Swindon Compliance Compliance Officer Melissa Fowler ComplianceCompliance & Disputes Adviser (part-time) Siobhan Maguire ComplianceFinancial Controller (part-time) Alison Bond Finance Finance Assistant (part-time) Shelley Hansberry Finance Bookkeeper (part-time) Claudia Stephens Finance Membership Services Manager Martyn Minker Membership Services Membership and Marketing Assistant Scott Buist Membership Services Membership Services Assistant Mwansa Musonda Membership ServicesOffice Manager Tracy Britten Support Training Manager Stephen Thorp Training Training Co-ordinator Charlotte Clarke Training

NATIONAL GROUP COUNCIL Position Name Member CompanyChairman Mike Andrews Britannia Bradshaws Deputy Chairman Paul Fox Fox Group (Moving & Storage) Ltd East Anglia Representative Richard Crowther Eurogroup International Movers Ltd East Metropolitan Representative Barry Tebbutt Geo Copsey & Co Ltd East Midlands Representative Gordon Rafferty All Moves UK LtdKent Representative Anthony Groves D.C. Groves & Sons Met Representative Michael Clark Clark’s of Amersham North Western Representative Nick Wilkinson Britannia Bradshaws Northern Representative David Brown Brown & Illingworth RemovalsNorthern Ireland Representative Dominic Murray Coastway Storage & Removals Ltd Scotland Representative Robert Cooper Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage Ltd South Western Representative Geoff Clinch Reddaways Removals Ltd Southern Representative Peter Rattue Reflex Moody Ltd Sussex Representative Edward Kessell Martell’s International Removers West Midlands Representative Warren Henry Warren & Son Ltd Western Representative Paul Fox Fox Group (Moving & Storage) Ltd Yorkshire Representative Hannah Waddell White Rose Removals

* all data was correct at the time of printing


Organisation & Governance

COMMERCIAL MOVING GROUP COUNCILPosition Name Member CompanyChairman Nigel Shaw Specialised Movers LtdDeputy Chairman Steve Webber MaidmansImmediate Past Chairman Sarah Cole Universal Commercial RelocationsCouncillors Robert Poyner Fox Business Moving Kevin Mack Company Moves & Storage Ltd Martin Budd Pickfords Move Management Ltd Neil Purdie Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage Ltd Timon Thorncroft JT & Sons Relocations

OVERSEAS GROUP COUNCIL Position Name Member CompanyChairman Chris Mackley Gerson Relocation LtdDeputy Chairman Steve Fanning Britannia Movers International plcImmediate Past Chairman Ian Palmer White & Co plcHonorary Vice Chairman Nick Kerr DT Moving LtdCouncillors Robert Bartup GB Liners Ltd Stephen Denning Fox Group (Moving & Storage) Ltd Rob Lucas Sterling Relocations Wesley Bourne Bournes Grant Bishop Bishops Move Stephen Compton Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage Ltd Adam Chudley Chudley International Andrew Nelson Anglo Pacific International

BAR (SERVICES) LTD BOARD OF DIRECTORSPosition Name Member CompanyChairman Mark Chudley Chudley InternationalDirector General Ian Studd BARDirectors Mark Herrington Britannia Bradshaws of Leicester Kevin Mack Company Moves & Storage Ltd Mark Tresler Britannia Movers International plcElected Non-BAR Member George Sutherland n/aBAR President Tony Tickner Eurogroup International Movers LtdGeneral Manager Miranda Hyder BAR Services LtdCompany Secretary Paul Swindon BAR

BAR AREAS AND OFFICERSArea Chairman SecretaryEast Anglia Richard Crowther, Eurogroup Int’l Movers Ltd Simon Long, Simon Long RemovalsEast Metropolitan Alby Tebbutt, Geo Copsey & Co Ltd Andy Slemmings, C Bain of UpminsterEast Midlands Matt Ballard, Ballards Removals Ltd Matt Hawkins, TwentyCiKent Andrew Urquhart, Colin Batt Removals Ltd Sarah Young, Reason GlobalMet Chris Mackley, Gerson Relocation Ltd Paula O’Shea, Pluscrates LtdNorth Western Rob Ford, Pickfords Move Management Deborah McClave, Osbornes Removals & Storage (Group) LtdNorthern David Atkin, Britannia George Bernard Shaw Alan Hoggin, Britannia George Bernard ShawNorthern Ireland Campbell McGimpsey, McGimpsey Bros Ltd Dominic Murray, Coastways Storage & RemovalsScotland John Gordon, White & Co PLC Georgina Berry, Richard Healey Removals LtdSouth Western Emma Lane, Britannia Lanes Daniel Reynolds, Reason GlobalSouthern Steve Webber, Maidmans Peter Doman, Basil Fry & CompanySussex Jason Hayes, D. Durrant Removals Ltd Jenny Thorncroft, JT & Sons RelocationsWest Midlands Emlyn Evans, Squab Group Max Ward, Basil Fry & Co LtdWestern Angus Russell, Britannia Lanes of Somerset Maria Russell, Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol & BristolYorkshire Danny Pollard, Pollards Moving & Storage Ltd Danny Pollard, Pollards Moving & Storage Ltd



