Removals & Storage magazine by Sandra Zealand

June 2011 Number 443 ÂŁ4.00 www.bar.co.uk

DMOTY and CMOTY 2011 winners

BAR Annual Conference Report pages 16-23 Branding your company 48 New pension rules 50

No: 443 June 2011 www.bar.co.uk

This month: News from Watford Industry News

06 07-15

- On-the-spot fines for reckless drivers - Permits for road works - VOSA changes ABS light enforcement - UK logistics report - Road congestion declining - FTA warning after M1 chaos - Government should promote road transport - Size doesn’t matter in telematics - Carbon cutting scheme - BAR shortlisted for TAF awards 2011 - Low carbon roadmap for HGVs - The future of freight transport policy - Freight forwarders fight Southampton charge - Bishop’s Move comes to the aid of the Salvation Army - Martell’s goes back to the future - Rogers Removals’ Albert Square Client

BAR News

16-26

- DMOTY 2011 winners - Honorary lifetime award for David Trenchard - BAR 2011 AGM in Manchester - RBA 2011 AGM - Key reports from the Conference Business Sessions - Young Movers explore Manchester - Preview of Windsor 2012 - Industry Statistics

QSS Update 28 Commercial Moving Group News 30-39 - CMOTY 2011 winners - CMG Annual Meeting 2011 - CMG Business Sessions - CMG Marketing update - Working together with BIFM - Best practices for commercial moving

Training News

46 “David has been a stalwart of our industry; many of the better things in our Association have been associated with David.” Reg Hackworthy when presenting David Trenchard an honorary lifetime award.

BAR Conference Report 46-59

- The Commercial Movers Apprenticeship Scheme

Overseas Group News

- OG hosts buffet and canal tour - DT Moving profile

BAR Member Services European News

41 42-44

- Continued controversy on Eurovignette - EC publishes tax plans for fuels - Europe moves on traffic offences - European roadmap sets dramatic targets - FEDEMAC responds to EC study on light goods vehicles - MEP calls for road safety coordinator - New logistics centre in Calais - Dublin Port launches expansion plan

Diary Dates Memberships People News - A Tribute to Ray Slemmings Competition On the cover: DMOTY and CMOTY 2011 winners

60 62 70 70

- Branding your company - Meeting the new pensions obligations - Avoid being a conduit for criminals - Keeping on the right side of the Traffic Commissioner - Where the property market is headed - The challenges posed by recent employment regulations - The role of FIDI in ensuring quality - Cycling to Manchester for charity - Worsley Park Golf tournament

58 June 2011 Removals & Storage

BAR News

News FROM WATFORD

usy times here in Watford, not only with the preparations for the Annual Conference in Manchester, but coping with numerous enquiries regarding the BAR pre-payment guarantee scheme, resulting from a company in membership going into administration. Much of the work of that company was in international removals and so BAR acted as the link between the customers, who still had to get their goods shipped and IMMI. Past BAR President Robert Bartup, the Overseas Group representative on the IMMI Board, has been a tower of strength over this tricky period, and our appreciation of his hard work has to be recognised. The dust has not yet settled, these things take some time to work through, but the valuable element of consumer protection provided by BAR, through the prepayment guarantee scheme, has been recognised by many (if not all) of those customers who appealed for assistance.

competitions. Full reports on the Conference, the business sessions, and DMOTY and CMOTY can be found on pages 16 and 32.

the European Parliament and the European Commission to ensure that the interests of our Members are kept to the forefront.

Proposals by the European Parliament to modify the Eurovignette may sound a little dry, but this is an important development, particularly with a suggestion that the Euro V engine incentives should be limited to three years (rather than five), BAR has lobbied vigorously with MEPs to try and ensure that this retrograde step is avoided. Other trade associations are active over this, of course, but BAR has worked hard to develop and maintain contacts both in

Many thanks to those Members who have provided us with industry statistics, as this data is vital in enabling BAR to conduct informed lobbying both in Westminster and Brussels. The newly introduced £100 prize monthly draw of those companies who provide these statistics, has just been completed for the first time (the April Statistics), and the lucky winner is Monkey Removals. The cheque, as the saying goes, is in the post.

The Annual Conference itself, held between 13-15 May, was an undoubted success, with stimulating business sessions, a lively ‘open forum’ for Members to put their questions and views to the Board of Directors, and of course, the announcement of the worthy winners of the Domestic Mover of the Year and Commercial Mover of the Year

Contact Details: Editorial

Contributions on all aspects of the removals and storage industry are welcome, together with photographs if appropriate. Please contact the Managing Editor, Louise Gale on: Tel: 020 8458 5100 Email: rands-editorial@analyticamedia.com Deadlines: The deadline for all article submissions for the July 2011 issue of R&S is 7th June.

Advertising

For all enquiries and bookings, please contact Steve Pearce on: Tel: 0117 330 8370 Email: steve@rubiconmarketing.net Deadlines: The booking deadline for all display advertisements for the July 2011 issue of R&S is 13th June.

Subscriptions

Removals & Storage is subscribed to by members of the British Association of Removers in the UK and Overseas. Current annual subscription is £48.00 in the UK and £72.00 overseas. Additional subscriptions are available from BAR (see contact details to the left). Registered as a magazine © The British Association of Removers 2011. ISSN 0034-4265 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be scanned, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in part or whole in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the British Association of Removers. Opinions expressed in Removals & Storage are not necessarily those of the publisher, British Association of Removers. The description of a product or service in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the publisher. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for any claims by advertisers. The articles in this publication are for general information only and are not intended to be advice to any specific person. Readers are recommended to seek professional advice before taking or refraining from taking any action on the basis of the contents of any article in this publication.

The British Association of Removers Tel: 01923 699 480 Fax: 01923 699 481 Email: info@bar.co.uk Tangent House, 62 Exchange Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 OTG President: Reg Hackworthy Director General: Stephen Vickers Company Secretary: James Falkner

Removals & Storage is designed on behalf of The British Association of Removers by: Rubicon Marketing Ltd. Tel: 0117 330 8370 Email: steve@rubiconmarketing.net

Copy and advertising deadlines 2011 for future issues of R&S magazine Article submission: 5th of the month preceding publication

Booking of trade adverts: 10th of the month preceding publication

Booking of display adverts: 10th of the month preceding publication

Artwork for adverts: 15th of the month preceding publication

Booking of classified adverts: 10th of the month preceding publication

Removals & Storage June 2011

Industry News

Councils urged to use permits for road works Regional and Local Transport Minister Norman Baker has called on local authorities to consider the use of permit schemes that help to reduce the disruption caused by road works.

oad works permit schemes give councils more power to coordinate road works. Once a scheme is in place, utility companies and local authorities must abide by strict conditions including time limits, coordination and the amount of road space to be left available to road users during the works. Anyone who breaks the terms of their permit or works without a permit could be prosecuted and face a fine of up to £5,000. Mr. Baker recently wrote to councils, outlining his plans to make the permit scheme application process less bureaucratic and costly by allowing councils to introduce schemes without needing to seek approval from central government. “Some road works are necessary to keep vital infrastructure running but they should be managed so that the public aren’t

constantly inconvenienced,” he said. “We are also working to make it easier for councils to use the powers at their disposal to cut road works disruption by cutting the red tape they need to get through to put permit schemes in place.” Street works permit schemes are currently in place in Kent, London, and Northamptonshire. A council running a permit scheme is able to charge companies for providing a permit although any charge should cover the costs of administering the permit scheme and should not result in a surplus. The Department for Transport says it intends to end the need for central government approval of individual local authorities’ permit schemes from April 2012.

VOSA changes ABS light enforcement

he Vehicle and Operator Safety Agency (VOSA) has implemented changes to its roadside enforcement policy, in light of proposals by the Freight Transport Association to downgrade its response to situations where a yellow ABS warning lamp comes on during a vehicle journey. Construction and Use Regulations now permit a vehicle to continue with a journey, or be taken to a place of repair, if the ABS warning lamp illuminates during the journey, at the start of which the system was functioning correctly. FTA negotiated with the Department for Transport and VOSA, who agreed to downgrade enforcement sanction policy when there is evidence available to a VOSA examiner of a yellow ABS warning lamp coming on during a journey. In these cases, the action taken is

now to issue an inspection notice, rather than a prohibition. The revised VOSA procedure involves VOSA examiners seeking evidence from the driver that the defect occurred en route. If drivers have evidence at the time of examination indicating that the defect occurred en route, and that appropriate action has been taken and documented by the driver, then VOSA will downgrade to issuing an inspection notice under these circumstances.

Reckless drivers face on-the-spot fines

ransport Minister Philip Hammond has announced plans for the police to hand out on-the-spot fines for bad drivers. Careless driving will be made a fixed penalty offence, to allow the police more effectively to tackle reckless driving that puts other road users in danger, such as tailgating and undertaking, Mr. Hammond said. The level of fixed penalty notices for traffic offences will be increased from £60 to between £80 and £100 and penalty points. Drivers will have the right to contest the offences in court. “We are determined to differentiate between wilfully reckless drivers and the law-abiding majority who sometimes make honest mistakes, or who have allowed their skills to deteriorate,” Mr. Hammond said. “We will focus relentlessly on cracking down on the really reckless few who are responsible for a disproportionately large number of accidents and deaths on our roads.”

There will also be more educational courses that can be offered in place of a fixed penalty and points in appropriate cases, as well as a new post-test qualification for novice drivers, under plans set out in the government’s new Strategic Framework for Road Safety. Disqualified drivers face having to take a new test before regaining their licence. The Ministry says that 3,500 deaths and serious injuries could have been prevented in a year, if the successes of better local authorities and police forces had been matched across the country. As well as improving enforcement against drink and drug driving, Mr. Hammond also announced that speed limits are being examined, although no decisions have yet been made. There are reports that the speed limit on motorways in the UK could be raised to 80 mph, while speed limits on rural roads look set to be lowered. A decision is expected later this year.

June 2011 Removals & Storage

Industry News

New report paints mixed picture of UK logistics A new Logistics Report 2011 charts the ebb and flow of the sector in 2010 and analyses its challenges and triumphs.

ccording to the report, prepared by the Freight Transport Association in association with management consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers, a toxic combination of rising business costs, public spending cuts, tough trading conditions, restrictive regulations, severe weather, national security issues and natural disasters meant that 2010 was a particularly tough 12 months for UK logistics. While 2009 was characterised by redundancies and insolvencies, figures show that fewer companies made staff redundant in 2010, with those expecting to do so in 2011 having halved. But with transport operating costs having risen well above inflation (the cost of diesel alone rose by nearly 15 percent in 2010), road transport operators have clearly scaled back on investment and training. Business risks According to the report, with pressure on margins as a result of weak business volumes and higher input costs, many businesses have looked for ways to reduce costs; 90 per cent of CEOs in the transport and logistics industry said

they implemented cost-reduction initiatives in 2010. FTA’s Manager’s Guide to Distribution Costs shows that in the year to January 2011, whilst operating costs rose by 6.1 per cent – well above inflation – road haulage rates rose by just 3.6 per cent. This shortfall in margins leaves businesses with little choice but to cut costs, for example by scaling back plans for future investment, even though this leaves them with the business risks associated with ageing assets and IT systems, the report says. Expectations of relatively weak trading conditions for road freight operators continue to mean that only 30 per cent of HGV operators plan to expand their fleet in 2011, and only 29 per cent of van operators. Prospects for the trailer market are poorer still, with just twenty per cent planning to expand their fleets. Fifty four per cent of operators cited reduced levels of business activity as governing investment decisions, while the lack of funding for financing investment plans was an equally important factor.

Road congestion declining

oad congestion on inter-urban roads has continued to decline, according to latest statistics from the Department for Transport. On the inter-urban network, which includes all motorways and trunk A roads managed by the Highways Agency, the average vehicle delay on the slowest 10 per cent of journeys fell to 3.44 minutes per 10 miles in the year ending February 2011. That is 11.8 per cent less than in the baseline year ending March 2008. This is equivalent to an average saving of 27 seconds per 10 miles, or the average speed on the slowest 10 per cent of journeys rising from

Removals & Storage June 2011

44.3 mph to 45.8 mph. The figure of 3.44 minutes per 10 miles in the year ending February 2011 is 4.9 per cent lower than a year earlier, in the year ending February 2010, when the average vehicle delay on the slowest 10 per cent of journeys was 3.61 minutes per 10 miles. The route direction showing the greatest increase in total delay on the slowest 10 per cent of journeys since the baseline year ending March 2008 is the M25 between J16 and J23 (+ 61 per cent). The route direction showing the greatest decrease in total delay is the M1 between J19 and J32 (- 45 per cent).

