r&s september 2013

Thomson Removals rev up new Volvos

www.bar.co.uk

Removals & StorageThe Magazine of the British Association of Removers

Inside this Issue

Industry News BAR News

>> HMRC targets Midlands hauliers >> Register in time for Ecotaxe

>> Launch of real time removals quote leads>> Treasure hunt in the North West

>> Special offers on Training Services>> BAR TSI Code online logo goes live

Features Breaking News

September 2013 // Issue 470 // 4

On the coverAyrshire-based Thomson Removals & Self Storage is adding two new Volvo trucks this year, to respond to rising demand and to keep its fleet up to date, reliable, and environmentally friendly. See pages 28-29

>> TUPE or not TUPE>> Tax breaks for employee shares

2Features

Removals & Storage September 2013

September 2013 Removals & Storage 3

Features

Moving forward in Bulgaria The Bulgarian Movers Association (BMA) was established one year ago. Stefan Dimitrov, BMA Chairman, talks about the dramatic transformation of the removals market since the fall of the Iron Curtain twenty years ago. 50

News from Watford

On the cover: A new Thomson vehicle pictured at The sundrum estate in Ayrshire, Scotland

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Contents

ContentsIndustry News

Just a snippet t).3$UBSHFUT.JEMBOETIBVMJFSTt704"DSJUJDJTFEGPSUBSHFUJOHTNBMMPQFSBUPSTt)BSSPX(SFFOTOFXNPWFTDIBOHFT contractt%FBOFT3FNPWBMTUBMFPGCPEJFTBOE 4 chassis

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BAR News

Make sure you install the BAR TSI online coded logo, DED Chris Smallwood on why removals companies should not undervalue themselves, $MJGGFT3FNPWBMTQSPWJEFGFFECBDLPO5SVTUFEMover and fun at the North West Treasure Hunt.

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Features28

BAR Services

#SJBO.BJENBOTSPMFPOUIF#"34FSWJDFTBoard.

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Launch of real time removals quote leads5IJTNPOUITFFTUIFMBVODIPG5XFOUZ$JTOFXReal Time Removals Quote Leads. Following extensive feedback from BAR Members, there will NPSFEFUBJMFEJOGPSNBUJPOPOUIFFORVJSFSTNPWFensuring that the leads you receive are as targeted and relevant as possible.

Which trucks and bodies?NBSLT5SVDLTNJUITUIZFBSPGQSPEVDJOHits range of low floored lutons. R&S asked the company what it would advise the removals industry to consider if a company were to purchase a new 3.5 tonne vehicle.

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Training

Dates for upcoming training courses and special discounts.

Overseas Group News

Find out about the new guide to Overseas Moving.

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European News

People News

Membership 60

Diary Dates 58

Classified 66

Commercial Moving Group News

#PPLOPXGPSUIF$.(FWFOUPO4FQUFNCFS-1 October.

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4BAR News


News from Watford

As the UK and Eurozone economies finally show signs of picking up and the housing market is on the road to recovery, BAR Members have a distinctive new flag to brandish in the online marketplace. In partnership with technology company Yoshki, BAR has launched the online logo for the BAR/TSI Approved Code of Practice for use on the websites of UK BAR Members and approved BAR partners.

The logo contains some sophisticated coding which means that any non-member who uses the brand illegally will be quickly exposed. Once the coded logo has been added to a website, the consumer can validate that they are viewing the website of a BAR Member. Full guidance about how bona fide Members can use this logo can be found on pages 18 and 19. All Members will be required to update their websites and implement this new coded logo by 31 December.

The logo isnt the only new development in the online marketing area. BAR has now redesigned the up-to-date versions of its guides to Residential Moving Avoid the Headache, Overseas Moving, and Commercial Moving. These are now available on the websites of BAR, the OG and the CMG. They form a major part of BARs strategy to improve the publics understanding of the removals process and the importance of choosing a professional BAR removals firm rather than a non-member. The guides showcase all the benefits of using a BAR Member in each segment of the market, and highlight the standards and other criteria that Members must meet.

Each guide can be downloaded from MyBAR for print. Please distribute as many of

the guides as you feel appropriate they are a very useful and effective way of raising the profile of the BAR brand and winning more business for Members.

Make sure you take advantage of the special 25% discount that BAR Training Services (BARTS) are now offering BAR Members on a range of industry-specific courses. As many of you will know, this year BARTS has been busy restructuring its training portfolio to provide the industry with a more focused and cost-effective offering. The discount offer is an excellent opportunity to explore this new offering. More information can be found on page 38.

Many thanks to all those Members who have organised payment to renew their annual subscriptions. Members whose subscriptions are now overdue are kindly requested to please arrange for payment as soon as possible this month.

It may seem like only yesterday that we were all gathered in Newcastle, but preparations are already being made for the BAR Annual Conference 2014, which will be hosted in the bonnie city of Glasgow. Look out for more information in next months issue of R&S.

Shortly before the Annual Conference, next years Young Movers Conference for the younger generation from across Europe will also take place, from 1-3 May, in the Marriot Regents Park Hotel in London. This is a major event in the Young Mover calendar, and one that BAR hasnt hosted for some time now. More information about what should be a lively and entertaining Conference, including details about an excursion to Thorpe Park and a Treasure Hunt in and around London, can be found at www.youngmoverslondon2014.eu.

Follow BAR on:

Contact Details: Editorial Contributions on all aspects of the removals and storage industry are welcome, together with photographs if appropriate.1MFBTFDPOUBDUUIF.BOBHJOH&EJUPS-PVJTF(BMFPO5FM 020 3235 1806&NBJM [email protected]

Advertising For all enquiries and bookings, please contact 4BOESB;FBMBOEPO5FM 0117 957 5400&NBJM [email protected] %FBEMJOFT The booking deadline for all display advertisements for the October 2013 issue of R&S is 10 September.

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.

Registered as a magazine The British Association of Removers 2013. ISSN 0034-4265

"MMSJHIUTSFTFSWFE 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 Removers5FM 01923 699 480 'BY 01923 699 481 &NBJM [email protected]

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Removals & Storage is designed on behalf of 5IF#SJUJTI"TTPDJBUJPOPG3FNPWFSTCZRubicon Marketing Ltd. 5FM 0117 957 5400&NBJM [email protected]

Removals & Storage is written and edited for the British Association of Removers by Analytica Media5FM 0203 235 1800 &NBJM [email protected]

Copy and advertising deadlines 2013 for future issues of R&S magazine"SUJDMFTVCNJTTJPO 2nd of the month preceding publication#PPLJOHPGEJTQMBZ"EWFSUT 10th of the month preceding publication#PPLJOHPGDMBTTJmFE"EWFSUT 10th of the month preceding publication#PPLJOHPGUSBEF"EWFSUT 10th of the month preceding publication"SUXPSLGPS"EWFSUT 15th of the month preceding publication

5Industry News

September 2013 Removals & Storage

Dartford Crossing to go free flow Transport Minister Stephen Hammond has confirmed that a new free-flow charging arrangement will be introduced to users of the Dartford River Crossing by October 2014. The free-flow technology will allow motorists to use the crossing without having to stop at barriers to hand over payment; instead, they will be able to pay through a variety of methods including telephone, text message, online and at retail outlets, giving drivers greater flexibility in how and when they pay the charge. According to FTA (Freight Transport Association) figures, at present it already costs an estimated 1 per minute per HGV in running costs to queue at the Dartford tolls. Malcolm Bingham of the FTA said that the organisation has been asking for a long time for plans for a free-flow system at Dartford to be introduced as it considers that this is the appropriate way forward in order to reduce administration costs for the freight industry in dealing with tolls, charges and queues at the crossing.

While also supporting the projecting, the RHA has voiced a number of concerns on areas such as enforcement and safety. It has raised the importance of having a robust system in place to ensure that penalties are imposed on all those who deliberately try to avoid the charge. This will be a new challenge for Dartford as there is currently no debt with the existing system, since money is either collected at the time of crossing or paid in advance, the RHA said.

Go-ahead for Midlands road schemes Following its announcement that the VOSA and Two major road schemes to upgrade key junctions on routes in the Midlands have been given the go-ahead by the Roads Minister Stephen Hammond, after successfully completing the final stages of the planning process. Improvements to the M1 junction 19 (A14) Catthorpe interchange near Rugby and A45 and A46 Tollbar End junction near Coventry which are both used by over 90,000 vehicles each day, can now move to the next stage of development, with construction work due to start between January and March 2014.