Organisation & GovernanceQUALITY SERVICE STANDARDS LTD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Position Name Member CompanyChairman Paul Tracey Fox Group (Moving & Storage) LtdDirector General Ian Studd BARDirectors Anthony Groves D.C. Groves & Sons David Russell Restore Harrow Green (Vacant) (Vacant)Elected Non-BAR Member Kerry Allsop n/a Impartiality Committee representative Bob Tree Basil Fry & Co LtdBAR President Tony Tickner Eurogroup International Movers LtdGeneral Manager David Woodhouse Quality Service Standards LtdCompany Secretary Paul Swindon BAR

REMOVERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEESPosition Name Member CompanyChairman of the Trustees Matt Purdie Kilmarnock International Removals LtdTrustees Jonathan Hood Cadogan Tate Group Emma Lane Britannia Lanes Gary Wheadon D. Sully & Son LtdRBA President Tony Tickner Eurogroup International Movers LtdHonorary Secretary Paul Swindon BARCommittee Bob Tree Basil Fry & Co Ltd Paul Bullock PHS Teacrate Dave Ewart PHS Teacrate Daniel Braddock GB Liners Ltd Mark Taylor Pickfords Move Management LtdAdministration Tracy Britten BAR Siobhan Maguire BAR

BAR ADVANCED PAYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME BOARD OF TRUSTEESPosition Name Member CompanyChairman Robert Bartup G.B. Liners LtdTrustees Tony Tickner Eurogroup International Movers Ltd Ian Palmer White & Co plc Mark Chudley Chudley International Geoff Clinch Reddaways Removals Ltd Nick Kerr DT Moving LtdCorporate Trustee Ian Studd BAR APG Scheme Corporate Trustee LtdCompany Secretary Paul Swindon BAR



President’s Reportfor the year ended 31st December 2018

When I became President we were heading towards Brexit. We didn’t really know what that meant or how Brexit would unfold. Two years later as I write this report near the end of my Presidency, we still don’t really know what Brexit means or how it will unfold.

2018 saw BAR continue to move forward, adapting to a constantly changing and evolving industry. I am pleased to report that under the skilful management of our Director General, Ian Studd and his dedicated team, BAR remains in a strong position to meet the challenges that face us....

TONY TICKNERPresident, BARApril 2019

I can only hope that by the time this is published the way ahead is a little clearer and we finally have some direction. I am just thankful that our team at BAR Watford aren’t all ex-Westminster politicians, as nothing would have been achieved over the past two years!

2018 saw BAR continue to move forward, adapting to a constantly changing and evolving industry. I am pleased to report that under the skilful management of our Director General, Ian Studd and his dedicated team, BAR remains in a strong position to meet the challenges that face us, and help us all through those challenges.

In 2018 the new APG scheme was tested to the full with the collapse of a Member that resulted in the largest claim BAR has ever seen. BAR rose to this demanding challenge, and alongside the APG Trustees put into action the plan laid down to deal with the many customers affected both in the UK and overseas. This plan enabled their effects to keep moving, and at the same time meant we carefully managed each claim and were able to minimise the cost and financial impact on the APG Fund.

2018 also saw BAR continue to develop industry Training with the launch of Driver specific CPC training, Transport Manager CPC courses, and it ran the first ever Management training course.

During the year BAR undertook a review of BAR Services, and tested the market to make sure members were getting value for money. The BAR Services Board and BAR agreed that a number of changes were needed, and BAR went to market inviting suppliers to tender on packing supplies, and at the same time they were invited to submit their ideas and recommendations on how the service could and should be run. After the review process a new contract was awarded to Contrast UK Ltd, who supply BAR Services, but with major adjustments and improvements on how they operate and deliver the BAR Service’s brand.