FTA warning after M1 chaos

he Freight Transport Association has warned that the chaos experienced on the M1 motorway in April could be repeated elsewhere, if the proposed Localism Bill is approved in its current form. Large parts of the southbound M1 were closed in April following a fire at a scrap yard in the Mill Hill area of London. FTA said that the disruption caused to businesses and motorists alike would have been avoided entirely if the risk presented from building a potentially flammable site within close proximity to an elevated section of a major motorway had been properly assessed at the planning stage. Malcolm Bingham, FTA’s Head of Road Network Management Policy, said “this incident brings into sharp focus the need for planning decisions to be made with full consideration of the impact that could be made on essential infrastructure. Such decisions should not be made at a purely local level and in splendid isolation. Our concern is that the Government’s localism agenda may mean we see the damaging consequences of further poor planning decisions in the future.” FTA has already voiced its concerns about the Localism Bill (which gives local councils more say over planning decisions), claiming the needs of national transport infrastructure could be subjugated by local, peripheral concerns. According to FTA, a lorry stuck in traffic can cost its operator over £50 per hour. Without a joined-up and objective approach to planning, the trade body argues, the UK’s ability to do business efficiently and for its economy to recover could be compromised. Aside from granting permission for potentially poor decisions to go ahead, the association is concerned that the Bill will make it harder still for projects that could improve environmental performance, transport efficiency and road safety to be given the ‘green light’. Mr Bingham said “there are some decisions that need to be made at a national level – whether it’s about a truck stop, a rail freight terminal or a potentially hazardous scrap yard.”

Industry News

DFT backs carbon cutting scheme

Size doesn’t matter in Telematics

he Department for Transport has given strong backing to the Freight Transport Association scheme to cut carbon emissions. “The scheme is the first of its kind for the freight sector, and should deliver real progress toward the UK’s carbon reduction targets,” said Transport Minister Mike Penning. The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme, which was launched in July 2010, is a key part of the logistics industry’s response to meeting the challenge of climate change. Scheme members commit to regularly reporting their fuel use figures from which carbon dioxide emissions for the scheme are derived, together with a set of four activity and business-based normalisers. From these datasets, absolute levels of emissions and the relative improvement in emissions over time can be monitored.

Telemetry and telematics applications are fast becoming a ‘must have’ in the freight, haulage and removals industries

ecent trials have proved just how practical telemetry can be, for small and medium-sized fleets, in terms of improving driver performance and reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. A three-month trial conducted by the Freight Transport Association, using the Microlise system, has concluded that it is not just the large fleet operators that can enjoy excellent returns on investments in telematics.

Gary Gates, Transport Manager, of Vetspeed, said: “We were not in any doubt that our drivers would perform well, but what we wanted to see was whether they could perform better. By allowing us to look at things like engine idling, for example, we were able to share with our drivers ways they could finesse their driving behaviour. We are talking fine tuning here, not wholesale changes, but the results are well worth it.”

In the controlled FTA trial, specialist waste management operator Vetspeed had seven of its 40 vehicles fitted with a new telematics system, unbeknown to its drivers, for an initial fiveweek period. After this first set of data was analysed, and drivers were informed to address performance issues, further trials were undertaken. The end result was that Vetspeed’s drivers cut their fuel consumption by 0.43 miles per gallon, despite the severe weather conditions that hit the UK during the trial, potentially saving the company around £13,000 a year.

Reducing overheads through improving performance Since the trial ended, Vetspeed’s productivity has improved by 200 drops a month, due to better routing and closer monitoring of driver behaviour. Awards were given to both the ‘best’ and ‘most improved’ drivers from the trial. “It doesn’t really matter how small a fleet is,” according to Julian Barker of the FTA. “Being able to ‘drill down’ data to address areas of performance or even non-compliance is very useful for any company. This trial shows what can be done when a responsible and forwardlooking operator adopts the latest technology and applies it intelligently. Only this way can performance be accurately assessed and then improved or rewarded.” The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has also trialled the system with two members, Maritime Transport and R Adams, a small Midlands-based haulier. RHA will be reporting on the industry’s use of telematics later in 2011. MAN Trucks UK, rebranding the system as Trucknology, has already deployed the application in over 5000 MAN trucks and over 300 end-customers.

For FTA President Stewart Oades, “the Minister’s endorsement of the Scheme at this time transforms it from a pioneering initiative to a mainstream policy instrument.” The scheme has secured director-level commitment from almost 50 organisations operating some 40,000 commercial vehicles, with a strong pipeline of operators going through the sign-up process. Participants range from high street retailers, utilities and third party logistics companies to relatively modest sized hauliers. Industry-led scheme Scheme members have also committed to reduce the carbon dioxide intensity of their logistics operations by 8 per cent by 2015, compared to a 2010 base line. The 8 per cent fall over five years reflects planned changes at an operator level in vehicle fuel efficiency, improvements in vehicle productivity, greater use of rail freight and uptake of alternatively fuelled commercial vehicles. “Climate change is one of the greatest transport policy challenges facing the government,” according to Stewart Oades. “The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme forms an important part of industry’s response to that challenge.”

June 2011 Removals & Storage

Industry News

The Future of Freight Transport Policy

CP Consulting has published a wide-ranging review of future options for UK freight transport strategy. LCP chairman Alan Braithwaite said that although there have now been five attempts since 2000 to define an integrated national transport policy (all of which have had to be archived), it is more important than ever to define policy, in the light of budget cuts, changes to planning laws, new infrastructure plans, and the need to cut carbon emissions. The report states that coordinating economic, environmental, and social objectives will remain the central challenge for freight transport policy. It recommends: “This will require a combination of highly focused investment, and a mix of new regulatory and fiscal measures. For the private sector to bridge the widening gap in public sector funding, investors will require greater clarity than is currently available on the long-term vision for freight and logistics.” The white paper concludes that there will need to be radical and difficult changes in freight transport policy and investment if the sector is to contribute fully to the national goals of economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. These changes will involve “a combination of taxation to promote more efficient use of resources, regulation to ensure safe, clean and fair operation, and planning processes that enable innovation and investment.” The report can be downloaded in full at www.lcpconsulting.com.

Vince Cable, Business Secretary and Co-Chair of the Automotive Council

Low carbon roadmap for HGVs The Automotive Council, a joint industry/government body, recently published a long-term strategy aimed at helping manufacturers of commercial vehicles and construction equipment move to low carbon solutions.

he roadmap is the first to be published in Europe with this level of detail. It outlines the drivers and timescales of technology development across the sector, from delivery vans to bulldozers. Technologies analysed include hybridisation, more efficient powertrains and alternative fuels. The Automotive Council, says the roadmap will be a useful tool in determining research priorities as well as helping vehicle manufacturers and the supply chain draft longterm business plans. Now that work is under way on lowering emissions from cars, Vince Cable who is

Business Secretary and Co-Chair of the Automotive Council, wants to look at other parts of the sector in terms of “how they can help meet our long-term obligations on CO2 and air quality targets.” Automotive Council Co-chair Professor Richard Parry-Jones said: “The roadmap provides a strategic focus for the UK’s research and technology base to work in partnership with industry in these key sectors. As well as accelerating the pace of innovation and new product development, it will help ensure the UK maintains its position at the cutting edge of the low carbon automotive revolution.”

BAR shortlisted for Best Practice Awards 2011

AR has been shortlisted for the prestigious Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards 2011. BAR has been selected in the Membership Pack of the Year and Website of the Year categories. Being shortlisted for a Best Practice Award provides BAR with industry wide recognition of its hard work and effectiveness in serving its members, and allows BAR the opportunity to benchmark its work in relation to trade associations working in other sectors of the UK economy. 10 Removals & Storage June 2011

The results will be announced at the Awards and Networking Dinner that is being held at the Plaisterers’ Hall on Thursday 7th July. The guest speaker at the event will be Martin Bayfield, who was one of the tallest players in rugby, a gift he used to full advantage as one of England’s most potent forwards. The TAF Awards recognise, reward and promote best practice amongst trade associations throughout the United Kingdom, and BAR is delighted to be shortlisted for these awards.

Industry News

Bishop’s Move comes to the aid of the Salvation Army

Governments should promote road transport

Bishop’s Move has completed the business relocation of the Salvation Army Heritage Centre. The original location, based in London, involved the removal of five different departments simultaneously and required a full seven days to complete, due to on-going building and construction work.

Moving three buildings required a lot of vehicles

he move involved the careful handling of valuable and unusual items from the Heritage Centre, including antique uniforms, musical instruments, glass slides, photographs, maps, deeds, books and artworks to its new home in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The larger, remaining, collection from the Heritage Centre was moved between two buildings within the campus. Alongside this move, other members of the Bishop’s Move team undertook the movement of the Salvation Army Library between two

other buildings in the campus and, to complicate matters further, two additional buildings of four floors apiece were also relocated to new premises, involving vehicles and operatives for each building. In addition to all the large vehicles involved in the move and countless removal men working on foot, there were also removal crate deliveries and collections, along with regular interruptions from construction vehicles and personnel David Mills-Pearce of Bishop’s Move said “due to the irregularities of this relocation, it had the potential to be a logistical nightmare. However, our business relocation team has vast experience in these types of situation. Despite hurdles to overcome, the move was completed well within time and we wish the Salvation Army Heritage Centre the very best in its new premises.” Founded in 1854, Bishop’s Move is now the largest privately-owned removals company in the UK. The firm employs 350 staff and has a fleet of 150 removal vehicles. It has 25 branches across the UK, with two European branches in Gibraltar and Spain.

Considerable care was deployed when moving the Heritage Centre artworks and photographs

he General Assembly of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) has recently adopted a resolution calling on governments worldwide to acknowledge that actively promoting and facilitating international trade, travel and road transport is the most efficient way to expedite economic recovery. IRU President Janusz Lacny said that “the professional road transport industry, 95 per cent of which are small and medium enterprises, considerably contributes to social and economic prosperity in all regions...it is therefore high time that governments promote and further facilitate this mode of transport crucial to us all!” According to the IRU, the recent economic crisis has pushed many governments down the road of protectionist policies, favouring unilateral or bilateral approaches when dealing with trade and transport issues. As a result, in developing countries, over 40 per cent of transport time is lost at borders, which severely impedes international trade and tourism by road transport, obstructing economic growth and recovery. This IRU resolution specifically calls on governments to end protectionist measures that are impeding international trade, travel and road transport.

June 2011 Removals & Storage 11

Industry News

Albert Square client

he team at Rogers Removals is walking proud after receiving a warm endorsement from one of Britain’s most celebrated soap opera actresses – Samantha Janus from Eastenders. A five-man team from Rogers Removals took charge of a two-day, 2,100 cubic feet move from Muswell Hill to Letchworth. One of the challenges of the move was the extra special care they had to take of Samantha’s 7 foot tall antique mirror. The team struck up a real rapport with their celebrity client. Team leader Alan Newmarch said that Ms Janus was

BAR/OFT Code of Practice leaflet Important information for BAR Members

“absolutely delightful and a real pleasure to move.” And, Ms. Janus, who until recently played the part of Ronnie Mitchell in Eastenders, said the move was “amazing, amazing, amazing....couldn’t be better!”

Samantha Janus was delighted with Rogers Removals’ service

Freight forwarders fight Southampton charge

reight forwarders are fighting the imposition of a £3 charge per import container at Southampton port and have requested the Office of Fair Trading to review the action. The owners of the port, DP World Southampton, say that the so-called “infrastructure charge” being levied as of 1 April is needed to pay for investment in the recent upgrade to the port’s rail infrastructure. BIFA, the British International Freight Association, is seeking guidance from the OFT about the levy. BIFA argues that because of the fee, which must be paid by forwarders even if they use road or sea to remove the cargo from

12 Removals & Storage June 2011

the port, “road is being expected to subsidise the rail sector, despite gaining no access to or benefit from the scheme.” It also believes that DP World’s action may represent an abuse of its dominant position on the South coast. “By imposing the levy on the freight forwarder, DP World has chosen the party least able to stand up to the imposition of any charge,” BIFA says, arguing that it is the shipping lines, and not the freight forwarders, that are the customers that benefit from the infrastructure improvement. BIFA is calling on its members to write to the OFT urging it to prioritise the complaint. DP World Southampton says it intends to levy the charge until it has earned back the original investment of £6 million made by its partner, ABP. The actual duration of the charge will therefore depend on the number of boxes being charged every year. With the current number of imports and an average annual growth of 4.5 per cent, it expects the recovery period to be six or seven years.

he BAR/OFT Code of Practice leaflet is now available to all UK BAR Members in electronic format only. BAR initially received 175,000 printed copies of the Code of Practice leaflet from the OFT, however these have all now been distributed to Members across the UK and therefore are no longer available. Members are welcome to download the leaflet from the BAR website which can be found in the Resources/Code of Practice section of the Members’ area (MyBAR). It is of major benefit for Members to promote the Code. Reinforce the advantages to your customers by continuing to promote the Code. For more information, please contact commercial@bar.co.uk or visit the Members’ area of the BAR website.