HMRC joined other enforcement agencies including West Midlands Police, Central Motorway Patrol Group and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to target drivers suspected of tax evasion and other criminal activity. Recently, the M6 and M42 were the focus of investigations which resulted in 32 vehicles being stopped for a number of offences, including using rebated oil illegally, drivers not being registered for Income Tax Self-Assessment, fraudulent claiming of benefits, drivers without an HGV licence, insurance or Operators Licence, vehicles without an Operators Licence, drivers exceeding their driving hours and unroadworthy vehicles.

Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity in specific high-risk trade sectors and locations in the UK. The teams visit traders

to examine their records and carry out other investigations. According to Andrew Dore of Wellers Accountants: This is one of many new taskforces set up by HMRC focussing on a specific sector or industry. The multi-agency approach enables the authorities to catch up with people in breach of a wide range of laws.

HMRC has collected more than 80m as a result of taskforces launched since 2011-12. It expects to bring in over 90m per year from taskforces launched over the next three years. HMRCs Jennie Granger, Director General Enforcement and Compliance, said: if you seek to evade tax or defraud the tax system, HMRC can and will track you down. You will face not only a heavy fine, but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.For more information, contact Wellers at:www.wellersaccountants.co.uk.

HMRC targets Midlands commercial drivers HM Revenue & Custom (HMRC) has launched a taskforce to tackle tax dodgers in the Midlands haulage industry.

Rolling back EU red tape The Government has launched a business-led initiative on the implementation of EU legislation. This follows discussions on the topic at a recent Business Reference Panel, in which BAR is an active participant. A new taskforce on EU regulations has been created, which is made up of six business leaders who were appointed by the Prime Minister, and is chaired by Michael Fallon, the Minister of State for Business & Enterprise. They are seeking comments from UK businesses and organisations to help identify where action is most needed to roll back European rules and regulations that create unnecessary barriers to competitiveness. This could be in areas such as starting a business, developing patenting and marketing new products and services, business expansion, exporting, recruiting and hiring staff.

The taskforce will also look in particular at regulations in areas such as employment and the digital economy.

Industry News

6 Removals & Storage September 2013

New vision for Londons roads The Mayor of Londons Roads Task Force (RTF) has set out a new vision for the future of Londons roads and streets, to ensure the capital can cope with major population growth.

With Londons population set to rise by a further 1.7 million to around 10 million by 2031, the demands on Londons roads and streets from all users is only set to grow. 80% of all trips made by people and 90% of all goods moved in London every day are on roads.

The approach includes shifting HGVs and freight out of peak hours.

The RAC Foundation strongly supports the RTFs proposals for short term measures such as extending technology to reduce delays at traffic signals and smooth traffic flows, speeding up post-incident clear ups, and giving road users better real-time information about road congestion, including roadside variable message signs.

The Road Haulage Association also welcomed the announcements but said key questions need to be discussed in relation to how and when money on roads will be spent to ensure essential vehicles, such as trucks, can provide the services on which London relies. It also called for debate on how to ensure that adequate provision for the delivery of goods is embedded into the planning process for new developments.

Remote regions set for fuel duty cut 5IF(PWFSONFOUJTQSPQPTJOHUPDVUGVFMEVUZJOJTPMBUFESFHJPOTPGUIFUK, including parts of Devon, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Wales and the Scottish Highlands.

Duty could fall by 5p a litre, so that rural drivers do not pay a premium because of higher transport costs. Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said in these remote regions, driving is not a choice but a necessity. The Government will ask for data on pump prices and distribution costs from fuel retailers in these regions (500 retailers in 36 counties and districts) and then request Brussels for permission to extend the 5p fuel rebate scheme that was introduced in March 2012 in the Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly. The island fuel rebate provides much-needed help to keep down fuel prices in areas where costs of transporting fuel mean prices are much higher, Mr Alexander said. I know that there are other remote rural areas of the UK with similarly high fuel costs. Alistair Bingle, Managing Director of Bishops Move said from the perspective of the removals industry, the idea of a fuel duty cut in remote regions makes great sense. Alistair believes the Treasury should go one step further and announce a stamp duty cut for first-time buyers in certain regions.

%FmOJOHSFNPUFOFTTA number of industry bodies have queried the Governments approach to defining a remote region.

The Road Haulage Associations (RHA) Chief Executive Geoff Dunning said it was bizarre that, for instance, while Devon is considered to be remote, Cornwall is not. Similarly, while the Isle of Anglesey is considered remote, the Isle of Man is not. Edmund King, the President of the AA, added it is quite hard to define a rural area. Our analysis showed that if you have a supermarket close by, that will bring prices down. The Government needs to take measures to increase fuel price transparency as petrol costs and duty are too high generally. Transport organisations such as the Freight Transport Association and the RHA are also calling on the Government to make the duty cut across the UK. According to the RHA, in 2011/2012, the total tax take from UK road users amounted to 58bn. Of that, over 36bn was from fuel duty and VAT on fuel. The RHA argues that if these proposed rebates are to help boost the economy, fuel duty should be reduced across the board. A 5 pence per litre cut in fuel duty would equate to a 2,000 per annum reduction for a road haulier operating a typical 44-tonne articulated truck. The long-term knock on effects of this would far outweigh any temporary Treasury loss and would ensure the financial stability the economy so desperately needs, says Dunning.

Do you have any news to share with R&S readers?4FOEUPSBOETFEJUPSJBM!BOBMZUJDBNFEJBDPN

Your views on recruitment!R&S plans to examine recruitment in the removals & storage sector. Please send your comments in relation to what removals & storage companies want from recruitment companies, any positive or negative experiences, and any other suggestions in relation to recruitment to [email protected] by 2 September 2013.

7Industry News


The Transport Select Committee welcomed VOSAs success in enforcing roadworthiness standards for non-GB vehicles in recent years. However, the Committee also raised concerns at the number of drivers hours and tachograph offences that are being detected. It said it would support proposals to make the prosecution of offences relating to drivers hours easier. The report also focused on VOSAs relationship with the Traffic Commissioners who rely on VOSA staff to monitor vehicle maintenance standards and bus services. The Committee identified a number of communication problems between VOSA and the Traffic Commissioners and is concerned that the relationship may be undermining the Traffic Commissioners independence. MPs recommended that the Government look at whether the Traffic Commissioners should have their own staff independent of VOSA. Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Select Committee, said we were particularly concerned that problems relating to enforcement and resources which were raised by the Traffic Commissioners are not being properly addressed by VOSA. This points to communications problems which should not exist if the right structures are put in place. Finally, the Committee warned that enforcing the levy could impact on VOSAs other enforcement activities and has asked the Government to examine the case for using the proceeds of the levy to fund its enforcement and provide additional staff.

"5'TMPs in the Transport Select Committee also raised concerns about the pace at which VOSA is introducing vehicle testing sites owned by the private sector

(Authorised Testing Facilities). The way in which this is being done could potentially undermine the safety of HGVs on UK roads, the Committee said in its long-awaited report on the work of the agency. Since 2010 VOSA has sought gradually to replace its own testing sites with ATFs which are run by private sector owners but rely on VOSAs staff to carry out tests. The Committee raised concerns over the pace of change, in particular VOSAs ability to provide testing staff to new ATFs and how it can ensure smaller operators have access to ATFs, especially in remote areas. Mrs Ellman said: We believe that VOSAs road safety record is testament to the high standards of VOSAs staff. We would not like to see this jeopardised by expanding the use of private ATFs too quickly. The Committee members were not persuaded that testing staff should be employed directly by ATFs and said that instead VOSA has an obligation to provide staff at the right places at the right times for the industry. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said it disagreed with the reports findings on ATFs. RHA Policy Director Jack Semple said the association was disappointed that the MPs rejected the case for ending VOSAs monopoly on testing. In particular, we note that the report fails to address a central point made by the RHA, that safety inspections are being carried out either by operators themselves or a maintenance provider, at least four, and very often eight times a year, which must be fully documented. It is a very short step to allow those who are maintaining and inspecting their vehicles to a high standard to perform the EU-mandated annual test. VOSA staff would be much better employed regulating the testing system than carrying out the tests, he said.

VOSA criticised for targeting small operatorsMPs have raised concerns that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) may not be paying sufficient attention to the roadworthiness of large haulage firms by focusing instead on smaller operators who are more often non-compliant, but are less often on the road.