Started but not completed in 2018 was a full criteria review. The committee was tasked with conducting a review across all areas of the BAR. At the top of the list, the committee was asked to look at the financial review of members, following the major collapse of a member. It was clear that the old method, whilst it has served us well in the past, was now dated and with the launch of the APG scheme was no longer suitable. This led to a recommendation from the committee for a new vetting system and a more robust financial review of both existing members and new BAR applicants going forward. The new system was tested and approved by the board to take effect early 2019. Still on the criteria review agenda is Staff training and Individual Membership, the results of which we look forward to seeing.

Young Movers was launched at the start of my Presidency and it has gone from strength to strength. My thanks go to the Young Movers Group and its members for their superb efforts. The Young Movers are making their events both

informative and interesting, and it is great to see individuals from their ranks get involved in all areas of BAR. I believe the future of BAR will be in safe hands.

The above is just a snapshot of the many items that BAR updated and improved in 2018. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of Management and staff of BAR and the many individuals at area level, on Councils, Boards, Trustees and sub committees who have given their time freely to the Association, to us its members, and without personal reward.

As I come to the end of my Presidency in May, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the past two years. I would also like to thank everyone who made me feel so welcome when I met them during my term in office. I could never have dreamt that the lad who left school with no qualifications and was told to ‘forget about college or university and just go and find a job’, would one day hold such a prestigious position within my chosen industry.

Lastly I wish Ian Palmer, the new incoming President, and Mark Chudley the new Vice President, all the very best in their new roles. I also wish you, the membership, continued success in the future. I do not intend to ride off into the sunset, and will remain involved in BAR, as BAR is integral to my business, and together we shall continue to grow.


Director General’s Reportfor the year ended 31st December 2018

2018 was another a busy year and one in which we have again made good progress against the key strategic initiatives determined by your Board of Directors and supported by the team based here at Watford.

Those key initiatives include the following:

TrainingWe saw a 64% increase in 2018 when compared to 2017 in the number of delegates attending one or more training courses delivered through our network of Approved Training Centres, including courses delivered at Watford and other ‘off site’ locations. Once again we added to the number of courses available with regards to our JAUPT approved Removals Driver CPC modules and other functional skills based content, and for the first time the BAR assumed the responsibility for organising and delivering the Removals Masterclass residential course held in Cheltenham in November. That particular course had previously been devised and produced by Rob Bartup and we are extremely grateful for his support during the transition period and, having delivered a very successful event in 2018, we have already confirmed the dates to run that course in November of 2019. We continued to seek a sustainable solution to providing deliverable Apprenticeship programmes and, following much discussion, changed our preferred provider to TRS Training Ltd to help and support our Members with the selection and recruitment of their apprentices. Although it is still early days, I am delighted to report that uptake with TRS Ltd is very positive and growing month on month.

Website and Social Media2018 saw a total refresh of the BAR website which has demonstrably achieved its aim of improving on the experience for all stakeholders (including consumers, movers and applicants) and therefore increasing the amount of ‘traffic’ to the site. We have seen the number of new visitors to the site increase by over 15% since the refresh was launched and the number of hits is growing steadily as each month passes. I should advise that this particular refresh is only one element of the strategy for improving on brand awareness, we also engaged in a number of social media campaigns that saw the number of impressions on our twitter account improve by almost 400%. As we move through 2019, we will continue to refresh other elements of brand BAR (BARTS/RBA/QSS) to ensure consistency of tone and message across all of our marketing and information portals. As added value benefits, and at no cost to our Members, we also launched a quotation module that Members are able to ‘white label’ and link to their own websites, as well as providing the facility whereby a Member can link their own referral platform, whatever that might be, to their profile lodged with the BAR which then allows any consumer landing on the BAR site to be able to access those links directly.

APG SchemeFollowing the launch of the Association-wide Advance Payment Guarantee scheme (APG scheme) in July 2017 to provide the necessary consumer protection required by the Code of Practice, the scheme experienced three claims on the fund during the course of 2018. Those three claims related to the failures of Richard Neave Ltd, Sheppards and E Pearson & Son (Teeside) Ltd. Two of those cases have been concluded (Richard Neave Ltd and Sheppards) with the consumers

involved, having satisfied the criteria for a claim, recompensed in full for any monies that they had pre-payed. However, the third failure involving Pearsons is altogether more complex and is not yet concluded and almost certainly will not be by the time of our conference in May. This particular business failure is the biggest by far known within our industry in whichever way it is described; by the number of claims, their complexity or the potential value of the total claim. The Trustees of the scheme continue to work hard, supported by the staff here at Watford, to conclude this claim and to oversee the security of the fund itself, now and into the future, and they have my very grateful thanks for their efforts.