Industry News

Back to the Future

here can’t be many BAR members who can still remember the days when it was common for moves to be made by rail and powered by steam engine. But early this April, Martell’s of Sutton was involved in sponsoring a very nostalgic move for the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex. Removals manager Edward Kessell explains that the Bluebell Railway, a preserved steam railway, contacted Martell’s to move a selection of museum artefacts from Horsted Keynes station to the new Bluebell Railway Museum building at Sheffield Park Station. As the Railway had requested the move to be carried out by rail rather than road, they had organised to have a special wagon, a General Utility Van from the 1950s, placed at the platform, where the crew then loaded all the heavy and delicate exhibits and artefacts. The wagon was transported using a steam locomotive to the new site for the museum at Sheffield Park. “The hardest part was probably securing the load onto the wagon,” Edward says, “but all items were transported safely and positioned into the new museum.” The following day, the team returned to the

railway to unload all the items into the new premises. Exhibits at the Museum include the recently restored stuffed dog ‘London Jack’ and two large models of paddle steamers, Paris and Whippingham. The model ships were refurbished by the National Railway Museum from where they are on long term loan. It is hoped that the new Museum will have opened its doors to visitors by the time you read this in early June. Displays and exhibits will show the story from pre-railway to building railways, the golden age and decline of the railways.

Martell’s of Sutton moved the Bluebell Railway Museum with great care

Have a Heart

diagnosis of heart disease can lead to a very worrying and frightening time for sufferers and their families. Ria Russell, director of Britannia Lanes of Somerset and Bristol, says that her father Mike was recently diagnosed with heart disease and may need open heart surgery at any time, despite a change of diet and the best attention of 14 Removals & Storage June 2011

doctors and specialists. But Ria isn’t letting the news get her down. She is publicising a nonstop 16 hour piano marathon by friend and singer Mark Whitford-Williams to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Mark, who sadly lost his father last November to a heart aneurysm, will start playing at 8 a.m. on 11 June in the George Inn in Middlezoy in

Somerset, and only finish at midnight. He will follow this up with The Red and Black Cabaret show in Bristol on 2 July. Ria encourages everyone at BAR to support Mark’s fund-raising effort for this worthy cause, however much they can. Donations can be made at http://www.justgiving.com/ WhitfordWilliams

Industry News

House prices dip in March and April House price statistics from the most authoritative sources in the UK suggest that the housing market has deteriorated slightly in recent months.

he Land Registry survey, which is based on actual sale prices achieved and includes nearly all sales in England and Wales, whether the purchaser obtains a mortgage or pays the full price in cash, gives the most accurate overview of prices actually being paid, although as it reports actual prices achieved its figures lag behind those produced by the Nationwide and Halifax. By contrast the other authoritative surveys – including Halifax and Nationwide – cover only house sales where the purchaser takes out a mortgage. All three do however cover the UK as a whole so their sample is broader but less comprehensive than the picture offered by the Land Registry. The Land Registry reported an annual price decrease of 2.3 per cent, which takes the average property value in England and Wales to £160,996. The monthly change from February to March was a decrease of 1.1 per cent. However, London reported an annual price increase of 0.8 percent. The only region which experienced a monthly rise was The North West with a rise of 0.7 per cent. The North East experienced the greatest annual price fall with a decrease of -9.3 per cent. Wales was the region with the most significant monthly price fall, with a drop of -3.3 per cent. According to the Land Registry’s most recent figures, during January 2011, the number of completed house sales in England and Wales rose by 2 per cent to 36,425 from 35,809 in January 2010. The number of properties sold in England and Wales for over £1 million increased by 6 per cent between January 2010 and January 2011, from 460 to 486.

Source: the Land Registry

Nationwide, which covers the whole of the UK and is based on a sample of loans issued in any given month, reported that prices decreased by 0.2 per cent in April, bringing the average house price to £165,609, 1.3 per cent lower than in April 2011. Commenting on the figures, Robert

Average annual change in residential property prices

Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, struck a somewhat upbeat note: “There is still little evidence to suggest that price declines will accelerate in the months ahead. While the UK economy only managed a modest bounce-back at the start of the year, after the weather-induced contraction in late 2010, the economic recovery is expected to gather momentum. Together with continued low interest rates, a gradual improvement in the labour market should help to provide support for housing demand, while limiting the number of forced sales. Nevertheless, a strong rebound in the market remains unlikely as the recovery is still expected to remain modest by historic standards. In our view, the most likely outcome is that house prices will continue to move sideways or drift modestly lower through 2011.” Halifax, which also covers the entire UK, but bases its index on a sample of each lender’s own loans each month, reported that prices decreased 1.4 per cent in April bringing the average house

price to £160,395. Halifax reports that prices fell by 1.2 per cent in the quarter to the end of April, and by 3.7 per cent when compared to April 2010, the biggest annual decline since October 2009. However, Halifax notes that house sales show signs of stabilising, with a 2 per cent increase between February and March in the number of mortgages approved for house purchases. Housing economist Martin Ellis said “signs of a modest tightening in housing market conditions, a relatively low burden of servicing mortgage debt and an increase in the number of people in employment are all likely to be providing support for house prices, curbing the pace of decline. There are signs that house sales are stabilising albeit at a level lower than the historical average.” Figures from Communities and Local Government (CLG) indicate that in March 2011, UK house prices increased by 0.9 per cent over the year and increased by 1.2 per cent over the month (seasonally adjusted).

Price change by region

June 2011 Removals & Storage 15

BAR News

Finalists:

DMOTY 2011 Sponsored by

L to R: Richard Healey Removals of Beith, Reddaways Removals of Okehampton, Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol, Maidmans Removals & Storage of Bournemouth and MJ Christopher & Son of Newquay

ponsored by BAR Services and BAR Training Services, the Domestic Mover Of The Year winner was announced at the Gala Dinner of the BAR 2011 Annual Conference. Hearty congratulations to DMOTY 2011 Winner: Maidmans Removals & Storage. BAR Director General, Stephen Vickers commented that “the submissions this year for DMOTY had been of a particularly high standard, so much credit is due to all the finalists for making it to the last five.” Entries for the Award were judged according to the following criteria, with all of the finalists reaching high scores in each category: • • • • • • • • •

16 Removals & Storage June 2011

Commitment to quality and standards Quality and appearance of premises and vehicles Knowledge, professionalism and helpfulness of staff Customer satisfaction Compliance with the BAR Code of Practice Support and participation in BAR activities and services Promotion of BAR through marketing, display and advertising materials Adherence to essential issues, e.g. Health & Safety Commitment to training and development of staff.

Judging took place in four stages: In Stage 1 the judges assessed the written submissions and agreed a maximum shortlist of ten (including ties). Stage 2 consisted of a mystery telephone shopping exercise to test the shortlisted companies. Stage 3 entailed on-site assessments of the shortlisted companies after which the five finalists were identified. In Stage 4 a customer satisfaction survey was done for the five finalists, based on five customer reference contacts provided by them to BAR. The five finalists were: • Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol • M J Christophers & Son of Newquay • Maidmans Removals & Storage of Bournemouth • Reddaways Removals Ltd of Okehampton • Richard Healey Removals Ltd of Beith Five companies each received a Certificate of Merit to acknowledge the high standards they have maintained: Britannia Anchor Removals Ltd (Manchester), Greens Removals & Storage Ltd (Stowmarket), Matt Purdie & Sons Ltd (Blackburn, West Lothian), Matt Purdie & Sons Ltd (Kilmarnock Removals), and Osbornes Removals & Storage (Group) Ltd (Manchester).

BAR News

Finalist:

Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol

Richard Healey Removals Ltd of Beith

M J Christopher & Son of Newquay

Finalist:

Winner:

Maidmans Removals & Storage of Bournemouth Reddaways Removals Ltd of Okehampton

June 2011 Removals & Storage 17

BAR News

BAR AGM 2011 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS, HELD AT THE RENAISSANCE MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE HOTEL BACKFRIARS STREET, MANCHESTER, AT 10.00 am, ON FRIDAY 13 MAY 2011. 1. PRELIMINARY MATTERS The President (in the Chair) drew attention to the Notice of the Meeting, which had been available for inspection prior to the meeting. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no Apologies for absence. 3. PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, held on 14 May 2010, were considered, agreed to be a correct record, and signed by the Chairman. 4. REPORT & ACCOUNTS The Director-General gave a report to Members on the Report & Accounts to 31 December 2010, and answered a number of questions on the details. He added that the Report & Accounts, when completed, would be put to an Extraordinary General Meeting at a date to be advised within the time allowed by the Companies Act 2006. 5. AUDITORS The appointment of Wellers Accountants as Auditors for the Association for the coming year was approved. 6. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The composition of the Board of Directors was noted with approval. 7. SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS (a) Special Resolution 4.2 to amend Clause 7 of the Memorandum of Association was considered and approved. (b) Special Resolution 4.3 to amend Article 10 of the Articles of Association was considered and approved. (c) Special Resolution 4.3 to re-elect Mr B Maidman and Mr G Wheadon as Directors was considered and approved. 8. OTHER BUSINESS The Chairman said that no further questions had been notified, thanked everyone for attending, and declared the meeting closed at 10.25 am.

RBA AGM 2011 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE REMOVERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, HELD AT THE RENAISSANCE MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE HOTEL, BLACKFRIARS STREET, MANCHESTER, AT 10.25 am, ON FRIDAY 13 MAY 2011. 1. PRELIMINARY MATTERS The President welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked the Chairman of Trustees (Mr D Payne) to take the Chair. The Chairman drew attention to the Notice of the Meeting, previously circulated, and to the Report & Accounts for the year to 31 December 2010, which had been available for inspection prior to the meeting. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no Apologies for Absence. 3. PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 14 May 2010, were considered, agreed to be a correct record, and signed by the Chairman. 4. REPORT & ACCOUNTS The Report & Accounts for the Year to 31 December 2010 were considered and approved. The Chairman then gave a verbal Report of the Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities in the year, and thanked everyone, particularly donors and those engaged in fund-raising activities, for their continued support. He also asked that thanks be extended to Tracy Britten at BAR Watford, for her valuable secretarial services to the Trustees. The Chairman added, that he understood that concerns recently raised at accounting irregularities in BAR did not involve the RBA accounts. There were no questions from the floor, and the Report was received with approval. 5. AUDITORS The re-appointment of Wellers Accountants as Auditors for the year to December 2011, was considered and approved. 6. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business to consider, so the Chairman thanked everyone for attending, and declared the meeting closed.

18 Removals & Storage June 2011

BAR News

Conference Meetings and Networking The two-day Annual Conference programme provided for formal business sessions where BAR members could gain industry information and discuss the latest hot topics relevant to the removals industry. A summary of many of these business sessions is included in this issue of R&S.

he event also provided a series of formal and informal networking opportunities for BAR members. An unexpectedly large number of delegates took up the generous invitation by PHS Teacrate to watch the FA Cup final in comfortable surroundings in the hotel, with a free bar. The great atmosphere at this event set the scene for the successful Gala Dinner later that evening.

BAR Area Secretaries decided to forego watching Manchester City beat Stoke and met together, principally, to review the new Area Secretaries Pack. National Council Chairman Richard Dolan attended the meeting, and the pack was endorsed. It will be circulated to all Area Secretaries in due course. A meeting of the QSS Board also took place in Manchester.

Exhibition creates a buzz

he Conference Exhibition was officially opened by BAR President Reg Hackworthy and was a great success, providing a natural focal point for delegates to meet and do business within the Networking Area sponsored by Pickfords. Thanks are due to the following exhibitors, whose stands created much of the daytime buzz that gave the conference its impetus: • • •

Active Supply & Design who supply self- storage solutions to BAR members, providing all the help and guidance removers need to add self storage to their current business BAR Services Ltd whose aim is to provide a complete packaging service to the industry Basil Fry & Co who provide a unique suite of insurance products to the removals and storage industry

• • • • •

The Commercial Moving Group (CMG), a group of companies within BAR that specialise in all aspects of commercial relocations PHS Teacrate, the largest crate rental company in the UK, moving more than 20 million crates every year Quality Service Standards Ltd (QSS), a wholly owned subsidiary of BAR, which helps members adopt recognised quality management systems for the industry Reason Global Insurance, specialist insurance brokers to the removals, storage and transportation industries, and Steel Storage Europe Ltd, who provide self storage design and construction services, helping companies integrate self storage into their removals operation.