Government tackles drug driving

Plans to make it easier to prosecute those who drive under the influence of illegal drugs have been published by Roads Minister Stephen Hammond. In January 2012 the Government announced that it would be introducing a new offence of driving with a specific controlled drug in the body above the specified limit for that drug. The consultation published in July this year puts forward proposals on the drugs to be included in the legislation and the limits to be specified. The Government is proposing a zero tolerance approach to the following eight controlled drugs which are known to impair driving: Cannabis; MDMA (Ecstasy); Cocaine; Ketamine; Benzoylecgonine (primary metabolite of cocaine); Methamphetamine; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD); and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM - heroin and diamorphine). The new offence is being introduced to reduce the wasted time, expense and effort involved for the police and the courts when prosecutions fail because of the difficulty of proving that a driver is impaired by a particular drug. In taking a zero tolerance approach to these drugs, the Government proposes to set the limits at a level that does not catch someone who has consumed a very small amount of an illegal drug inadvertently.

Concern at Severn Bridge proposals The freight transport industry has voiced concern at comments from Welsh Finance Minister Jane Butt that construction of a relief road in South Wales could be paid for by the Severn Bridge tolls.

Ms Hutt said she also hoped the tolls could be reduced for HGVs.

The two bridges are due to return to public ownership in 2018, when administration of the bridges is expected to be transferred to the Welsh government. Ms Hutt said our priorities would be maintenance, reducing the tolls and alleviating the burden on the economy, and also providing a

possible source of income, but on the grounds that this should be to support major road infrastructure, and that goes back to the enhancement of the M4.

The Freight Transport Association has welcomed the suggestion by the Minister that there could be a reduction in tolls for essential users such as lorries.

However, it considers that the Severn Bridges have already been paid for by road users and to ask users to finance additional infrastructure projects is fundamentally unfair.

Industry News


Motorway service areas accused of rip-offs Motorway service areas are charging up to four times the high street price for basic food and drinks, and ten pence per litre more for petrol than at off-motorway forecourts, according to research conducted by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Essentials such as a 500ml bottle of water cost 2.09 (95 pence on the high street in London) while the cheapest cheese sandwich cost 3.99). On the high street, the everyday shopper can expect to pay 25% less than a service area user. Motorists are dissatisfied with the value for money available at motorway service areas but are left with little choice when making long trips around the country. When asked to rate the price of food and drinks at motorway service areas, more than half of respondents (51%) rated them unreasonable. 54% of respondents consider the price of petrol at motorway service areas unreasonable. With petrol prices averaging about ten pence per litre more than at off-motorway forecourts the IAM is calling for a complete review of motorway prices, together with filling stations being forced to advertise their and their competitors fuel prices, as is the case in France. The research also revealed that from one motorway service area to the next, the price of petrol can vary by up to 10 pence per litre.

Contrasting fortunes for commercial vehicles Total registrations of commercial vehicles were up 7.6% at the years halfway point with June volumes rising 4.5%, according to the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). January-June van registrations were 11.2% ahead of 2012, boosted by a 3.4% rise in the month. This contrasts sharply with the truck market, where truck demand is 10.4% behind 2012 for the first six months of the year. However, the SMMT said that an 11.7% rise in June could be the first signs of 2013 demand rebalancing in the second half of the year. Nigel Base of the SMMT said looking ahead to the rest of 2013, we expect the van market to remain stable with a return to a more normal replacement cycle sustaining the market. For trucks, growth in June could be the first sign of a Q3/Q4 recovery as buyers pick from late Euro 5 or new Euro 6 models ahead of new Euro-standard legislation hitting from 2014.

BIFM and DWP join forces The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have signed a Partnership Agreement, which will see both parties working together to support future growth in the facilities and workplace management sector.Mark Hoban MP, Minister of State for Employment, said the importance of the facilities management sector to our economy and jobs market, through the wide range of opportunities it offers to so many individuals to get into work and build their career prospects, is why BIFM is a key partner for us. We are looking forward to working together and building on the successes made to date, supporting young people, NEETs (young people not in education, employment, or training), and career switchers into new work opportunities. The Partnership Agreement includes driving a shared agenda on increasing routes into, and raising skills and professionalism of all those working in the facilities and workplace management industry. It will also develop a facilities and workplace management careers engagement programme to help people enter, re-enter or progress in the facilities and workplace management labour market. Gareth Tancred, CEO of BIFM, said this Partnership Agreement is an integral aspect of BIFMs strategy in developing a facilities and workplace management careers engagement programme, aimed at helping individuals enter, re-enter or progress in the sector. Developing, attracting, and maintaining a highly-skilled workforce is essential to bridging the

demographic time bomb in facilities management. The Agreement is the first public step of many great initiatives we have been evolving for some time behind the scenes. This is an exciting time for the profession and the Institute, with more to follow. The Partnership Agreement will be reviewed on an annual basis, to ensure that it continues to reflect the fast paced facilities management market and employment needs.


Mark Hoban MP, Minister of State for Employment BOE(BSFUI5BODSFE$&0PG#*'.

Shippers call for anti-trust reform The Global Shippers Forum (GSF) has said that shipping lines need to rely less on anti-trust exemptions and more on innovation and new solutions. It is supporting the New Zealand Shippers Councils campaign to repeal anti-trust immunity in New Zealand. The GSF said that while many carriers continue to blame their woes on regulatory reform and EU regulatory reform in particular and bemoan not being able to discuss rates and market issues with each other in an EU context, this perpetuates a defensive approach that makes them impervious to change and new outlooks. It calls on carriers to make a break with the past

and focus on new solutions centred on customers needs. That can only be accomplished through ocean shipping reform. The GSF comments come as a report from Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) found that half of shipping companies in Germany are planning to enter new alliances or deepen existing agreements, in an environment of overcapacity and falling rates. PwC said that more than 40% of German shipping companies already belong to agreements. Two years after its incorporation, the GSF said it continues to lead the case for global ocean regulatory reform for a more competitive container shipping market.

9Industry News


The Convention aims to promote acceptable working conditions for seafarers globally. It will also promote a level playing field for the UK merchant fleet and have spin-offs for international trade. The UK has over 120 commercial ports and its new major deep-sea port, the London Gateway, which is under construction, will be able to handle the biggest container ships in the world. The UK has 1,383 registered vessels totalling more than 16.57 million gross tonnage under its flag. The UK ratification also covers the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. The Isle of Man, which is included among the top 20 countries or territories for merchant fleet, stands in the worlds top 15 in terms of tonnage. In addition, Gibraltar, which is strategically located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and Atlantic shipping lanes, is at the forefront of maritime activity and its ship registry has experienced steady growth over the past 8 years. With the ratification of the MLC, 2006 by the UK, 41

ILO member states, representing 75.3% of the world gross tonnage of ships and more than 50% of the worlds 1.2 million seafarers have now committed themselves to the Convention, which came into force on 20 August. The UK was the 15th European Union member state to have ratified the landmark convention.

The MLC, 2006 will become the fourth pillar of the international maritime legal regime complementing key conventions of the International Maritime Organization with decent working and living conditions for seafarers and conditions of fair competition for ship owners.

UK ratifies Maritime Labour Convention5IF6,IBTSBUJmFEUIF*OUFSOBUJPOBM-BCPVS0SHBOJTBUJPOT*-0T.BSJUJNF-BCPVS$POWFOUJPO .-$XIJDIBJNTUPFOTVSFEFDFOUXPSLJOHBOEMJWJOHDPOEJUJPOTGPSUIFXPSMETTFBGBSFST

Mark Hoban MP, Minister of State for Employment BOE(BSFUI5BODSFE$&0PG#*'.

For more Information, please visit: www.ilo.org

Industry News


Tribunal fees welcomed Fees for workers who take their employers to the tribunal stage were introduced at the end of July, to a warm welcome from business associations. Workers will have to pay 160 or 250 to lodge a claim and a charge of either 230 or 950 if the case goes ahead. The annual cost of running the tribunal service currently stands at 84m and the Government expects the introduction of fees will go some way to reducing this by encouraging alternative dispute resolution. Welcoming the new fees, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) said escalating workplace disputes to the tribunal stage is too easy an option for many employees. The burden on the employee is limited whilst employers are not only defending the case in question, but also the reputation of their business. Hopefully the introduction of fees will make claimants think more carefully before resorting to litigation. The complexity of the disciplinary and dismissals procedure is particularly burdensome for small businesses. Research published by the FPB revealed employers spend an average of 12 hours a month on employment compliance alone.

Alexander Ehmann, Head of Regulatory Policy at the Institute of Directors, said the introduction of fees for employment tribunals will have a direct effect on the ability of British businesses to take on new staff. Our members consistently tell us that the threat of being taken to an employment tribunal is a major concern, even if they ultimately win the case. Charging user fees for employment tribunals will reduce the number of unmerited claims which get a hearing, saving money for both employers and taxpayers.