RepresentationThroughout 2018 we have continued to represent the needs of our Members and their trading partners and affiliates with a number of bodies including (but not limited to) the following;

• HMRC, in relation to the changes in the ETSF legislation as a consequence of Brexit;

• DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government); in relation to the government’s ongoing review of the house buying and selling process in the UK;

• JCCC (Joint Customs Consultative Committee ;) to exchange views on, and discuss proposed changes, to customs procedures and documentation, particularly as a consequence of the Brexit negotiations;

• DfT (Department for Transport; lobbying activities relative to the introduction of Clean Air Zones (CAZ) around the UK and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Direct Vision Standards (DVS) in London;

• HM Treasury; lobbying activities to the Chancellor of the Exchequer relative to reviewing the threshold for becoming VAT registered.

Brand AwarenessOther strategies that we have continued to pursue through 2018 include raising brand awareness and to that end I have participated with a number of television production companies for potential programme material, and we have had 15 press releases published.

Young MoversI am delighted with the progress made with Young Movers Group and must congratulate that Committee on producing some great work in 2018, staging more functions and adding training course content and availability to its Members as part of its strategies for growth. The group has continued to be represented at all council meetings and is now actively pursuing its plans for 2018 which is great to see. This group is the future of our Association and we remain committed to supporting them in their endeavours in whatever way we can and to encouraging them to further develop their modus operandi.

My thanks go out again to all of you for your support and especially to your Board of Directors for the time, help and advice that they give so freely. I hope to catch up with as many of you as possible, either at area meetings or separately as the opportunity arises, throughout the course of the next year.


THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS LIMITED

Directors’ Report and Financial StatementsFor the year ended 31st December 2018

Registered number: 00133531


13-14

15-17

18

19

20

21-31

32-33


The notes on pages 21 to 31 form part of these financial statements.


Unlike many businesses, the measure of success for BAR services is not the level of profit, but more achieving sales and market share, whilst supplying to the members at a price as close to cost as possible. Whilst in the past the Company would have achieved a profit and then shared this back with members, we have focused on cost price at the point of supply. This is much more efficient and we believe has also helped increase sales.

The “Movers” Packaging market has some serious competition and its encouraging that sales have shown a moderate increase on the previous year. As with previous years, the carton market is the main source of sales and thanks to the support of some of the larger players in the market, unit cost for the smaller members has remained competitive.

BAR Services is run for the benefit of the association and its members under contract by Miranda Hyder and her team. Last year we focused on a new six-year contract and that commenced in July 2018. The previous contract had been based on rewarding the management company by sales only and the Board felt this was too constraining. The focus was therefore moved tobottom line margin which reflected the need to supply members at thebest possible cost.

Unlike 2017, 2018 has seen a greater stability in the cost of paper, a major influence in the material cost. As a result, Miranda has been able to make the most of the bulk purchasing ability and maintain successful offers throughout the year.

During the year, the team was strengthened by the addition of Hayley as the office manager and Debbie who works in tandem with Miranda on account development.

At the time of writing this report, the B word is forefront in most of our minds. The housing market is slow and there is a general air of uncertainty. However, I believe that BAR Services are structured in such a way that they have a solid foundation for this next phase of their existence, even if we have a period of turbulence.

My thanks as always to my fellow Directors. Mark Herrington, Mark Tresler , George Sutherland and Kevin Mack. Also to Ian Studd for his invaluable input, Paul Swindon for his support & Tony Tickner for his regular attendance and advice. However the main thanks, as always, must be to Miranda and her team for they are the face of BAR Services.

After some seven years on the BAR Services Board, with the last two as Chairman, this will be my last report. I am honoured to have been chosen as Vice President of the BAR & although I will maintain a keen interest in BAR Services, its important for the board to have a chairman who is not distracted from the role.

I am very pleased that Mark Herrington will be following me and I hope he will take the Board forward in new directions. His industry experience and personal qualities make him an ideal candidate.

At the time of writing this report, the B word is forefront in most of our minds. The housing market is slow and there is a general air of uncertainty. However, I believe that BAR Services are structured in such a way that they have a solid foundation for this next phase of their existence, even if we have a period of turbulence.