The Reason Global stand provided a fascinating history of the removals business

Young Movers in Manchester

he Young Movers historical pub walk of Manchester proved to be a great success with an eventual turn out of around 25 people, representing roughly 20 BAR member companies, affiliates and international associates. The young people were taken around Manchester by their tour guide, Ed Glinnert, who shared historical information as they walked around the city centre and the perhaps lesser known parts of Manchester. Ed provided several interesting tales about art, culture and the bombings which took place in Manchester. Loren Webster of BARTS reports: “The Young Movers visited pubs like the Old Wellington Inn and Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, collectively known as ‘The Shambles’, and dating from the 16th Century. Both hostelries have been on their present site for only a handful of years. The original Shambles, on the corner of Market Street, got its name from the shambles, or butchers’ stalls, which used to stand opposite the inns at the Saturday market. The half-timbered Old Wellington Inn is the oldest building of its kind in Manchester. It was built in the 1550s, when Edward VI was on the throne, so it has witnessed everything from the English Civil War to the Great Plague. Sinclair’s Oyster Bar dates from 1720, and, though most things about Manchester have changed since then, it still serves its succulent oysters, along with substantial pub meals.” BAR Young Movers specialist interest group, endorsed by and part of the Association, is open to all BAR members aged in their 20’s and 30’s. There is no membership or joining fee and it is a much needed forum for young people who may be new to the industry, young people on a career path, or young people entering or part of a family business. The aim of the group is to share ideas to enhance their skills and progress their personal career objectives, to network, to learn from others and to forge personal and business relationships within the Association in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Moving companies have evolved and, in parallel with many other professions, are witnessing the growing trend for young people to take over the control and responsibility at a much earlier age than may have been traditional in the past. The conferences, meetings, discussions and professional training activities that they take part in and arrange influence the future direction and decisions that have to be taken by companies and organisations within the industry.

June 2011 Removals & Storage 19

BAR News

Awards and prizes at the Gala Dinner Conference delegates relaxed over a sumptuous gala dinner at the hotel, where the industry awards were announced. The winners of the 2011 Domestic Mover Of The Year and 2011 Commercial Mover Of The Year are covered on pages 16 and 34. Here is coverage of the other awards and prizes presented at the event: David Trenchard receives honorary lifetime award onorary life membership of BAR was presented to David Trenchard of Leatherbarrows for his services to the removals industry. The Board of Directors of BAR decided to make this award in recognition and grateful appreciation of David Trenchard’s contribution to BAR during many years of dedicated service, loyalty and support through his BAR Presidency (1991-1992), wholly-owned subsidiaries BAR(S) and QSS, FEDEMAC and the Association in general. In presenting the award, BAR Chairman, Reg Hackworthy, said “David has been in the removal industry 49 years and has been a stalwart of our industry, and many of the better things in our Association have been associated with David. Twenty years ago he came back from a study tour in Australia and with others formed BAR Services. At the time, most members did not accept the concept: after all, we were removal men, not a packaging company, but now one of best things our Association has done is to own a very successful packaging company so that we can dictate prices and not be held to ransom by packaging companies. David is very passionate about standards; he formed QSS Ltd which has enabled us to develop our own standards, set by movers – not bureaucrats.”

Recognition for QSS A certificate of merit was awarded to Chris Waymouth of Quality Service Standards Ltd for his outstanding work in the development and maintenance of removals-specific Quality Standards, particularly BS 8522 and BS 8564, to the benefit of BAR membership and the industry as a whole. The Certificate was also in recognition of Chris’ skills and expertise in transforming QSS into a first-class Quality Standards organisation.

Chris Waymouth is presented a Certificate of Merit

20 Removals & Storage June 2011

BAR President Reg Hackworthy presents David Trenchard with honorary lifetime membership

Man United tickets from Active Supply and Design Living up to their name, Active Supply and Design, who provide self-storage solutions to the removals and storage industry, were active at the BAR Annual Conference in Manchester. As well as running a stand at the exhibition, they organised a raffle for tickets to a football match at Old Trafford. The winner was Alison Cowie of BAR Services, and £174 was raised for the Removers Benevolent Association (RBA).

Alison Cowie wins Active Supply’s raffle

RBA raffle There was also a raffle organised by the RBA for a large-sized model truck which raised a total of £490. The truck was won by Tom Bourne of Bourne Removals. When presenting the prize at the Gala Dinner, RBA trustee Matt Purdie talked about the excellent work of the RBA which manages funds contributed by removers for removers. He reminded members that the monies received by the RBA have to be invested by the RBA trustees, and it is only the interest on these monies that can be used. Matt spoke about the many heartbreaking letters the trustees receive from owners of removals companies and their employees, and urged members to think about giving donations to the RBA at all times of the year.

Matt Purdie presents the RBA prize to Tom Bourne

BAR News - Key BAR Reports News

Key reports from the Business Sessions in Manchester Richard Dolan, National Council Chairman

Ian Palmer, Overseas Group Chairman

Richard explained that he was elected as Vice Chairman in 2010, and became Chairman at the last National Council meeting. He said that the main aspects of the Chairman’s role are to: • chair meetings of area elected National Councillors, currently three meetings per year • put forward proposals and ideas for consideration at board level • attend Board Meetings, currently three times per year. National Councillors, he added, are elected at the Annual General Meetings of the individual areas, with selection by nomination and show of hand. The role of the National

Ian Palmer began by offering a very warm welcome to those delegates who had come from overseas to be at the BAR Annual Conference in Manchester. Ian indicated that the Overseas Group (OG) is busy with bringing the BS8565 standard on in the OG. The Group has not yet decided if it will be a compulsory standard, he said. Ian said that the Group is keen on the IMMI, the International Movers Mutual Insurance Company, which was incorporated in Guernsey in 1981 to provide Advanced Payment Guarantee Insurance to clients of BAR OG members in respect of international removals. “IMMI is the envy of trade

Councillors is to put the views of the BAR membership in their area at the council for consideration to the BAR Board, to inform their areas of questions/ ideas raised at the meeting and to report back to their areas on Board proposals and decisions. “The challenge is to communicate with those who can’t attend meetings, to call out to and reach all members,” said Richard.

associations worldwide,” commented Ian. Ian also emphasised the importance of overseas partnerships with FIDI and OMNI for the BAR OG.

Advance notice: it’s Windsor 2012!!

Next year’s BAR Annual conference will take place at the Beaumont Estate hotel, in Old Windsor, from 17 to 19 May 2012. The beautiful estate also

features elegant fountains and a restored Victorian chapel. The Beaumont Estate Leisure Club has a heated indoor swimming pool, squash courts and a gym.

For more information, see the BAR website, www.bar.co.uk June 2011 Removals & Storage 21

BAR News - Key Reports

Key reports from the Business Sessions in Manchester Rod Seeland, Commercial Moving Group Chairman

Rod Seeland, who handed over the Chair of the Commercial Moving Group (CMG) to Neil Rogers on 14 May, presented an overview of the CMG’S structure and activities. The CMG is made up of 50 professional removals companies across the UK who are engaged in the commercial moving sector. Every CMG member is accredited with BS 8522 Commercial Moving Standard. A CMG member demonstrates the knowledge and expertise to guide their client through every stage of their commercial move, explained Rod, while maintaining a professional standard at all times. Planning is essential for commercial moves and a key part of commercial moves is being able to take a client stepby-step through their move with the minimum disruption to business. In order to ensure that the move goes smoothly, commercial movers often undertake a feasibility study which includes a: • Space Audit to determine the best way in which to use a business layout.

22 Removals & Storage June 2011

File Audit to determine what files should be carried over and which may be suggested for archiving IT Assessment and many commercial movers have specialist IT departments to assist in this area. Rod added that commercial moves typically involve moving an office or business, but can also include, for example, moving factories, schools, libraries, retailers, hospitals, museums, laboratories and local government facilities. CMG has been working with BIP solutions who specialise in helping private sector companies get contracts with public sector, and has produced a good practice guide to commercial removals which has been specifically developed for and distributed to BIFM members and actively promotes use of BAR CMG members. Rod concluded that CMOTY (see the results on page 34) is a fabulous marketing tool for winners.

• •

Gary Wheadon and Brian Maidman, Directly Elected Directors Gary Wheadon and Brian Maidman gave a presentation on being directly elected directors (DEDs) on the BAR Board of Directors. The two directly elected members, introduced as ‘Ant and Dec’, gave a lively and informative presentation of their role. Gary Wheadon explained to delegates that he runs a small friendly company based in Brixton, south London, which has been established for over 150 years. Gary said that DEDs’ purpose is to: • act as a conduit between the Board of Directors and the membership of the association • provide proper representation to the smaller companies who feel that they do not necessarily enjoy that representation, and • offer a route for the wider membership to have input into the strategic aims of the association. Gary added that there was a perception among some members that the Board of Directors was mainly composed of people from the larger companies in the removals and storage business. Gary said that he did not think this perception was accurate, however by having directly elected directors, especially including someone from a small company like his, this would reassure the grassroots members that someone like them was on the Board.

Grassroots representation Brian Maidman took up the theme that the directly elected Board Directors should serve as a conduit from the grassroots to the Board, by being actively involved in local area meetings – and Brian has already clocked up an impressive eleven meetings since being elected – and then conveying the views of the grassroots at BAR Directors meetings which are held 3 times a year. Specifically, DEDs fulfill their role by: • attending and participating in all Board meetings • being actively involved in area meetings • being available for the wider membership to consult with on specific concerns that are not perhaps covered by National Council • communicating with the membership and Board of Directors on issues raised by members, and • assisting the Board in achieving the aims and direction of the Strategy and Policy of the Association. Brian said he had taken calls from BAR members running smaller companies who felt that he would understand their issues well as he too ran a small company, and he was happy to be of assistance to them.

BAR News - Key BAR Reports News

BAR Governance Review BAR Vice-President Ian Studd (pictured) told members that the Governance Review was undertaken by a committee comprising: Reg Hackworthy (in the chair), John Court, David Bunting, Paul Fox, Gary Wheadon, Russell Start, Ian Studd and James Falkner. The aim of the review was to assess the success of the (20062008) Governance Review against the original report which sought to achieve: • More pro-active Secretariat led by a Director-General • Attract wider talent to the Board of Management (now the Board of Directors) • Improve communications with the membership • Better integrate activities of the Special Interest Groups • Re-invigorate the activities of and in the BAR areas The Committee’s objectives were to assess the success of the Governance Review in light of the above aims, and to consider what steps might/could be taken to build on what had already been achieved. Ian reported that the Committee concluded that considerable progress had been made in achieving the objectives set in 2006-8.

A Director General (Stephen Vickers) was appointed in early 2008, the Secretariat was now noticeably more effective, BAR now has a structured chain of command and is now being run with a much more of a commercial focus, although it was noted that the Secretariat is viewed by some as over centralised. In terms of the aim of attracting wider talent to the Board of Management (now the Board of Directors), Ian noted that the introduction in 2009 of

Directly Elected Directors (DEDs) was seen as significant step towards achieving this objective, although it was noted that there is still potential for a high degree of turnover of Directors at one time and that this would need to be addressed. Steps to improve communications with the membership since 2008 have included tasking the Commercial Department with having more direct contact with members. The Committee concluded that increased mail shots and the improved website made a useful contribution, and the existence of elected posts at Board, Functional Groups and Area levels helped to maintain and improve lines of communication. It recognised that ensuring effective communication remains a constant challenge. As regards better integrating the activities of the Special Interest Groups, the Committee concluded that CMG & OMG have very specialised focus and appear to work well, the Councils represent their membership to good effect and the National & European Group Council remains the principal forum linking the membership (through the Areas)

to the Board of Directors. However it was noted that Integration appears to be working imperfectly and the Council needed to sharpen its sense of direction and purpose.

other delegates. The discussion was a lively one and Reg Hackworthy and the Board Directors present concluded by saying that the many useful comments and

suggestions made would be thought about further by the Board, and that lessons could certainly be learned from the various topics and events discussed.

Ian concluded by saying that the Committee recommended that BAR should introduce a rolling 5 year strategic business plan, should adopt a formal appraisal system for the DG with performance measured against the set targets identified in that plan and should review the structure of the Board of Directors so as to ensure continuity and opportunity, attract wider talent, review the role, remit and term of office of the Hon Treasurer and also review role, remit and term of office of the DEDs. The Committee also recommended that BAR consider procedures for better communications with the membership, taking in a review of the structure and role of BAR areas and the role of the National and European Group Council. The Board of Directors is now considering what course(s) of action to take pursuant to those recommendations.