Settlement agreements are legally binding contracts which can be used to end an employment relationship on agreed terms. The new guidance is designed to help employers and employees understand when to use settlement agreements and how they can be negotiated. It includes checklists for employers and employees, a model agreement, template offer letters, and some examples of how settlement agreements might be used. It also sets out examples of what could constitute improper behaviour by either an employer or employee when discussing and using settlement agreements.Ed Sweeney, Acas Chair, said settlement agreements are one tool that can be used to deal with workplace problems. They can be used to facilitate the end of an

employment relationship where both parties agree to the use of one. Settlement Agreements: a guide, and further information about the Code of Practice is available to download at www.acas.org.uk/settlementagreements

New guidance on settlement agreementsWorkplace expert Acas has published new guidance to accompany the introduction of its new Code of Practice on Settlement Agreements which came into force on 29 July.

Public procurement in the spotlight

Richard Healey at Everton Boys Club

The UK public sectors procurement process is the most expensive in the European Union, according to new research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). The independent research found that procurement processes in the UK incur the highest combined costs to public sector bodies looking to attract bids, and private sector suppliers bidding to win contracts. The average total cost of a competitive procurement process (or competition) is 45,200, with 8,000 of those costs falling on the public body seeking to attract bids.

This compares to an EU average cost of 23,900, meaning that public sector procurement processes in the UK are 90% more expensive than the EU mean. The research also isolated the costs of holding a competitive procurement process to public bodies. The average cost to a UK public authority of

attracting each bid from a potential supplier is 1,260, making the UK the fourth most expensive place in Europe for public bodies putting contracts out to market. Only Denmark, Norway and Italy record higher costs for this measure. CEBR also studied the length of procurement processes and the UK public sector purchasing process was found to be one of the longest in Europe: a full 53 days longer than the EU average and some 20 days longer than the Italian process, the next longest. Longer, more difficult processes dissuade potential suppliers from submitting bids, meaning that the eventual winner comes from a smaller pool of bids which is less competitive. The CEBR said that complex processes also tend to discriminate against smaller firms which can lack the required resources to commit staff to a time-consuming, and therefore expensive, procurement process.

As sponsor of Everton Boys Club, Richard Healey Removals Ltd was honoured to present prizes recently to young footballers. Director Richard Healey was asked to give prizes at the prestigious event, attended by players, coaches and managers who come together at this event to honour the efforts and talents of the young players. Some of the past members of the team include Jamie McAllister, currently a defender for Yeovil Town, John Fleck, Midfielder for Coventry City and Scott McLaughlin, Midfielder for Peterhead. Supporting

community organisations such as Everton Boys Club is important to Richard Healey Removals, and the company takes great pleasure in backing the young individuals at the club in times where money for such organisations is in short supply. With the business growing and another new truck going on the road this year, Richard Healey Removals feels that it is important to give back to the communities that give so much to them. For more information, contact www.richardhealeyremovals.co.uk

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Industry News


Responsive design for ONeil website

Take a look at the fresh and contemporary look of the newly vamped website of BAR Affiliate ONeil Software. Armed with more than 12 months of Google Analytics data, the records storage and management specialists were able to identify which pages were visited the most and what information customers needed. Their new website design is focused on getting visitors the data or support they need much more quickly. New large buttons on the home page are colourful and eye-catching, while making navigation quicker and easier. Additionally, as more people visit websites from smartphones and tablets, the new design of oneilsoft.com automatically adjusts itself based on the device, screen resolution and orientation (landscape or portrait). This responsive design means that any person can now get the information they need from anywhere, using whatever device they want. David Holt, Chief Executive Officer of ONeil Software says in this fast-paced world, web design, digital marketing and web development are changing almost daily. ONeil Software feels that a routine website redesign is just as important as designing a website itself so it changes with the times and stays fresh, as well as easy to navigate.For more information, see www.oneilsoft.com

London Probation Trust select Harrow Green

Harrow Green, the business relocation specialist, won the contract to provide moves and changes services across the Trusts Greater London estate of more than 60 buildings. London Probation Trust (LPT) is the largest of the 35 probation trusts in England and Wales, employing nearly 2,500 staff in London. The size of the estate, in such a concentrated area, is exceptional. Scott Poulton of Harrow Green explained to R&S that Moves & Changes refers to the staff churn that some organisations undertake within their working environment(s). This churn is generally staff (and their assets filing, IT, furniture etc.) moving in between buildings (external) or internally within the same building. It also includes the clearance of items/assets that have reached the end of their useful life, storage etc. Organisations such as LPT, whose workforce is fluid and operating across a large estate as well as within an extensive geographical area, often have to move teams or small numbers of staff from one area of the business to another on a regular basis; that is where we come in, he said. With LPT, we are undertaking as many as 8-10 move projects (of varying size) per week. These involve all of our core service deliverables including file packing, furniture

dismantle/rebuild/replacement, desktop IT decommission/recommission etc.

We manage the clients main storage facility in London (assets in/out, inventory management etc.) as part of the contract together with the ethical recycling/disposal of no longer needed assets such as redundant furniture or electrical items across the estate. The contract demands multi-skilled personnel who can undertake furniture fitting, sequential packing and unpacking and IT de-commissioning and re-commissioning within the same teams. To meet this requirement Harrow Green has developed a pool of appropriately skilled labour, with each team member able to perform all tasks.

In addition, awareness of security protocols was an extremely important factor. All staff have been security cleared and vetted for work in sensitive environments. Martin Blake, head of corporate procurement for London Probation Trust, said using Harrow Greens experience and operational infrastructure, we anticipate 45% savings while both improving service delivery and enhancing our commitment to sustainability.For more information, visit www.harrowgreen.com

After 18 years with its previous service provider a non-BAR Member, -POEPO1SPCBUJPO5SVTUIBTNPWFEJUTTFSWJDFTUP)BSSPX(SFFOfollowing a detailed assessment of its on-going requirements and an exhaustive tender process.

Aussies concerned by labour shortages Anglo Pacific is warning that a workforce shortfall could endanger recovery in the Australian economy, and is urging overseas candidates to seize employment opportunities. Jason Diggs, Sales Director for Anglo Pacific, says in 2012 Anglo Pacific was the largest volume mover of personal and household effects to Australia from the UK around 51% of our total customers for that year. Apart from a healthy number of returning nationals, many of our clients were UK-born professionals looking for lucrative work opportunities and a better lifestyle for the family, particularly the lure of the great outdoors. If Australias growth is going to meet difficulties due to a skills shortage, now could be a really good time to send the visa application off. Estimates from the Construction & Property Services Industry Skills Council in Australia suggest that 45,000 jobs will become available in the construction industry over the next three years, but a lack of home-grown apprentices and experienced

professionals leaving the workplace for retirement is causing concern. The gap needs to be plugged somehow. Interestingly, the 2013 Hays Salary Guide (one of Australias largest salary surveys) revealed that 63% of employers believe that skills shortages will affect the operation of their business or department. Additionally a staggering 61% of businesses would consider sponsoring candidates from overseas, up from 59% in 2012. For more information, see www.anglopacific.co.uk


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Industry News


Lost and found! John Mason International Move Manager, Gill Allward, came to the rescue of a lost dog at John Masons Liverpool office recently. The dog was wandering around outside the office without a collar so Gill brought him into the office to keep him out of harms way, gave him water and went out to get food for him in her lunch hour. He was even given a temporary name, Mason! Gill then called the RSPCA who managed to track down the owners. Shortly afterwards, the dog, real name, Max, was reunited with his very relieved owners, who were grateful that he had been so well looked after.