MARK CHUDLEYChairman, BAR ServicesApril 2019

BAR ServicesChairman’s Reportfor the year ended 31st December 2018


THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS (SERVICES) LIMITED




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45

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54-55


QSS Chairman’s Reportfor the year ended 31st December 2018

This is my third year on the QSS board and thesecond as Chairman.

2018 saw us welcome David Woodhouse to the QSS team as General Manager, taking over from Chris Waymouth. After a short handover period, David has taken overall control of the day to day running and development of QSS taking an active hands on approach within the team, covering the audits of many of our Scottish member locations, as well as attendance at industry events.

2018 continued where 2017 finished, with further growth in both the number of companies using QSS services and the number of quality standards they audited.

The auditors completed 1178 inspections during 2018, this was an increase 6% vs 2017, with the number of certifications issued increasing by 12%.

Further developments of the “BITS” database now allows the QSS team to upload reports online which in turn enables timely reports to be sent to the members and avoids posting files between the auditors and BAR headquarters.

David and his team have run a number of training courses to assist internal company auditors prepare for the changing standards and improve their internal company processes. It is hoped to run further training courses through 2019.

Articles were published in the R&S magazine over 2018 covering a number of changes to the accreditation process and other useful information. We plan to continue with these articles throughout 2019.

Lynne Haliwell, after 11 years with QSS, decided to leave at the end of December 2018. The board thanks Lynne for her commitment and hard work over this time. William Burden who had been an auditor in training since retiring from his role at White & Co has taken over the audits previously undertaken by Lynne. As most of you are aware, William brings numerous years of experience in the removals industry.

QSS continues to develop its relationships with moving companies outside of the UK with members of the Euromovers network in the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Czech Republic, Sweden, Belgium, Finland and Australia choosing to instruct QSS to undertake their quality standards.

In addition to the Euromovers network, we are now working with 12 companies outside of the moving industry. The QSS board see these opportunities as an area that will continue to provide growth during 2019.

The outlook for 2019 is encouraging and the board believe that many of the foundations that have been put in place over the past three years will start to show improvements with the streamlined administration process and through continued growth.

QSS remains committed to supporting our members and being “The Friendly Face of Compliance”.

The outlook for 2019 is encouraging and the board believe that many of the foundations that have been put in place over the past three years will start to show improvements with the streamlined administration process and through continued growth.

PAUL TRACEYChairman, QSSApril 2019


QUALITY SERVICE STANDARDS LIMITED

Unaudited




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67-68

BAR APG Scheme Trust Chairman’s ReportIt is my pleasure to submit the following report onbehalf of the Trustees during 2018.

In my report last year, I drew attention to the failure in early 2018 of Richard Neave Limited. At the Annual Meeting last year, I was able to tell the meeting that we were hopeful that the sale of a property owned by the former member might enable us to recover some, or all, of our claim payments and, indeed, that turned out to be correct with the Liquidator refunding 100p in the Pound to the Fund. That “dry run” was perhaps useful in preparing us for the hurricane that arrived with the collapse of Pearsons. Having been associated with various Advance Payment Guarantee Schemes for 15 years, I can confidently say that this is the biggest I have been involved with in terms of the number of claims, their complexity and value. A great deal of credit should go to the BAR staff and to Jason Franco, who joined BAR on a short-term basis, for the way the customers and their claims were handled. Tracking down the whereabouts of some of the goods and getting them moving again, was not an easy task. I should also pay tribute to those BAR members and non-members who accepted they could morally only charge the customer, and therefore the Scheme, costs that were incurred after the collapse of Pearsons and chose to treat any work done before as a bad debt.

Inevitably perhaps, there were some in the UK and abroad who held the customers’ goods to ransom and insisted on the customer paying again for services provided to Pearsons before the date of the collapse. Details of those companies have been passed to BAR for further investigation and consideration of appropriate action.

The deadline for claims for Pearsons is 8th April and I am writing this on 22nd March. At the time of writing, we have received and agreed claims in the region of £125,000. The Trustees intend to commence payment of proved claims in July 2019.

There may, of course, be criticism of this expenditure of what is, after all, the members’ money. The Trust, of course, exists to fulfil our CTSI commitment to pick up the pieces if a member fails so the Trustees welcome BAR’s increased emphasis on financial security for members in the expectation that, in the fullness of time, the risks to the Fund can be reduced.