An innovation from the Board: Q&A session BAR President Reg Hackworthy chaired a lively Question & Answer session on Friday afternoon, which included comments from several former BAR Presidents – including David Trenchard (1992), Rob Bartup (pictured) (2002), Annie Neave (2003), Jonathon Hood (2007) and Matt Purdie ( 200809) – as well as contributions from grassroots BAR members, some of whom, such as Matt Faizey, were attending the annual conference for the first time, while others, such as Geoff Watson, were returning after many years absence. Key topics discussed during the Q&A were the financial management of BAR and ensuring that appropriate checks and balances are in place, improving communications between the Directors and grass

roots BAR members and the importance of conveying a constructive vision for the future and how companies can come out of the current economic crisis and be strongly positioned when it recedes. A number of speakers raised the thorny question of a mandatory requirement for Standards-Based Membership, with some voicing their opinions that the vote against in the recent BAR referendum was not so much a vote against the principle as a vote against the way the referendum had been communicated. Others argued that compulsory standards are essential for the credibility and long term prosperity of BAR and its members. “An organisation is only as strong as its weakest link,” said one delegate, a point which found support from many

June 2011 Removals & Storage 23

BAR News

24 Removals & Storage June 2011

BAR News

Industry Statistics: April 2010/2011 April Industry Statistics reveal an encouraging outlook for the domestic market. The domestic industry saw a rise in moves of 2.43% in April 2011, compared to April 2010.

pril Industry Statistics reveal an encouraging outlook for the domestic market. The domestic industry saw a rise in moves of 2.43% in April 2011, compared to April 2010. The number of moves to European countries in April 2011, compared to the same month in 2010, has decreased by 9%. The Overseas market (non-European) has also seen a decrease but not as dramatic as the European market, with a decrease of approximately 3%. The top European removal destinations for April 2010 were France followed by Switzerland and then Ireland. The top European removal destinations for April 2011 were France followed by Switzerland and then Germany. The top Overseas (non-European) removal destinations for April 2010 were USA, followed by Australia, and then New Zealand. The top Overseas (non-European) removal destinations for April 2011 were USA and Australia, followed by New Zealand and Canada. The numbers of vehicles in use for April 2011, compared to April 2010, remain stable and show no change, which is hopeful for the removals industry. The number of staff in April 2011 compared to April 2010 shows a positive increase of 3.48%. BAR will continue to report monthly industry statistics. To take part in the new industry incentive scheme, look out for the monthly email which will contain a link to the online survey.

26 Removals & Storage June 2011

BAR would like to thank those members who have participated in the April industry survey. Take part in the online industry surveys and automatically be entered into the monthly cash draw to win ÂŁ100. For more information, please contact the Commercial Department: commercial@bar.co.uk or call 01923 699 483. Please note all information received is aggregated and treated in the strictest of confidence.

BAR News

BARTS Courses Driver CPC Training

- Industry Specific

BAR Training Services train you at the following locations at specially discounted member rates: • At your premises • In the BAR areas • BAR in Watford

Flexible training the way you want it!

Book your places NOW or for further information contact BARTS on 01923 699484

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June 2011 Removals & Storage 27

Industry-News Feature QSS News

New Standard BS 8564 update In the first of a series of articles on quality standards, Quality Manager Paul Tidswell updates members on the latest developments on BS 8564, a draft of which is now online for a 90 day consultation period.

et another standard. They are never ending, we hear you say. But just stop and read on. This might be the very one for which you have been waiting. For a long time we have heard members complaining that FIDI/FAIM is too expensive and far beyond the means of the small or medium sized removers. At QSS we have listened to what you have said and we have been the driving force behind an overseas moving standard that we believe will be within your means. BS 8564 has been developed to complete the group of Removals Standards which exists to help our members provide a Quality Assured Standard of Service to all customers The industrial world has been changing and more and more companies both within the removals industry and on the larger global scale have been developing the way they work. The removals industry has been perceived by the general public as ‘lagging behind’. The industry is seemingly still just a “bunch of guys” that lift household effects out of a house into a van and back into another house. Even shipping abroad does not encourage potential customers to look for a professional business. So now is your chance: show that your company is prepared to be seen as one of those which is moving forward – prepared to be seen to be the best. This new standard will help you do just that. QSS can help QSS has been heavily involved in the development of the new standard for Overseas Removers. The standard will be titled BS 8564 and a draft has now been uploaded to the BSi website, www.bsigroup.com for a 90 day public consultation period. After this, if there are no requests for alterations or other significant comments the standard will be published and available for installation and implementation. The BAR Overseas Group Members are expected to be the first of the removal companies to take advantage of this benchmark standard.

28 Removals & Storage June 2011

QSS is here to advise and help you with the installation and subsequent certification to this new industry standard. For further information email: paul.tidswell@bar.co.uk Or, you can always talk to one of the QSS inspectors on their next planned visit to your company. Remember there is a sliding scale to help with costs should you have more than one standard and the prices QSS charge are always competitive – in fact you are very unlikely to get it cheaper elsewhere. In short BS 8564 has been developed to complete the Removals Standards Group which exists to help Removers provide a Quality Assured Standard of Service to all customers. So don’t get left behind, show the public that we are a professional industry to be proud of.

Removals, Storage and Management System Standards

“At QSS we have listened to what you have said and we have been the driving force behind an overseas moving standard that we believe will be within your means.” Paul Tidswell, Quality Manager

QSS is a UKAS accredited certification body that can offer a professional certification and auditing service to the following Quality Standards: • • • • • • •

BS EN 12522: European-wide standard for domestic removals BS EN 14873: European-wide standard for storage BS EN 15696: European-wide standard for self-storage BS 8522: British standard for commercial moving (a condition for membership of the BAR CMG) ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems ISO 14001:2005 Environmental Management Systems OHS 18001 Occupational Health & Safety

The BAR Overseas Moving Group is working on a British Standard for Overseas Moving, the BS 8564. This is now at an advanced draft form and is aimed to be published late 2011.

CMG News News - Key Annual Conference Reports CMG

BS 8522

The Commercial Moving Group (CMG) is a dedicated group of companies within the British Association of Removers that specialise in all aspects of commercial relocations.

CMG business sessions The CMG’s outgoing chairman, Rod Seeland of BCL gave an overview of the main initiatives taken by the CMG in the past year.

The BAR Commercial Moving Apprenticeship

he new Commercial Moving Apprenticeship Scheme is up and running. It was formally launched at the CMG Business Session of the BAR 2011 Annual Conference in Manchester by Dr. Mick Jackson of Skills for Logistics (SfL). SfL has been working with BAR and its Commercial Moving Group to develop an Apprenticeship scheme for the removals industry that will lead to a number of qualifications for apprentices. For more information about the scheme, read the full article in BAR Training Services news on page 35 of this issue of R&S. Rod Seeland, outgoing Chairman, Commercial Moving Group

esponding to two surveys of its membership, the CMG developed a detailed marketing strategy and activities for the Group. This included the implementation of a full British Standard and developing partnerships with both BIFM and FMA. There is a new Marketing sub-committee which is working with various procurement groups to promote the CMG. The subcommittee will update the CMG pages on the BAR website, and will identify key words for the purposes of website search engine optimisation. Members of the sub-committee regularly identify procurement and facilities management events, and the CMG has established media partners with two facilities management magazines. A new CMOTY sub-committee has been set up and will continue to review the current format of the Commercial Mover Of The Year competition. It has been tasked with producing

two new formats for consideration. This subcommittee works closely with the Marketing sub-committee to promote the award. The CMG new Training sub-committee is preparing the next stage of the CMG Apprenticeship. This will involve liaising with Government and training authorities to gain additional funding and support, and working closely with the Marketing sub- committee to promote the apprenticeship scheme. As well as organising networking events, such as the CMG Golf Competition, the CMG also produced new Model CMG Terms & Conditions. Rod thanked the Commercial Moving Group Council and members for all the support they have showed him over the past two years in bringing to fruition this impressive range of ambitions and activities. He wished the new CMG Chairman, Neil Rogers, much success.

Dr. Mick Jackson of Skills for Logistics

Launch of new CMG terms and conditions

utgoing CMG Chair, Rod Seeland, launched the revised version of the CMG’s model terms and conditions (T&Cs) at BAR’s Annual Conference in Manchester. In light of new restrictions to rules on selling insurance to our customers, a CMG survey in 2010 highlighted the need to revise and update the CMG model T&Cs. The CMG set up a 30 Removals & Storage June 2011

small sub-committee to review the T&Cs. Several companies provided input on the types of clauses that could be included in the new template, based on their own successful T&Cs. Rod reported “Our largest problem to overcome was to incorporate all the ways companies sell insurance. We arrived at a solution and after some small tweaking of the other conditions, a draft was produced.” These were sent to the

BAR solicitors to review and ensure that they were happy for us to produce. The new Model CMG T&Cs are now available. They can be downloaded from the CMG Pages on the BAR website, or you can request a hard copy from BAR Head Office in Watford.

CMG News - Key Annual Conference Reports CMG News

BS 8522

New Chair for CMG Incoming Chairman Neil Rogers presented his priorities and approach for the next two years to CMG members.

eil said that he and Vice Chair Mark Herrington will continue to build on the work done by Rod Seeland and his predecessors, doing all they can – with the support of a very able council – to support the member organisations and to increase the profile of the CMG to its potential and existing clients. He explained that the CMG Council has at the relevant times canvassed the opinions of the entire membership through the use of surveys, the last two having been conducted by David Bunting, whom Neil said “has an innate ability to tease out the true feelings of our membership.” The Council takes this information and after debate formulates the policies and strategies that drive the Group forward. These surveys have been directly responsible for the standards-based membership of the group, the Commercial Moving Standard and the new apprenticeship scheme, amongst many other initiatives. Neil stressed the need for continued communication from CMG members. “As a Council, we are always available to discuss and where possible assist with any issues you may have,” he said. Neil said he was delighted that after two long years of hard work from a dedicated team including Loren Webster from BARTS, Kevin Mack and Skills for Logistics that later that day the CMG and Skills for Logistics would be formally launching the apprenticeship. This is a first in the removals industry and one that Neil hopes will be “taken on by others to further promote the professionalism that the wider industry prides its self on.” The initiatives by the CMG to engage and develop partnerships with organisations including BIFM, FMA, various purchasing consortiums and local authorities “give CMG a

unique ability to engage with our target audience and through these forums better understand their requirements,” Neil told delegates. “These partnerships help to promote the CMG and to shape how their members write tender documents, tailor their selection policies and procure relocation services. More and more often we are seeing that CMG membership and BS 8522 are pre-requisites in the pre-qualifying criteria for the work we all do. This is just one of the ways that membership of this functional group gives increased opportunity to securing more revenue.” Neil envisages increasing the CMG’s brand through the targeted work by the CMG Council’s sub-committees. The marketing

sub-committee has the pivotal role of making CMG a byword for commercial moving. “Success in this project is central to a second aim of the council which is to increase the membership of the group,” he said. “Increased membership will give us an even more authoritative voice with which to lead our industry forward.” The CMG’s ultimate goal is to provide its members a unique business advantage in securing profitable business. Neil concluded that “Through the measures that the council will implement over the next year or so we are convinced that membership of the CMG and our badge will become that advantage.”

Feature Schedule 2011 Every month Removals & Storage includes a number of feature items. These are planned well in advance to allow members of and suppliers to the industry to join in. Please contact Andy or Louise at Analytica Communications on: 0208 458 5100 or e-mail: rands-editorial@analyticamedia.com

June 2011 Removals & Storage 31

CMG News

BS 8522

CMG Annual Meeting 2011 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF COMMERCIAL MOVING GROUP OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF REMOVERS, HELD AT THE RENAISSANCE MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE HOTEL, BLACKFRIARS STREET, MANCHESTER, AT 10.00 am, ON SATURDAY 14 MAY 2011. 1. PRELIMINARY MATTERS The Chairman (Mr R Seeland) drew attention to the Notice of the Meeting. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no Apologies for Absence. 3. PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 15 May 2010, were considered, agreed to be a correct record, and signed by the Chairman. 4. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Report of the Chairman of the Group was received with approval. 5. COMMITTEE The election of Mr Robert Poynter, Ms Liz Harper and Mr Timon Thorncroft to the Group Committee, for the coming two years, was approved. It was also noted with approval that Mr Nigel Shaw, Mr Richard O’Sullivan, and Mr Brian Maidman has agreed to serve on for a further two years. 6. CHAIRMAN The Chairman commented on how much he had enjoyed his two year term of office. He then handed the Chairman’s jewel to Mr N Rogers, and wished him well during his time a Chairman of the Group. Mr Rogers responded by commending Mr Seeland for his time as Chairman, and handed him his past Chairman’s jewel. This was greeted with applause from those present. 7. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business to consider, so Mr Seeland thanked everyone for attending, and declared the meeting closed.