Childrens charity gets Team Relocations long-term support Team Relocations has announced a three-year commitment to a major fund raising initiative in support of Plan, the UK-headquartered global childrens charity. Founded over 75 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest childrens development organisations in the world. Plans vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect peoples rights and dignity. It runs Project Saksham in India which aims to equip young people living in poor urban and rural areas with the knowledge and life skills required for quality jobs and to work their way out of poverty. Leonie Kerkelaan, Teams Group Compliance Officer commented, We wanted to strengthen our core business values by demonstrating our commitment to helping shape society and economy in underprivileged locations, in a positive and sustainable way. Teams commitment to the project will encompass all of their 34 locations across the 13 countries in which they are based and will include significant fundraising initiatives aimed at contributing 50,000 to the project annually.For more information, see www.teamrelocations.com

When our two S-plated 5-container vehicles were due for replacement we made a decision to replace with new Daf 65s running at Euro 5. The vehicles we were replacing had been six-year-old chassis/cabs with new bodies and sleeper pods, and they had served us very well, but we did seem to spend a lot of money on repairs. The bodies were very high spec (working not cosmetic) having to the nearside top hung canopies over heavy duty side decks and stainless steel pull outs. The nearside locker racked out to stow both a false luton and drop well covers and bars. To the rear closure, there are city doors in place of the traditional double barn doors and the ramp box is fitted with rollers to facilitate the ease of stowing and retrieving the two loading ramp system. The interior has a foldaway luton built into the forward bulkhead, load-loc rails the full length of the interior to accommodate the false luton in any part of the body. Heavy duty snogging bars designed to prevent containers kissing each other especially when empty have proved to be invaluable when running with a mixed container/composite loads as we can load /discharge containers without disturbing the main load and vice versa. The top sleeper is fitted with two bunks, a sink with hot/cold water, portable cooker and fridge all very expensive. Best phone Unique Van Bodies (UVB) in Warrington and ask Mr Terry Sinnott if he can do a body swap. The man from UVB says Yes. In late 2011 the first chassis/cab was ordered and in January 2012 the old and new met in Warrington. The sleeper pod was removed and completely refurbished with new bunks, curtains linings, etc., plus the re-plumbing of the washing

facilities. The body was also refurbished with a new floor, canopy seals and a repaint and varnish. Then we hit a problem: the new cab was taller and longer than the old one mainly due to the air intake behind the cab; this made the body four inches oversize. Solution: remove the rear city doors and frame, cut back to the required size and refit. Then the top sleeper was too short so this was extended and lowered to be in the same plane as the body. Next stop, the paint shop for a complete repaint in Deanes cream with dark brown boot topping. As always, Jon Les Signs of Glan Conwy revamped the livery and the new Margaret Deane was ready for her maiden trip. The success of this project meant we ordered a second vehicle in late 2012 and this went through the same build process in 2013. The new Elspeth Deane was ready for the BAR Vehicle Exhibition at the Beamish Museum in May when only six days old. Margaret Deane was displayed at the Llandudno Transport Festival on May Bank Holiday Monday. This time the original body was a 5-container, but we could not order the same length chassis so this time we spliced about 20 inches to the rear. This then made the vehicle a 5-container plus space as is Margaret Deane. In conclusion it was worth all the time and trouble. We now have two top spec canopy side loaders with space running at Euro 5 and I feel I must offer my heartfelt thanks to Terry Sinnott and all his team at UVB for their skill and craftsmanship in producing these superb vehicles, and for putting up with me popping in to check on progress. For more information, contact www.deanesremovals.co.uk

A tale of two bodies and four chassis/cabsAlastair Deane of Deanes Removals & Home Pack Container Storage shares his recent experiences in adding two new YHKLFOHVWRKLVHHW

Industry News


Housing market in recovery mode House prices continue to move higher, with seven monthly rises on the trot according to 3JHIUNPWF, and transactions up 5% so far this year.

Based on lead indicators such as mortgage approvals, Rightmove expects increasing numbers of people to move this year. Its Director and Housing Market Analyst, Miles Shipside, said Rightmoves lead indicators show increases in enquiries, new sellers and marketing prices. An important milestone for a broader-based and sustainable recovery is that all regions of the country now have higher prices than a year ago. Rightmoves email enquiries to agents and developers are up 18% year-to-date compared with 2012. Shipside said that confidence and the ability to take on a long-term mortgage commitment gave more buyers the spur to enter the market or trade up. The route from property enquiry to trading onto or up the property ladder has been cleared of some obstacles, resulting in a partial unblocking of pent-up demand, he said.

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) said that estate agents have seen monthly house sales increase to levels not seen since 2009, building on wider positive trends emerging from the property market. The NAEA also revealed a 14% rise in the average number of house hunters compared with last years figures up from an average of 274 per branch in May 2012 to 313 in May 2013. This is in addition to a month-on-month improvement, up from an average of 310 in April 2013 and 286 in March 2013. Mark Hayward, Managing Director of the NAEA, said these really are encouraging figures; serious house hunters are continuing to enter the market and are intent on buying. The current low lending rates have created attractive conditions for those with sizable deposits who are thinking of buying or moving home. The story is reversed for first-time buyers though with figures down on last month, suggesting that there are still issues surrounding access to finance for this group.

Figures from the Land Registry for June confirm an annual price increase of 0.8% which takes the average property value in England and Wales to 162,621. The monthly change from May to June shows an increase of 0.6%. The most up-to-date figures available show that during April 2013, the number of completed house sales in England and Wales increased by 12% to 48,367 compared with 43,252 in April 2012. The number of properties sold in England and Wales for over 1m in April 2013 increased by 45% to 703 from 484 in April 2012.

According to the Office for National Statistics, in the 12 months to May 2013 UK house prices increased by 2.9%, up from a 2.6% increase in the 12 months to April 2013. The year-on-year increase reflected growth of 3.1% in England, 0.8% in Scotland, 0.6% in Wales and 1.9% in

Northern Ireland. May 2013 was the first month that Northern Ireland house prices have grown year-on-year since February 2008. Annual house price increases in England were driven by a 6.6% rise in London and a 2.7% increase in both the North West and the West Midlands. Excluding London and the South East, UK house prices increased by 1.9% in the 12 months to May 2013.

LSL Acadametrics said that in June house prices rose by 0.2% to a new record high, driven by a 7.9% rise in average prices in London. However, transaction numbers in June were below the level of the previous three years and some 19% lower than in May. Transactions in June are on average 8% higher than in May and June is typically the third highest month in the year in terms of monthly housing transactions, following July and August. Acadametrics Chairman Dr Peter Williams said the sharp rise in transactions in May, when there were 10,000 sales more than is normal for the month, appears to have been a one-off, and probably due to there being five Fridays in the month. Overall the housing consultancy estimates there were 310,800 transactions in the first six months of 2013, compared to 308,936 transactions during the first six months of 2012, an increase of 0.6%. Dr Williams concluded that the increase in transaction numbers in

May 2013 was an anomaly, with the figures for June 2013 being below the level of the previous three years, counter balancing the May uplift.

According to Halifax, house prices in the second quarter of 2013 (April-June) were 2.1% higher than in the first quarter of the year (January-March), edging above the 1-2% range recorded throughout the first five months of the year. The annual rate is at its highest for nearly three years with prices in the three months to June 3.7% higher than in the same three months last year. Halifax noted that the number of mortgage approvals for house purchases increased by 7% between April and May to 58,200; the highest monthly level since December 2009. Approvals in the three months to May were 2% higher than in the previous three months.

Nationwide recorded an increase of 0.8% for UK house prices in July, which were 3.9% higher than July 2012. Chief Economist Robert Gardner said signs of a modest improvement in wider economic conditions and further modest gains in employment are likely to be lifting buyer sentiment. An improvement in the availability and a reduction in the cost of credit, partly as a result of policy measures such as the Funding for Lending and Help to Buy schemes, are also boosting the demand for homes.

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Industry News


Industry News


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Industry News


'VFMFDPOPNZ Running costs affect all companies but removals companies are often the hardest hit. The full range of Trucksmith low floored lutons, be it the Renault LoLoader, Vauxhall KneeHi or Fiat Canniloader benefit from exceptional aerodynamic design and low centre of gravity producing an independently tested fuel economy figure of 27.8mpg FULLY LADEN!!!!

1BZMPBETheres no doubt that if your customers see space in the vehicle, they are going to want you to fill it and with the LoLoader, KneeHi and Canniloader you can. Trucksmith have produced a range of bodies to suit all your needs from the 4.1SR with 18.5 cubic metre volume and 1254kg (including allowance for driver and fuel) payload all the way up to the capacious 4.5HR with 23.5 cubic metre volume and 1064kg (including allowance for driver and fuel) payload.

&VSPQFBO8IPMF7FIJDMF5ZQF"QQSPWBM&875"

Since 29 April 2013 every new N1 vehicle (freight vehicle not exceeding 3.5 tonne GVW) that is built for use within Europe will require a Type Approval Certificate to be registered. These are rules that ensure that each vehicle is built to conform to a strict set of guidelines governing everything from lighting to vehicle mass. Trucksmith have again lead the field and successfully achieved European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (EWVTA) for their complete standard product range of LoLoader, KneeHi and Canniloader, from 3.8m to 5m length bodies and from 2.2m to 2.565m interior height; a full six months ahead of schedule.

*OEJWJEVBM7FIJDMF"QQSPWBM*7" Variants of the LoLoader, KneeHi and Canniloader that are required outside of the EWVTA framework can be built subject to an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection. Under an IVA, vehicles have to be inspected by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) on an individual basis. This is a service that Trucksmith are delighted to offer. Without at least one of these approvals, EWVTA or IVA, new N1 vehicles are not permitted to be registered or used on the road.