In the meantime, and having had three failures in the financial year (Sheppards of Norwich being the other) members will not be surprised to hear that we have asked BAR to levy an additional £20 per member for 2019/20. While this will also be an unwelcome additional cost, any critic might want to stop to consider the ramifications for the industry if BAR did not have this low cost safety net for members’ customers.

As with everything at BAR, the work of the Trust is a team effort. I have already paid tribute to the BAR staff and I should also, on your behalf, thank my fellow Trustees, Nick Kerr, Tony Tickner and Ian Palmer, from the Overseas Group, Mark Chudley and Geoff Clinch, from the National Group, and Ian Studd from BAR as Corporate Trustee. Geoff is stepping down on 30th June and will be

The Trust...exists to fulfil our CTSI commitment to pick up the pieces if a member fails so the Trustees welcome BAR’s increased emphasis on financial security for members in the expectation that, in the fullness of time, the risks to the Fund can be reduced.

ROBERT BARTUPChairman of the BAR APG Scheme TrustApril 2019


replaced by Peter Rattue from Reflex Move. Geoff has been part of the Steering Group that set the Trust up and has meticulously picked up on some of the details that others of us have overlooked. Thank you Geoff for what you have done for the Scheme.

‘Please note that the Annual Accounts for the BAR APG Scheme Trust will be available in the report

shortly – apologies for any inconvenience caused’


RBA Chairman’s Reportfor the year ended 31st December 2018

I take pleasure in presenting my eighth Annual Report.

The year saw many potential claims and hardship and was the key factor for my fellow Trustees in justifying and speedily validating them.

The process has become much more efficient in recent years with agreement reached and monies despatched normally within 48 hours of agreement being reached on the validation of the claim and the sum to be given. Every case is debated by the Trustees, some vigorously, and the amount given has been by unanimous decision in all instances during the year.

There were sadly five claims which had to be rejected for various reasons and at this point I have special mention for the efforts of Jonathan Hood. He has the onerous task of establishing the legitimacy of every request and through his diligence any claim which was either unsuitable for assistance or did not meet the rules were considered to be ineligible or unsuitable for immediate aid.

Not all claims resulted in cash being paid to the claimant and goods were bought directly from a retailer at a discounted rate to help furnish a new home for a sufferer of M.S. who was a sole parent with a young family. This was consistent with RBA practices in the past by not only achieving best value for money for the Association but it also resulted in better quality of goods for the claimant.

There was another exceptionally tragic claim which I must give special mention to. Terry Baker, a Pickford employee who was subject to an unprovoked attack on the street and tragically killed in the affray, leaving a partner and young children.

We had to step in immediately to help as there was a long delay before the trial if the assailant and hence compensation if proven guilty.

The Association settled the high interest loans she was forced to take out in the first instance and with the launch of a Just Giving page another £3,400 was raised, mainly from BAR members. Testimony indeed to the charity of our own membership.

The amount raised from the Conference was magnificent and I must thank BAR for their great help in organising this and in particular Paul Swindon and Tracy Britten whose dedication and administrative contribution are invaluable to us.

A special mention to Tony Tickner who as BAR President and also President of the RBA has been most supportive and was also the first person to donate generously at both of his Conferences.

My fellow Trustees, Emma Lane, Jonathan Hood and Gary Wheadon must also receive special mention along with the Committee members who will be introduced at the AGM.

A special mention to Tony Tickner who as BAR President and also President of the RBA has been most supportive and was also the first person to donate generously at both of his Conferences.

MATT PURDIEChairman of the Board of Trustees,RBAApril 2019


The final point I wish to mention in my report is that we paid a record amount in bequests which averaged £900 each. This is considerably up from the average of £500 a decade ago but this was only because of the record amount of donations, both personal and from the various areas who contributed and from the interest from our investments.

Unfortunately in these turbulent times and volatile Stock Market our investment portfolio dropped by some £16,000 over the year. With the oncoming of a potential Brexit and the current unsettled state of the world this may be the catalyst for more losses on our investments this coming year. This makes it all the more important that we continue to receive donations from our own Association, Areas and personal membership which enable us to pay the amounts that the legitimate claimants need to alleviate their immediate hardship.


THE REMOVERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION





THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS LIMITED

Tangent House62 Exchange RoadWatfordHertsWD18 0TG

T 01923 699480F 01923 699481E [email protected] www.bar.co.uk

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