32 Removals & Storage June 2011

CMG News

BS 8522

Finalist: Reloc8, Bristol

Winner:

Finalist:

Pickfords Business Delivery Services, Solutions, London Belfast

Richard Hill represented Delivery Services at the CMOTY finalists

CMOTY 2011

34 Removals & Storage June 2011

ponsored by PHS Teacrate, the winner of the 2011 Commercial Mover Of The Year is Delivery Services of Belfast. Sixteen CMG members entered this year’s Commercial Mover Of The Year competition, three of whom were completely new to the competition. The maximum amount of words that could be used for this year’s entry submissions was increased to 750 words. Entries had to be made on plain paper and could not show the removal company’s name or those of its clients. For the first time, entries were accepted electronically. The judges for the CMOTY 2011 awards were David Bunting (BAR Treasurer), Mike Biles (RIS) and David Tinkler (BIFM). The judging process was overseen by BAR Director General, Stephen Vickers. The judges had to select three finalists. They assessed the entries on the basis of four main criteria, and a count-back system was applied prior to the first sifting panel meeting in order to avoid any ties or dead heat scenarios. The site visits included mini inspections to audit compliance with BS8522 (worth 20 per cent of the overall marks), and these were carried out by Chris Waymouth of QSS Ltd.

According to CMOTY 2011 judge David Bunting, the quality of entries was high and marks awarded in the initial stage were very close – only one mark separated 3rd and 4th place. CMOTY winner and finalists WINNER: Delivery Services, Belfast FINALIST: Pickfords Business Solutions, London FINALIST: Reloc8, Bristol Certificates of Merit were awarded against 80 per cent of the highest mark given by the judges to BCL, Doree Bonner International, Edes (UK) Ltd, Harrow Green Ltd, Johnsons Business Moves, JT & Sons Relocations Ltd, MJF Business Services Ltd, Premier Moves Ltd and Russell Fewins Ltd.

Proudly sponsored by PHS Teacrate

Training News

The BAR Commercial Moving Apprenticeship Dr. Mick Jackson of Skills for Logistics gave an engaging presentation to delegates at the recent CMG Business Session of the BAR Annual Conference in Manchester on the need to equip the removals workforce with greater skills.

ick has been working with BAR and its Commercial Moving Group to develop an apprenticeship scheme for the removals industry. Looking at the data for the sector, he warned that with only 10 per cent of the removals workforce being under the age of 25, and only 31 per cent over the age of 45, the industry is facing a potential time bomb in the future. In addition, compared to the rest of the logistics sector, people working in the removals sector do not hold many Government-recognised qualifications. All of this is set to change with the new Commercial Moving Apprenticeship scheme…. How it will work Apprenticeships are central to Coalition Government policy. The Government has

committed £1.5bn to fund 250,000 apprenticeships, with around £3,500 allocated to train an apprentice up to the age of 19 over a period of up to 18 months. Funding is also available for people in the 19-24 age group, although this group does not receive allocation for the full funding. The Commercial Moving Apprenticeship will lead to a number of qualifications for apprentices. The Level 2 Certificate in Commercial Moving covers areas such as creative thinking, effective participation, reflective learning, team work, and self management. A qualification is given to apprentices who have followed training in employee rights and responsibilities and there are qualifications in Maths or Application of Numbers, as well as in English or Communication. Having completed levels 1, 2

& 3 of the Commercial Moving Apprenticeship, it is possible that employees in the removals industry will be able to pursue higher level skills training with the future development of a Level 4 qualification. Is it worth it? Dr. Mick Jackson considers there are benefits from having an apprentice but this depends on the apprentice and on the employer’s approach to the apprentice. “The gaffer needs to mentor and support the apprentice – after all,” he says, “this person could become the successor to your business.” If you are interested in finding out more about the scheme, contact the BARTS team by email on training@bar.co.uk or telephone 01923 699484.

BARTS Courses Selling Skills/Promoting the BAR OFT Code of Practice This 1 day course is designed to enhance sales skills and to demonstrate the most effective way of promoting the BAR OFT Code of Practice to win business, covering topics such as: • The Role of the Salesperson • Communication • Marketing & Presentation • Prospecting & Negotiating • Identifying Customer Needs • Promoting the OFT Code • Closing the Sale Course Dates 2011 14 July 2011 • 07 September 2011 • 16 November 2011

£99 + VAT p/p

Book your place today Call: 01923 699484 or email: training@bar.co.uk June 2011 Removals & Storage 35

CMG News

BS 8522

Richard Hill Delivery Services, Belfast.

CMG Marketing update Richard Hill of Delivery Services is enthusiastic about the potential marketing opportunities that exist for the Commercial Moving Group.

t the CMG Business Session of the recent BAR Annual Conference, Richard explained that CMG members believe marketing will play a critical role in promoting and raising the profile of the CMG in the current marketplace. As a result, a CMG Marketing subcommittee was established last year which has set as its objective raising awareness of the CMG standards and brand so that the commercial moving standard, BS8522, becomes a pre-requisite of prequalification for tenders and key criteria in the procurement of commercial moving services in both public and private sectors. The aim is to establish CMG members as the primary source for clients selecting a reputable commercial removals contractor. Another objective is for the CMG to undertake sector-specific marketing initiatives that can generate quantifiable business results. The sub-committee is already working with other industry, trade and charitable associations as well as university estates, pangovernment procurement bodies and BIFM to establish CMG membership as the main criterion when selecting commercial movers. The CMG hopes to increase its membership. Its website will become an active link for members to its marketplace, and it will promote the potential benefits of CMG networking and facilitate greater collaboration amongst members. 38 Removals & Storage June 2011

For Richard, the way that members of the CMG can differentiate themselves from nonmembers, is through the message of intelligent moving. “What clients want is efficient, reliable, careful handling, safe, timely and a professional quality assured service,” he said. The Marketing sub-committee is putting together a novel advertising campaign, using the image of ants moving together, and the adverts are likely to be finalised at the end of 2011. Public sector procurement The action plan for greater profile in this sector provides for exposure in public sector procurement publications and attendance at a series of events in the public sector marketplace where CMG members can meet with public sector procurement officials. Richard believes that professionals working in this sector are receptive to the CMG as it helps them define their specifications for tender and informs them about what type of approach high-quality commercial moving companies should take. Increasingly, depending on the value of the contract, local authorities can select from an approved list of suppliers. The CMG Marketing subcommittee is in the process of identifying upcoming tenders six months in advance through analysis of archives of the ‘Tracker’ tender database which sets out local authority names and

details of the procurement contract. The current Tracker list is not generally available. By contacting the person who was responsible for the original tender, Richard believes, the CMG can proactively target its message to the right person engaged in specifying the next tender or framework. To-date, Richard has found this approach extremely useful for targeting public sector officials in Northern Ireland who are about to write new tenders. He worked with the BSI to get them to support the idea of specifying the CMG membership and BS 8522 Standard in tender documents. Powering the CMG network Judging by the experiences of many CMG members, promoting the CMG and its standard at the local level can help CMG members win new work. Being involved at the local level is also important to gain knowledge about upcoming tenders. Working with BAR and gaining the support of the BSI will also help push forward the CMG standard as a prerequisite for being able to tender for public sector contracts. Richard is keen for the CMG to embrace new technologies in communicating its role. “We are developing promotional material that is innovative, sharp and versatile so that we can appeal to people from all generations.”

CMG News

BS 8522

Working together with BIFM

ith over 12,000 members, it is good news that the British Institute of Facilities Management considers its close relationship with BAR and its members as a model for going forward in this difficult economic climate. BIFM Chairman, Ian Broadbent, sees the regular links between BAR and BIFM as key to what he considers as a triangle of benefits that can be shared amongst facilities managers, removals companies and the client using the removals services. He recommends that BAR and BIFM members can help one another by networking more together. Sharing best practice is now under way between the two organisations, with the example of the BIFM Good Practice Guide to Commercial Moving, which was prepared by Chris Waymouth of QSS Ltd and was reviewed by Ian Studd and a specialist panel on behalf of the BAR Commercial Moving Group.

Best practices in Commercial Moving At the CMG business session of the BAR Annual Conference 2011, Mike Biles of Relocation Information Services, the move management consultancy, provided a wealth of tips for what he thinks the Commercial Moving sector can do to apply best practice.

roadly speaking, best practice usually covers areas such as management of your business, customer service levels, and winning work. Mike told BAR delegates that he considers there are four simple unique selling points that help commercial movers win work. These are to: • • • •

focus on the customer get the written word right look the part; and be honest.

Once you have won the work, you need to be well organised. Companies and organisations use commercial movers because they want a managed service. To manage the job well, Mike suggests briefing your crews (including subcontractors or agency workers) properly, getting the on-site management

right (which should provide for a risk assessment), and making sure there is a joined up approach to the job in hand. A well managed project will sort out and prioritise problems and stay on top of the administrative side of the job. Customer service requires keen focus on the customer’s needs. Customers expect to be treated with respect (Mike asks not to be called “mate”) and expect the crew to be mature and responsible. They expect the vans and crates to be clean, whether or not you are using subcontractors. Mike advises that “it’s easier and cheaper to do things right.” After you have done the job, he recommends you consider what your customers think or / feel about you, and check directly whether this is the same as what you would like them to think or feel about you.

Ian Broadbent, Chairman, BIFM

Marketing: your asset or assassin? Ian heads up facilities management, procurement, risk management and corporate social responsibility for Hallmark Cards PLC. Based on his professional experience, he believes that removals companies can take simple steps to promote their services effectively if they consider the following: • Who are you talking to? • Are you selling your ‘core’ offer or other services? • Do you know the business you are approaching? • Are you speaking to the right people? • Do you really deliver to promise, and what do you do with the feedback you receive? Once you are top of these considerations, he suggests it is also worth taking the time to spell check written correspondence and ensure you have used the right names and titles, spelling them correctly. Ian is positive about the opportunities out there for BAR and BIFM to move forward. He concluded his talk by saying: “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but we can all start today and make a new ending.”

Mike Biles of Relocation Information Services

June 2011 Removals & Storage 39

Overseas Group News

Overseas Group welcomes international associates The drinks and buffet reception held at the conference venue proved a good opportunity for people to catch up with old friends and to make new ones, all in a city-centre setting with riverside views and the tranquil strumming of Maxine, a professional harpist in the background.

t was particularly pleasing to meet delegates who had travelled not just from the four corners of the land but also from more distant places including Trinidad & Tobago, Cyprus and India. Thanks to personal invitations sent out by Ian Palmer, the conference had as many as 28 delegates from different countries. The buffet food was of high quality and the beer and wine flowed freely,

Michael Greaves, Michael Greaves Associates Inc, William Bronte, AJ Mauritzen & Co Ltd

along with the conversation, setting the tone for the friendly and lively conference that followed. The cash bar, which opened after the initial drinks were served, proved so popular that it ran out of booze, and Marriott hotel staff say they were amazed and delighted with the bar takings, which exceeded any they can recall from any previous conference!

Macarena Scalia, Coco’s International Movers, Inc, Mario Papamichael, MK Worldwide Movers Ltd

Sergio Thouki, Columbia Worldwide Movers Ltd

Manchester Canal Trip

“

The Partners tour hosted by The Overseas Group was a resounding and very surprising success,” OG Chairman Ian Palmer told R&S. The ‘narrow boat’, Emily Pankhurst, was well equipped and was operated by an efficient, relaxed and friendly family crew. Sue, the tour guide obviously enjoys her job and spoke with great knowledge of both Manchester’s industrial heritage and the current regeneration of the canal system. She achieved the right balance of information and humour. Sue Christopher, of MJ Christophers, who was also on the cruise, shared Ian’s enthusiasm for the tour: “Our tranquil cruise through Manchester from the Bridgewater Canal to the regenerated Manchester Ship Canal, now Salford Quays was superb from start to finish! Our tour guide’s love of Manchester was complemented by her incredible knowledge, which she relayed to us in a humorous natural manner.” The boat salon was large enough to accommodate all 40 guests in comfort and warmth. The buffet was superb fresh hot and cold food prepared by the chef on the boat. All who attended commented with some disbelief 40 Removals & Storage June 2011

that the food had been prepared on board, served nicely on good china with proper cutlery! Everybody was able to eat seated. “Lunch was truly wonderful! The presentation was outstanding, the variety of food catered for every taste imaginable and tasted delicious,” according to Sue. “The best meal of the whole weekend – and all prepared on board in the Emily Pankhurst galley!” The tour lasted until about 2.30pm which was just long enough, quite a large group walked

back to the hotel from the canal basin. “I actually thought this tour had a potential to be boring, but it was quite the opposite with all delegates having a superb chance to network in the calmness of travel conducted at a stately pace of 4 mph!” said Ian. “Everyone I spoke to complimented the tour, food and friendliness of the crew.” Sue concludes: “This was an excellent excursion, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.”