Which trucks and bodies? As 2013 marks the 20th year of Trucksmith producing its range of low floored lutons, R&S asked the company to advise on what the removals industry should be looking for in a new 3.5 tonne purchase. )FSFJTUIFJSMJTUPGXIBUUPDPOTJEFS

4.5 Standard Roof Knee (Hi Yellow) September 2012

4.1sr LoLoader Front Three Quarter

For more information on the EWVTA range of Trucksmith low floored lutons, see MPMPBEFSDPVLLOFFIJDPVLor DBOOJMPBEFSDPVL or telephone the sales office on PQUJPO

18

BAR News


Install the BAR TSI online coded logo! BAR has launched an online logo for the TSI Approved Code of Practice, which includes sophisticated brand protection features. Find out here how this verification tool will benefit BAR Members and can be integrated into your website.

Since 1 April this year, BAR Members have been making good use of the new logo for the BAR TSI Approved Consumer Code of Practice Scheme in their communications and marketing material, replacing the old OFT logo. BAR has issued detailed guidance about how Members can use the brand to their best advantage. In less than six months, the logo has already proved to be a strong brand that is increasingly recognisable by consumers making it a powerful marketing tool for all BAR Members.

BAR has now teamed up with a technology company called Yoshki to power a new BAR TSI coded logo for use on BAR Members websites.

&OEPSTJOH#"3.FNCFSTTo endorse BAR Members, to protect the integrity of the BAR brand and prevent its illegal use by non-members, the logo includes some very sophisticated features and makes good use of BARs new Trusted Mover website. Once the coded logo is on a BAR Member website, consumers will be able to validate that the company is a BAR Member or Partner, giving them additional peace of mind that they are viewing the website of a professional and reliable removal company which complies with the BAR TSI Approved Consumer Code of Practice. Non-BAR Members who display this logo will not be authorised by the system and the verification process will fail.

The logo will display the current date and will redirect automatically to the validation page if clicked on. When a consumer clicks on the logo, they will be seamlessly directed to a page on the Trusted Mover website, which will instantly validate the companys status as a BAR Member.

All Members who are currently using the BAR TSI logo on their websites will be required to update their websites and implement this new coded logo by 31 December. To install the new logo on your website, companies will have to add a couple of lines of code that BAR will supply to all Members.

The new logo does not apply when displaying the BAR TSI logo on stationery, brochures, business cards, marketing materials etc. It is only for website use.

Please ensure the website you are using is registered with BAR as the validation page will otherwise display a verification failed message. Members can have and use the logo on several websites, as long as they are registered on the authorised list.

If for some reason your company fails the authentication check error, please contact: [email protected] (including company name, BAR Membership number, name, contact telephone number and website address). Finally, a quick reminder to any BAR Members who may have neglected to take all the old OFT logos off their material these should have been removed by 1 April. The OFT scheme legally ceased to exist on that date.

The BAR Code of Practice is the only code in the moving industry that has been approved and monitored by the Trading Standards Institute.


BAR News

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BAR News


New moving guides "TQBSUPGJUTTUSBUFHJDBJNPGJNQSPWJOHUIFQVCMJDTVOEFSTUBOEJOHPGUIFSFNPWBMTQSPDFTTBOEUIFOFFEUPDIPPTFa professional removals firm, BAR has redesigned its guides to Residential Moving, Overseas Moving and Commercial Moving. All Members are encouraged to log in to MyBAR and download the electronic guides. Alternatively, should you require a version to provide to your printer please contact [email protected].

All of the new-look guides promote the benefits of using a BAR Member and highlight the advantages of using a professional and reliable removal company.

Avoid the headache, the Residential Moving guide promotes the BAR TSI Consumer Code of Practice and

the security it provides to consumers when using a professional BAR Member. The guide also includes a useful checklist for consumers to use when moving home. The Commercial Moving guide explains the importance of using a qualified commercial relocation specialist and promotes The Commercial Moving Group (CMG) Members and their certification to BS 8522. The guide also details the additional services offered by CMG Members and their ability to manage

all aspects of a commercial relocation from start to finish. The guide also lists the useful resources that are available on the CMG website.

The new Overseas Moving guide highlights the benefits of using a specialist BAR Overseas Group Member when moving overseas and gives the consumer useful tips and guidance throughout the moving process. The guide also includes reference to the brand new Overseas Group website.

All of the new-look guides promote the benefits of using a BAR Member and highlight the advantages of using a professional and reliable removal company.



BAR News

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BAR News


Trusted Mover is a free of charge service provided by BAR to help Members enhance their online presence and generate sales leads.

With margins still tight across the industry, the fact that Trusted Mover is free is one of its most immediate appeals, especially compared to using Referenceline.

Members who have started using the website say that it is also user-friendly and consumes very little time. All in all, BAR hopes that the return on investment in time from using the site is compelling for Members.

Jayne Cliffe, co-founder and owner of Cliffes Removals, succinctly sums up why she has switched to Trusted Mover: It is being provided by the BAR, it is free of charge and it saves us money, compared to using Reference line.

Based on her experience so far, Trusted Mover is simple and easy to use, she told R&S. It is just a simple case of entering the email address and clicking a button. As one of the first users of the site, Jayne experience a few hiccups at the beginning with the site, and raised these directly with BAR who made quick changes to make sure it was tailored to Cliffes Removals needs.

After initially spending a short time entering information about Cliffes Removals onto Trusted Mover to get started, Jayne says she now spends around one hour per week using the service, which involves mainly sending out the emails to customers and monitoring their replies.

It has turned out to be an innovative and very useful way of keeping in touch with the market and gauging feedback about the service the company provides.

The website also has the clear potential to improve a removal companys online reputation and profile. Customers like the idea of being able to see what previous customers have said about our company and we encourage them to look at the website, Jayne says.

As a new service, there is plenty of potential for future enhancements to Trusted Mover. BAR would welcome suggestions from Members about how to improve the website and about any bells and whistles that could be added. For more information about Trusted Mover, seewww.trustedmover.org. To contact Cliffes Removals, see www.cliffesremovals.co.uk.

Making the most of Trusted Mover As many BAR Members begin to switch to Trusted Mover, the new industry website for customer feedback, R&SUBMLFEUP$MJGGFT3FNPWBMTUPmOEPVUBCPVUUIFDPNQBOZTFYQFSJFODFTJOVTJOH5SVTUFEMover in the first few months following its launch.

Trusted Mover webinar For the first time ever, BAR held a webinar recently to guide BAR Members about the new Trusted Mover website. A total of 9 participants logged into the webinar which lasted for 35 minutes and included a Q&A session. Participants learned how to get started on the site, how to personalise and send customer questionnaires to suit their needs, and how to analyse and report customer feedback.

For more information about getting set up on Trusted Mover, see the August issue of R&S (pages 24-27), or just log on to XXXUSVTUFENPWFSPSH and get started. If you need any assistance, please contact BAR Commercial Department on 01923 699480.


BAR News

As I sit here writing this, I think to myself, perhaps we should define a professional moving company before considering this question. It should be easy to do.

Firstly they need to be a member of a professional association that is transparent: check! s 4HEPROFESSIONALASSOCIATIONISSTANDARDS

based: check! s )TISANOTFORPROlTORGANISATIONTHATISTHERE

for the benefit of its members, on the basis of quality assurance to their clients: check!

s )THASCLEARLYDElNEDMEMBERSHIPRULESTHATsatisfy minimum standards: check!

s )THASACONSUMERCODEOFPRACTICECHECKs )NAPERFECTWORLDTHATCODEOFPRACTICEWOULD

be recognised by a Government body, and monitored as such, with serious credibility (in the eyes of the buying public) given to the professionalism of the members check!

I am of course talking about the BAR being the standard and benchmark for professionalism, not to be confused with any other secretive - not sure what they stand for, but it is bound to be a lower quality - alternative. As the professional side of the industry, we have talked for many years about the clear blue water between us and the rest. There is no doubt that in the last five years we have gone a long way to achieving and retaining our aim. But do we realise the advantages we now have over our non-professional competitors? And do we charge accordingly? I am not here to advocate an illegal activity like price fixing, there is no need, nor would I want to do such a thing. The facts are, we now have a government-recognised Consumer Code of Practice, through the Trading Standards. Lets be honest, all our customers have heard of trading standards, havent they? So how potent a message could you want? As part of BARs membership criteria, and therefore the code, we have to have trained staff, minimum standards of insurance, well-maintained vehicles, meet financial good repute and competency standards. We have a free conciliation service, which is independent, backed up by an arbitration service, which is also independent! But what does all of this mean? Well, it means we will do our best to do a good job! If we make a mistake, have a problem, things dont work out right (nobodys perfect) and/or we are unable to

resolve the issue in house with our client, then they have somewhere else to go. Of course, they can go to Trading Standards or a solicitor whether the moving company is a Member of the BAR or not. However, this is laborious, costly and time-consuming. Especially when you think that with one e-mail they can activate the conciliation service, by complaining to the BAR! I know it is a brief synopsis and probably doesnt cover the half of it when it comes to what is available to us, but as an ordinary Joe selling to the public, I think it is pretty damn good! So putting aside what it costs us to carry out a removal, why are we still finding the marketplace tough? The value in what we have to offer saves our clients a fortune in terms of worry, hassle and legal costs - not to mention the re-assurance that we are going to turn up, unlike our lower quality, non-professional, low-end counterparts. Why do we persist in believing that our clients are driven only by cost and not quality? Those who think this way are plain wrong! We should not value ourselves against whether the marketplace is busy or not, but in terms of what we are providing as a service offering. Worse still, after we have quoted the occasional good price, we then agree to reduce it at the clients request! So tell me this, why is it when we meet at our area meetings we always get the same discussion and the same questions, so and so removers undercut me by X hundred pounds, how can they do that? But the question is the wrong one, it is not how can they do that but why do they do that? So and so removers may well be able to afford to operate at a 100 less than you,

but their margins may be 20%, when they should be 100%. Why? Because that is the value of what we are offering. Just the other day, I found myself charging 50 more than a man and a van and thought, that cannot be right! It doesnt matter what the man and van was quoting, we should not be 50 more, the value of what we offer should be at least 300 more. We pay our taxes, VAT, PAYE, so on and so forth. Our clients need to understand that cash can mean no declaration to the tax man meaning that officially no job exists, so no insurance and ultimately, higher taxes! Times are tough, we all know that, but the public that want to move with BAR Members do so because they can afford to and they expect to pay more for the better service that we offer. So the question is why do professional moving companies undervalue themselves?

Dont forget to respond via Facebook and Twitter at www.twitter.com/BARremovers and www.facebook.com/pages/British-Association-of-Removers. See you next month for another instalment!

Why do professional moving companies undervalue themselves?A regular column from $ISJT4NBMMXPPE, directly elected member of the BAR Board of Directors.

24

BAR News


Launch of real time removals quote leads Following extensive feedback from BAR Members, TwentyCi will this month be launching their new Real 5JNF3FNPWBMT2VPUF-FBET5IFZBSFQMFBTFEUPCFBCMFUPPGGFS.FNCFSTBNVDIJNQSPWFERVBMJUZPGMFBEXJUINPSFEFUBJMFEJOGPSNBUJPOPOUIFFORVJSFSTNPWFFOTVSJOHUIBUUIFMFBETZPVSFDFJWFBSFBTtargeted and relevant as possible.

TwentyCi have invested a great deal of time over the past few months in re-developing the quote system on moveme.com and all partner sites, with the aim of being able to provide BAR Members with timely leads which produce strong results. These leads will:

s %NGAGEMOVERSATTHERIGHTPOINTOFTHEIRMOVE s )NCLUDEDETAILSOFCOMMITTEDMOVERSWHOWANT

members to call s 'IVEYOUTHEOPTIONTOSELECT/.,9THETYPEOF

move you want e.g. specify property sizes, exclude smaller moves, etc.

s 3UPPLYFULLADDRESSANDPROPERTYDETAILSFORboth move from and move to address

s 3UPPLYPREFERREDCONTACTDETAILSWITHBESTTIMEto call

s 4ELLMEMBERSWHETHERMOVEDATEISEXACTORestimated

s !LLOWYOUTOPINPOINTMOVERSWHOAREREADYFORa full quote, not just shopping around.

In addition to these new benefits for Members, TwentyCi will also be taking the opportunity to educate users of the moveme.com site, including all removals quote enquirers, on the reasons why they should choose a BAR remover. This will help to publicise the work of the BAR and its Members to the movers who should be benefiting from it. Matt Hawkins, Removals Team Leader at TwentyCi told R&S: We know that some Members tried these leads earlier in the year and were disappointed with the results. This is why we spoke to Members at the BAR Conference in Newcastle and we have also visited a number of different area meetings to take on board Members feedback. Matts message to BAR Members: We have used this to develop the new quote system which we hope will give you exactly what youve all been asking for; a smaller volume of high quality, targeted leads. In fact, TwentyCi are so convinced that youll get results from the new leads that they are offering a one month free trial to all BAR Members! Perfectly timed to coincide with the time of year where additional marketing is a useful means of booking jobs, Members can sign up to receive one month of free leads for the postcodes and move types of their choice. The leads are supplied to a maximum of four companies and are exclusive to BAR Members so you know you will not be undercut by un-regulated competitors. They will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so act quickly to ensure that you can sign up for the areas you want.

In order to take up this fantastic offer all you need to do is contact the TwentyCi Removals Team on 01908 829300 or email NBUUIFXIBXLJOT!UXFOUZDJDPVL Alternatively you can use the online sign up form at IUUQNPWFNFDPNTJHOVQ

We have used this to develop the new quote system which we hope will give you exactly what youve all been asking for; a smaller volume of high quality, targeted leads.Matt Hawkins, TwentyCi.


BAR NewsBAR Training NewsBAR Area News

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BAR News


North West Area Meeting and Car Treasure Hunt The late afternoon and evening of Tuesday 9 July saw the North West Area get involved in its now traditional biennial summer Car Treasure Hunt, organised by David Bunting, combined with an Area meeting which was structured as a social event with minimal formal content.

And what a day (weather-wise) it was! Wall-to-wall sunshine, and a great venue at the end of the Hunt for an excellent meal, selected by Alistair Deane and his daughter Elspeth.

The teams met David at a service area on the A55 at 4pm, and, having prepared for battle, as it were, with a cup of coffee, set off on a west bound route through the North Wales countryside. We finished at Deanes Removals at Deganwy, looking for and answering a total of 30 clues on the way some cryptic, some clear, some easy, and some hard.

A 6.45pm deadline was imposed and adhered to, giving both participants and those who went directly to Deganwy, time to have a look around Alistairs place and appreciate the size and investment in his warehouse extension. This is a work in progress that when completed will hold 300 boxes 50 more than at present. When he first started up in business, back in 1984, he only had a tin shed for a warehouse, stacking one high. And now, four alterations later, hell be able to store four high.

The teams handed their papers to David for marking just before the walk-around, after which we adjourned to the Quay Hotel, Deganwy, to enjoy pre-meal drinks on the Terrace a place with superb views towards Conwy Castle, the Welsh mountains, and the estuary looking towards the open sea. We then retired inside, to firstly have a brief Area Meeting, led by Area Chairman Chris Smallwood, and then find out who had won anything on the Treasure Hunt!

&WFSZPOFTBXJOOFSWooden spoonist status was achieved by a Fahey plus TwentyCi team, comprising Simon and Michael Fahey, and Matthew Hawkins from TwentyCi, with a rather paltry 10 points out of 30. They had named themselves The Clueless Trio, which turned out to be quite prophetic! This was probably down to erratic driving by Simon, who seemed to be having problems with the Welshness of the event, as opposed to his normal familiarity with Manchester. And rain. One felt a bit sorry for Matthew, who had been seconded to the Fahey team, and must have been somewhat bemused by the Fahey style. To mark their achievement, they were each handed literally a wooden spoon for their efforts! Third place with bountiful goody-bags donated by the Area went to a dynamic duo team of

Matt Faizey and Donna Thompson, from M & G Transport Ltd., called the Prancing Horses, so named because Matt turned up in an eye catching red Ferrari! Not quite a suitable vehicle for a Car Treasure Hunt, but it didnt half turn some heads on the country roads! They achieved a score of 15, pretty good when neither of them had experienced an event like this before and received thanks from the Area for making the effort to travel from the West Midlands, and join in with the spirit of the occasion.

Second place went to a Pickfords team, pessimistically (but, as it turned out, unnecessarily) named And in Last Place of Nick Wilkinson and Simon Yates, who got just one point more than the Prancing Horses, and won their own donated prize of bottles of wine. Well done to both gentlemen. And a big thank you for the gift.