BAR News - Member BAR Services News

Are BAR Services your preferred supplier?

ou may have seen recent adverts in the recent R & S asking you the above question but why are BAR Services so interested in knowing? As a company that was originally established with its main aim to serve the members, BAR Services should be your preferred supplier....but why? With the R & S now in wider circulation, some companies and new members may not be aware that as the commercial arm of the BAR, BAR Services, is a cooperative and solely exists to work on behalf of the members. Since its inception in 1977, it has been the sole intention of BAR Services to work on behalf of and with the help of its members to ensure lower prices on quality products. Back in 1977, a study group was formed that toured the US, Canada and Europe finding evidence of marketing techniques, printed cartons and bulk buying that were not currently being used by UK removal companies. BAR Services evolved as a response to the findings of the study group and a desire to

benefit from techniques that were successfully being used abroad. So if BAR Services is a cooperative, how does this benefit the BAR members? A cooperative is a business that is jointly owned and operated by the members for their own mutual benefit; it is the members who are the beneficiaries of the activities of the business. BAR Services is a notfor- profit organisation that exists for one reason: to meet the needs of its customers. How is this achieved? Firstly, since the beginning the BAR Services board of directors has consisted of BAR members. The directors all give their time voluntarily and provide advice and support based on their extensive knowledge of the industry. Information provided by the directors as well customer feedback provides BAR Services with an invaluable insight in to the needs and requirements of BAR members from all areas of the UK. Secondly, any surplus profit made by BAR Services is reinvested in to the BAR membership.

By working together, BAR Services can combine this knowledge with its bulk purchasing power to obtain extensively discounted prices from manufacturers. By employing economies of scale, not only can these lower prices be handed back to the members but BAR Services can further use its power to negotiate ‘special offers’ on a regular basis. As your company, BAR Services also has a responsibility to the members to promote industry standards. So the message is that the team at BAR Services need your help as much has you need theirs. They need your input, no matter how big or how small, to help them achieve its goal - low prices on good quality products with an excellent service. If you have any comments regarding how BAR Services can improve or add to its service, good or bad, then the sales team would like to hear from you. Please contact the team on 01342 870087 or email sales@barservices.co.uk

Product of the Month The perfect solution to temporary floor protection Effective floor protection is a must on every removal. A floor protector that provides a professional finish, is easy to use and avoids slip hazards is a must – whether it is carpet, ceramic tiles or laminate flooring that needs protection. BAR Services can supply just such a product! BAR Services currently supplies both a hard floor and carpet protector that is waterproof and will help protect your customer’s floor covering from spillages and the heavy foot fall common on a removal. Once the job is complete, the floor protector can be quickly and easily removed. The protector’s low tac adhesive guarantees that no unsightly residue is left behind and also ensures no movement, thus avoiding any nasty accidents (or claims!) For further information regarding the adhesive floor protector or any other protection, simply contact the BAR Services sales team either by phone on 01342 870087, by email sales@barservices.co.uk or via our website www.barservices.co.uk

June 2011 Removals & Storage 41

European News

News Roundup

R&S is grateful to FEDEMAC for its contribution to this section

Continued controversy on Eurovignette The Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament has approved new amendments to controversial proposals that will allow EU member states to charge the haulage industry for noise and pollution.

he draft text of the revised Eurovignette directive approved by the Committee now allows exemptions for lorries between 3.5 and 12 tonnes provided the member state can give a justification. To encourage fleet renewal, it also provides for staggered exemptions that are limited in time for heavy vehicles with the cleanest engines (those which meet the Euro V and VI exhaust standards). Toll prices will be able to vary according to the time of day but must remain revenue-neutral. The aim is to encourage lorries to avoid certain road stretches during peak hours (to be limited to a maximum of 8 hours a day), without generating additional revenue for toll administrators. Toll revenues The Transport Committee wants national finance ministers to declare toll revenues, and for these revenues to be earmarked and reinvested in transport infrastructure, without distinction between different modes of transport. As in the past, the introduction of distancebased tolls for lorries will remain optional. However, the Committee says that in four years’ time the Commission must examine the effectiveness of this measure, and the possibility of adapting it for other forms of pollution and vehicle categories. The European Road Hauliers Association, UETR, attacked the Committee’s vote, saying that “it seems to finalise the framework for the

internalisation of external costs for trucks, but only transport companies seem to receive the bill while other modes of transport, including private cars, cause similar external costs.” UETR is also opposed to the idea that vehicles meeting the requirements of the Euro VI norm, which are not even for sale today, would be exempted from this extra charge for external costs for only three years. It believes this period is too limited to encourage entrepreneurs to enhance investments in the best future technology. Moreover, Euro III (or at least Euro IV) vehicles have not been exempted but still represent a large part of EU businesses’ fleets. “Road haulers will have to pay for congestion, being at the same time its first victims,” UETR President Francesco Del Boca said. The full Parliament will vote on this amended text this month.

Europe moves on traffic offences

he European Union is continuing to move towards a law that will enable the cross-border exchange of information on traffic offences. On 17 March, EU member states agreed on a draft directive, now being sent to the European Parliament for approval that is designed to improve road safety and to ensure equal treatment of drivers irrespective of their country of residence. The aim of the draft legislation is to enable a member state in which an offence has been committed with a vehicle registered in another member state to identify the holder of the vehicle and then investigate who is personally liable for the offence, so that sanctions can be enforced. To this end, member states will allow each other access to vehicle registration data for identification of the holder or owner of the vehicle with which the offence has been committed. Once the holder is identified, the member state in which the offence took place will send him or her a letter setting out the details of the offence committed and the fine imposed in accordance with its law. The traffic offences covered by the draft directive are: speeding, non-use of a seat belt, failing to stop at a red light, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failing to wear a safety helmet, use of a forbidden lane (such as emergency or public transport lanes), and illegally using a mobile phone while driving. This list may be extended in the future. It is important to note, however, the directive will not apply, initially at least, in the UK. For the moment, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom will not participate, due to their special legal position with regard to police cooperation under the Lisbon Treaty.

EC publishes tax plans for fuels

he International Road Transport Union has criticised the European Commission’s new proposals for the taxation of energy products, which include establishing a 20 euro levy per tonne of CO2, and a minimum tax rate of 9.6 euro per gigajoules on motor fuels. The new rules aim to take into account both the CO2 emissions of energy products and their energy content. The Commission expects the revised Directive to enter into force as of 2013. It says that long transitional periods for the full alignment of taxation of the energy content, until 2023, will leave time for industry to adapt to the new taxation structure. Algirdas Šemeta, EU Commissioner in charge

42 Removals & Storage June 2011

of Taxation, Customs Union, Audit and AntiFraud said: “a fair and transparent energy taxation is needed to reach our energy and climate targets. Our common goal is a more resource-efficient, greener and more competitive EU economy. This proposal sets a strong CO2price signal for businesses and consumers, it is also an opportunity to shift the tax burden from labour to consumption, in order to favour growth enhancing taxation.” Imbalanced fiscal policy The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has attacked the plans, highlighting that the proposal unfairly targets the commercial road transport sector, which represents only 3 per cent

of CO2 emissions, which will now be taxed a total of four times: excise duty and VAT, through the CO2 tax, and by increasing the tax on diesel fuel to match that of petrol fuel. “This hugely imbalanced EC fiscal policy will severely penalise road transport, which carries door-to-door more than 90 per cent of EU goods in terms of value,” the IRU said. “It is one thing to encourage a shift to greener fuels through increasing taxes when viable alternative fuels for commercial vehicles exist, but as they don’t, the EC proposal will simply be adding yet another tax burden on road transport, which is a vital production tool, thus penalising the EU economy and employment,” IRU Secretary General Martin Marmy said.

European Industry News

Do you have any news? Please send any European news to rands-editorial@analyticamedia.com

European roadmap sets dramatic targets

he European Commission has published a roadmap of 40 concrete initiatives for the next decade to build a competitive transport system that it says will increase mobility, remove major barriers in key areas and fuel growth and employment. At the same time, the EC says that its proposals will dramatically reduce Europe’s dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60 per cent by 2050. The EC says that by 2030, 30 per cent of road freight over 300 km should shift to other modes such as rail or waterborne transport, and more than 50 per cent by 2050. It also wants to see a fully functional and EU-wide core network of transport corridors by 2030, and by 2050 to connect all core network airports to the rail network, preferably high-speed. Some of the other more dramatic targets for 2050 include: • No more conventionally-fuelled cars in cities. • 40 per cent use of sustainable low carbon fuels in aviation; at least 40 per cent cut in shipping emissions.

• A 50 per cent shift of medium distance intercity passenger and freight journeys from road to rail and waterborne transport. • Close to zero fatalities in road transport. In line with this goal, the EU aims at halving road casualties by 2020. All of which, the EC says, will contribute to a 60 per cent cut in transport emissions by the middle of the century.

Calais set for new logistics centre

ork on a massive new logistics centre in Calais to cater for goods being distributed between the UK and mainland Europe is due to get under way next year. The Calais Premier Logistics Centre, which is being developed by Lyon-based DCB International, is the biggest logistics project in northern France, with a total surface area of 160ha. It will be built in the Turquerie industrial zone, which stretches along the Calais-Dunkirk railway line and is between Calais Port and the Channel Tunnel. Work on the first phase of the project, involving 50ha, is due for completion by 20132014. This will be dedicated to logistics

activities and transport services, and is expected to have 220,000sq metres of logistics warehousing, 50,000sq metres of industrial parks, and 11,000sq metres of commercial property. The port at Calais is also being upgraded. The Calais 2015 Port Project, worth 400 million euros, will extend the port to twice its size. The first phase of the new port focuses on a new 130ha dock to accommodate newgeneration ferries and an additional 90ha of space for truck parking. Building work is unlikely to begin before 2013, with completion in 2015 or 2016. This would keep Calais in line with developments scheduled at the port of Dover.

MEP calls for road safety co-ordinator

ieter-Lebrecht Koch, a German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) who is drafting a resolution on road safety for the Parliament’s transport committee, has called for an EU road safety co-ordinator to be appointed in order to achieve a European Commission target of halving the death toll on European roads by 2020. According to the Commission, road infrastructure and design are a contributing factor in one out of three fatal accidents. Driven by the goal of cutting the number of deaths on European roads from roughly 40,000 a year in 2006 to 25,000 by 2010, the Commission tabled, in October 2006, legislative proposals to improve road infrastructure on the trans-European network – a move that it claimed could save 600 lives and prevent around 7,000 injuries annually. If the Commission achieved its target for 2020 the number of road fatalities in the EU would drop below 18,000 per year. Mr. Koch has questioned the ethics of setting such targets, calling instead for the establishment of a longterm target of zero road deaths, an initiative which he said could be called “vision zero”. However, no matter what the target, better co-ordination between all the various initiatives is required, he argues.

Dublin Port launches expansion plan

he Republic of Ireland may be going through its worst economic crisis in memory, but the country is continuing to invest in improving its infrastructure and logistics. Dublin Port Company recently launched its masterplan for 2011-2040, which aims to double throughput at the port to handle 60 million tonnes per year. Dublin Port Company Chief Executive Eamonn O’Reilly said the Port currently brings in over half the goods Ireland imports and is again

approaching capacity constraints. “Dublin Port has not added any new land in the last 30 years and in that time we have quadrupled the volume of goods going through it,” he said. “We now handle 35 billion euros per annum in trade going in and out of the Port and will easily double our volumes again by 2040. We need to grow, in a way which better integrates the Port with the city and which contributes substantially to improve both the natural and built environments.”

Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, MEP

June 2011 Removals & Storage 43

European News European News

News Roundup

R&S is grateful to FEDEMAC for itsiscontribution to this section R&S grateful to FEDEMAC for its contribution to this section

FEDEMAC responds to EC study on light goods vehicles FEDEMAC, the Federation of European Movers Associations, has published its response to the European Commission study on cross-border operations using light goods vehicles (LGVs) below 3.5 tonnes.

he objective of the Commission’s study was to investigate whether or not there is unfair competition between LGVs up to 3.5 tonnes and larger trucks, or HGVs, which have to operate under much stricter regulations. FEDEMAC says the study has a very onesided focus, limited to cross-border operations, and that the study’s conclusion may be inappropriate for the general problem of LGV. “The question of unfair competition from LGVs up to 3.5 tonnes is in the opinion of the Federation Members not only a question of cross-border operations, but also very much a problem for domestic/national operations,” Fedemac argues. FEDEMAC also believes that LGVs bear a large share of responsibility for a negative image for the transportation industry in general. This can be attributed to a number of points not least the ‘traffic behaviour’ of many drivers’ of such vehicles, very often being more aggressive and risky than those of drivers of vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Since LGVs are not adequately covered by drive-time regulations, or generally limited to acceptable speed limits, for such vehicles (often also overloaded and/or with oversized

bodies), the present legislation appears to indirectly support such undesirable behaviour, according to FEDEMAC. In the area of driver training, there are no requirements other than to have an ordinary car driving licence. This in turn breeds contempt or a widespread lack of knowledge and/or respect for laws and regulations relevant to the carriage of goods or the

responsibility of driving a goods vehicle. FEDEMAC cites examples such as trade law, labour, social, licensing and tax laws. On balance, FEDEMAC says that most of its members would favour the strengthening of health and safety measures, by bringing LGVs under the same tachograph and drivers hours rulings as HGVs, and where possible weight controls.