And the winners? Well, 15 years ago, they were disqualified for coming in late. Two years ago, they came second. And this time, they made top place, with 21 points out of the 30 a remarkable achievement given the fiendish nature of some of the questions. Who were they? The John Mason team of Steve Sheldon, his wife Sheila, Pat Reilly, and Sue Fearn, who had given themselves the team name of Masons Muddlers, their muddling leading to each receiving a bottle of champagne very generously provided by Anglo Pacific through Steve Gray and Annette Harris, Area Secretary.

Special thanks were given to Graham Puddephatt of

Reason Global, not only for attending the event, but also providing generous sponsorship in terms of a donation to Area funds. Thank you Graham for your beneficence, and strong support to the Area.

8IZ%FHBOXZ Immediately after the awards, we enjoyed an excellent meal chosen by Elspeth. Proceedings finished at about 10pm, and all (bar Alistair and Elspeth, of course) journeyed homewards back to Liverpool, Manchester, Cheshire, and Lancashire, after what was agreed to be a very enjoyable occasion.

Why did we meet at Deganwy? Well, it is well known throughout the Association, and the North West Area in particular, that Alistair Deane has been a very regular and vociferous attendee at Area Meetings during the 23 years his company has been in Membership. He believes hes only missed no more than five meetings in that time, which is a remarkable record, and one which puts some Members to shame, especially given that hes had to travel some 80 miles or so to reach the appointed venue. The Area wanted to say a big thank you to him for his loyalty, and, in recognition that his attendance at Area venues often involved him in getting home after midnight with an early start the next day on the vans, wanted to treat him to an early night!

R&S: Many thanks to David Bunting for his colourful report!

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Annette Harris, Area Secretary, from Anglo Pacific, who donated the Champagne, Sheila and Steve Sheldon (Masons).

BAR South West dinner dance This years BAR South Western Area Autumn Dinner/Dance & meeting will take place on Saturday 16th November 2013. The area meeting will take place at 2.15pm.The entire event will be held at the Hotel Bristol, Narrowcliffe, Newquay, TR7 2PQ (www.hotelbristol.co.uk), and it will cost 85.00 per person which includes dinner, disco, accommodation, breakfast, meeting room and sandwich refreshments prior to the meeting. For more information, please contact South West Area Treasurer, Emma Lanes at [email protected].

BAR Area News


BAR News

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Annette Harris, Area Secretary, from Anglo Pacific, who donated the Champagne, Sheila and Steve Sheldon (Masons).

28

Features


Thomson Removals rev up new Volvos

Matt Thomson says he has already taken delivery of an 18 tonne, 6-container Volvo, while a 15 tonne 4-container Volvo is due in December, a welcome early Christmas present for the team! The new 18 tonner can carry six 250 cubic feet storage containers and up to five removal men.

The companys fleet includes a wide variety of vehicles and gives Thomson Removals the ability to carry out all sizes of moves, from the smallest local move to large overseas work for residential and commercial customers. The fleet includes three 18 tonne Volvo trucks, as well as two 3.5 tonne Luton vans for carrying out smaller jobs or moves with access issues.

Volvo is steadily gaining recognition in the removals

market, and Matt has been a big fan of the Volvo brand since buying his first 18 tonne Volvo in 2005. I have only bought Volvo trucks since then, he says. I find Volvo trucks very reliable and robust and I receive a first-class service at all times from my local dealership in Ayr. All the companys six-week safety checks and maintenance are undertaken on a night shift at Volvo Ayr which saves on downtime and allows Matts vehicles to be available for work every day.

*OUIFTQPUMJHIUThe company has now struck up a strong relationship with Volvo, and this year Volvo asked Matt if Thomson Removals would like to display their new truck at the Truckfest event in Ingliston, Scotland. The road

haulage and trucking event showcases vehicle manufacturers latest product ranges and innovations.

We were delighted to be involved in Truckfest Scotland 2013, Matt says. It was a great advertising opportunity for us as a company and the first time we had shown a vehicle at a show. We are hoping to go back next year with the new vehicle which is due to arrive in December.

For the bodies, Thomson Removals & Self Storage has begun to use the services of Unique Van Bodies (UVB) of Warrington. UVBs Terry Sinnott showed Matt around the workshop earlier this year and Matt was impressed by the body builders facilities and service. I found the build quality on UVBs vehicles to

Thomson Removals & Self Storage, based in Dundonald in Ayrshire, is adding two new Volvo trucks this year, to respond to rising demand and to keep its fleet up to date, reliable, and environmentally friendly.

The Thomson family at Truckfest with Ice Road truckers Lisa Kelly and Alex Debogorski


Features

be second to none, he says. I had no hesitation in placing my order. I had also seen a few of UVBs vehicles in my local area and liked what I saw.

The family-run company, which Matt and Elizabeth Thomson established in 1995, is not only investing in new vehicles. The firm has also recently opened a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art 30,000 square feet warehouse at its Dundonald home in Ayrshire. The warehouse includes over 4,000 pallet locations for local businesses, as well as 500 wooden storage containers for removal and self storage customers.

These investments in modern vehicles and storage facilities mean that Thomson Removals & Self Storage can continue to provide customers with the highest levels of service and efficiency, in a market which is showing strong indications of returning to solid rates of growth.

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The companys fleet includes a wide variety of vehicles and gives Thomson Removals the ability to carry out all sizes of moves, from the smallest local move to large overseas work for residential and commercial customers.

30

BAR News


BAR Services

BAR Services welcomes Brian Maidman to its Board of Directors The success of BAR Services is not just down to the hard work of the management team and its strong team of staff but also the support of an experienced Board of Directors.

BAR Services

This is why BAR Services is now delighted to welcome Brian Maidman of Maidmans Removals to its Board knowing that Brians knowledge of the removals industry and of the BAR will help the company continue to grow and develop.

Brian began his career in the removals industry purely by chance. In his home town of Poole, a friend was in need of a pair of hands to help move a 3-piece suite. Brian was that friend and from there grew a passion and an idea that became Maidmans Removals. One of the founding partners in 1979, the company has grown, diversified and achieved an excellent reputation in the industry. In 2008, Maidmans became the first company to achieve three BSI standards in domestic removals, commercial relocations and storage services.

Brian is without a doubt an incredibly busy person and actively involved in the BAR. He has served as BAR Area Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman and has worked with The Movers Institute. He has been closely involved and is still instrumental in the development of standards as a Commercial Moving Group Councillor, and more recently, has been a Director of the BAR board.

6OEFSTUBOEJOHUIFCVTJOFTTSo why has Brian decided to be further involved in the running of the company that is BAR Services? Brian is already an incredibly loyal BAR Services customer currently buying 100% of his packaging products through BAR Services. Brian also thoroughly enjoyed his role as a Directly Elected Director on the BAR Board of Directors and although this was originally a two-year contract Brian stayed in the position for four years. Looking for a similar role, Brian saw the opportunity to join the BAR Services Board as ideal.

As with most of Brians previous roles and as with all of the existing BAR Services Directors, he will kindly be giving his time voluntarily. Brian sees two significant and key contributions to his role on the board. Firstly, he feels with his 30 years of experience he will be able to shape and influence policy for BAR Services that will have a significant benefit to members in terms of pricing and standards. Secondly, Brian wants to

understand the company and how it works; this way he feels he will be better able to influence and encourage all Members to buy through BAR Services. This is clearly something Brian is passionate about. I have been a long and loyal customer of BAR Services and this is because after years in the industry, I dont believe Members can buy products of the same quality any cheaper elsewhere, he says. As a cooperative, BAR Services is the Members company and we should be buying together. The more we buy together the lower the prices and we all benefit and it is my intention to encourage members to this effect.

BAR Services feels it has a very bright future and that

with experienced, supportive and proactive directors like Brian helping to nurture the company it can only grow and expand. His experience in the field is undeniable and Miranda Hyder and Alison Cowie of BAR Services hope Brian will spend many years supporting them through his input on the Board.

For prices and availability, please contact BAR Services on 01342 870087 or email [email protected]

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BAR News

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BAR News


CMG News

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.

See you at Wychwood Park this month!5IF$PNNFSDJBM.PWJOH(SPVQJTMPPLJOHGPSXBSEUPTFFJOHBMMMembers later this month (30 September - 1 October) at Wychwood 1BSL$IFTIJSFGPSJUT4FNJOBSBOE(PMG&WFOU(FOFSPVTMZTQPOTPSFEby Basil Fry, the entire event has been organised to allow for networking opportunities and practical industry guidance.

For more information, see www.barcommercialmovinggroup.co.uk

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4QPOTPSFECZ

www.pluscrates.com

Book now!

r&s september 2013

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