Are we your preferred supplier - if not, why not? Our company’s sole purpose since its inception in 1977 is to serve the membership – to supply good quality, innovative packaging products at low prices. This is achieved by buying jointly on your behalf and passing on the discount achieved from this bulk purchasing power! As a member, we should be your preferred supplier but are we? For many of you the answer will be yes but for those of you that say no then we would like to know why? Your feedback is important so please ring us on 01342 870087 or you can simply email sales@barservices.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

44 Removals & Storage June 2011

BARTS Courses BTEC Advanced Award in Removals Management 2011

Writing a Winning Tender for the public sector

The BTEC Advanced Award in Removals Management is a 2 unit course and is the only nationally recognised removal specific qualification of its kind.

This is a brand new workshop taking place at BAR Watford covering topics such as:

Course Dates 2011 Part 1 07-09 June 2011 Part 2 22-23 June 2011 Part 3 06-07 July 2011

• Risk Management • Opportunities to score • Constructing a winning stategy • Presentations • What to write • Feedback • Identifying your USP • Pricing • Where you can stand out • Tips & techniques • Common Mistakes • Useful information

Course Dates 2011 30 July 2011 15 September 2011 08 December 2011

£1675 + VAT p/p (BAR Member) £1995 + VAT p/p (Non BAR Member)

£99 + VAT p/p

BTEC Award in Practical Estimating 2011

Selling Skills/Promoting the BAR OFT Code of Practice

This 2 day course is practically based and is designed to teach students the art of estimating as well as face to face sales techniques, covering topics such as:

This 1 day course is designed to enhance sales skills and to demonstrate the most effective way of promoting the BAR OFT Code of Practice to win business, covering topics such as:

• Practical Estimating at 2 local properties • Quantity Assessment • The Role of the Estimator • Health & Safety • Communication Techniques • Contract Conditions • Removals Insurance

Course Dates 2011 19 & 20 July 2011 08 & 09 September 2011 14 & 15 November 2011

• The Role of the Salesperson • Marketing • Prospecting & Negotiating • Promoting the OFT Code • Communication & Presentation • Identifying Customer Needs • Closing the Sale

Course Dates 2011 14 July 2011 07 September 2011 16 November 2011

£545 + VAT p/p (BAR Member)

£99 + VAT p/p (BAR Member)

Because your people are your greatest asset

Book your places today Call: 01923 699484 or email: training@bar.co.uk

BAR News Annual Conference 2011 Report

>> BAR Annual Conference Special

Manchester 2011

his yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual BAR conference in Manchester was a lively and forwardlooking event, with the focus on how BAR and its members can plan their businesses to achieve further successes. High-calibre speakers gave industryspecific advice and guidance to BAR members, and constructive debates and information-sharing followed a number of the sessions. Participants enjoyed a great social programme which many used for networking opportunities in a convivial setting.

46 Removals & Storage June 2011

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BAR News Annual Conference 2011 Report

>> Keynote Speech: Branding Relocation Services How important is your brand? How can you protect your brand? What approach should you take to your brand if you acquire another company? Lars Lykke Iversen of the Santa Fe Group flew to Manchester from Hong Kong to talk to BAR members about his experiences in building up and promoting the Sante Fe brand.

ars Lykke Iversen was recently faced with the challenge of connecting two distinctly different brands when Santa Fe acquired the well-known Australian relocation company, Wridgways. A household name in Australia, Wridgways was set up in 1891. “We did not want to remove a household name that has been going for 100 years, and replace it with a name no-one knew,” Lars told BAR members. This dilemma prompted Lars to look at the role branding plays for other companies, and at the Santa Fe brand in particular. A brand is basically a name, sign, symbol or design which aims to identify the goods and services of a company and creates a differentiator from other companies, defining the company’s image. If you look at leading brands of companies such as Volvo, McDonalds, Nike and Mercedes Benz they deliver a message clearly, confirm credibility and connect to target prospects. A good brand is used to motivate the buyer and

48 Removals & Storage June 2011

create user loyalty. It will be successful if it embodies the company culture, is consistent, long-lasting and guarantees respect. The Santa Fe brand The distinctive red horse brand and name of Santa Fe was chosen when the company was first established in 1980 in Hong Kong. Since most of the largest international shipping lanes are from the USA, a name of a North American city was selected. Santa Fe in New Mexico is famous for its Pony Express, which is symbolised in the image of the horse in Santa Fe’s logo. The horse also is associated with speed, power, strength and reliability. The logo is in a strong red as this colour represents good luck in Chinese culture. With 72 offices and 2,100 staff throughout the world, the Santa Fe brand is clearly working well. As well as having a logo and a name, Lars recommends defining and then promoting your

service and your mission. In the case of Santa Fe brand, these are Relocation Services and ‘We make it easy’. Lars considers that your brand has to be a promise to your customers. In the case of Santa Fe, this is to deliver sustainable value through innovation, based on the Group’s core values of Quality, Efficiency, People and Safety. Going back to Lars’ challenge of what to do about the branding in the Wridgways takeover, the approach adopted by Santa Fe was to use its logo and retain the Australian company’s name. This seemed a logical way of connecting both brands so that both entities could flow and move forward together. This same approach of local names within the overarching Santa Fe brand has also been applied to the recent acquisition by the Santa Fe Group of Interdean in Europe. Lars hopes that the Santa Fe brand will go a long way. There are now plans to use it for Santa Fe’s new visa and immigration services.

BAR Annual Conference 2011 BARReport News

Brand preservation As a means of promoting and protecting its brand, Santa Fe is at the forefront of customer certification. Lars told BAR members that while standards and certification do involve financial investment, they can create efficiencies in operations, save costs (for example, in the case of environmental management in terms of paper and electricity), and they help get the work. In Asia it was one of the first companies to achieve ISO 90001 (quality procedures) and 14001 (environment). He explained that the drive for the environment certification was client-driven. Tetra Pak has called a meeting with 30-40 transport companies to recommend

they obtain environmental management certifications to secure a large slice of Tetra Pak’s business as it was a commitment they make to their customers about the environmental integrity of their supply chain. Santa Fe now has ISO 14001 certification in 120 of its sites. At a recent meeting with Tetra Pak, Lars noticed that only 8 transport relocation companies had been invited. “I guess the ones invited were the only ones who had sorted out our certifications.” Santa Fe uses its brand in all its external communications, including its involvement with local communities and for charitable events. For Lars, living the brand is also important for

promoting and protecting your brand. This means the brand needs to be visible internally at all times, for example on uniforms, at internal events and meetings. Santa Fe incorporates use of its brand at executive level (such as annual manager meetings, international leadership seminars, Group conferences, and company training) and also staff level in the case of uniforms, training and team building events, company trips and annual dinner and dance events. “Our branding is consistent in image and always identifiable. It helps our employees feel proud of the company. At the end of the day, we want our people to want to come in to work, and to come in with a smile.”

“Our branding is consistent in image and always identifiable. It helps our employees feel proud of the company.” Lars Lykke Iversen, Santa Fe Group

June 2011 Removals & Storage 49

BAR News Annual Conference 2011 Report

>> Preparing to meet the new pensions obligations David Lunt of the National Employment Savings Trust and Hayley North of Wellers Wealth Management Ltd gave interesting overviews of the options available to employers when complying with new pensions legislation that will require companies of all sizes to put their employees into a pensions scheme. invested in the 2033 fund, as that is the date on which he is planning to retire. The scheme is portable so if he decides to retire two years sooner, he can switch his fund into the 2031 fund without any difficulty, offering the flexibility many employees require. David added that the appeal of NEST for many employers is that it is easy to understand, moves with the member, is low cost and is flexible. David Lunt, Intermediary Relationship Manager, NEST

Low cost pensions from NEST he new pensions regime, which will be phased in from 2012 for the largest companies , with medium-sized companies obliged to comply by 2014 and smaller companies by 2016, will oblige all employers to put their employees into a scheme, either NEST (National Employment Savings Trust) or another scheme, within three months of their being employed. Enforcement will be strict with fines of up to £10,000 per day for firms that do not comply after the deadline. David Lunt of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) advised the conference that, as employers, all removal companies are affected by the pension reforms introduced by the last government in the Pensions Act 2008 and the 2010 Review. He underlined the fact that no one can escape the scheme and that ultimately it will apply even if you only employ a nanny! Companies may of course use or continue to use a private sector scheme, although David believed that NEST, which broadly aims at employees on low to moderate incomes, would suit many employers with staff in this category. NEST is an e-based scheme so it is easy to use. Unlike the private sector which provides a sometimes bewildering array of pension investment options, NEST is designed to be a simple product offering a small choice between higher risk and low risk funds, a Sharia-compliant fund, and putting an end date (anticipated retirement date) in the title of each fund for absolute simplicity. For example, David said he had

50 Removals & Storage June 2011

You can use NEST: • as a sole scheme for all the workers in an organisation, if for example, there is no current pension provision in place • for a particular group of workers alongside an existing scheme already in place for a different category of workers • as an entry level scheme where there is an existing scheme that has a waiting period • as a base scheme to ensure compliance with the new employer duties, using another scheme to pay in additional contributions.

Hayley North, Managing Director of Wellers Wealth Management Ltd

IFAs can guide you through the pensions maze Independent Financial Advisers can help companies get their pensions obligations right. According to Hayley North of Wellers Wealth Management Ltd, the new pensions legislation means that for the first time, employers will have to enroll all employees into a workplace pension scheme that meets or exceeds certain standards. Wellers Wealth Management Ltd forms part of the Wellers Group. It is an

Independent Financial Adviser company, and is a separate company to Wellers Accountants which is also a member of Wellers Group. Wellers Wealth Management advises employer companies on the options that are available and works with companies so they make the right choices within the deadlines set. Hayley North recommends that removals companies talk to their IFA well before key deadlines in order to: • assess the suitability of your current provision • implement any new schemes or educate employees on any changes • review schemes and performance with employees and management as appropriate; and • advise employees at retirement. In some cases, Wellers Wealth Management finds people have everything they need already in place, in which case they can help companies convey to their employees the benefits of what they are signed up for already. In many other cases, Hayley had found that the scheme in place does not meet all the criteria for a Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme and it may no longer be suitable for all employees. In this case, a good IFA will advise on what changes need to be made for the company scheme to comply. The key is to find an IFA who understands your business, how you operate and can advise you in line with this. Often a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) or a small self administered scheme (SSAS) is appropriate for company directors, a group pension scheme may be right for senior management and NEST might work for all the rest. Getting appropriate professional advice well may confirm that you already have a suitable scheme in place. It will also save money if you have not got the right scheme in place or it does not cover the new rules. For Hayley, other benefits from consulting an IFA include finding creative solutions to cover all staff needs which could add value to your business and improve retention rates. Independent professional advice will also allow you to discuss how best to fund the increase in employer contributions.

BAR Annual Conference 2011 BARReport News

>> Avoid being a victim of or conduit for crime The UK Border Agency now has counter terrorism high on its agenda, and is also focused on preventing organised crime, with the country’s borders being a place where the agency can intervene.

teve Brassington (pictured) of the UK Border Agency told BAR members that freight is within the remit of the Agency and, despite the economic climate, freight traffic is actually up in their view, while passenger travel is down due to the downturn. “The challenge,” he said is “to improve our border control within the context of a developing counter-terrorism and serious crime agenda, at a time of rising passenger figures (33.5 per cent increase in 2009 passenger figures), increasing freight volumes (overall forecast growth in GB port traffic between 2005 and 2030 in tonnes is 30 per cent) when budget reductions of between £65m-£85m are expected over a four-year period.” The Agency has invested in technology, designed to better identify individuals who will be harmful to the country. In terms of passengers, this has meant trying to get advance passenger information so people can be cleared before they travel or identified as undesirable. The Agency also works with HMRC, for example, preventing fraud in the importation of tobacco. Together with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the UK Border Agency initiated in early 2010 its haulage strategy with the objective of reducing immigration crime perpetrated by or through those in the haulage industry. This included measures that broadly aimed to ensure that penalties and deterrents

are robust and consistently applied, and to improve collaborative working and intelligence sharing between the various intelligence and police services working in this area. Taking precautions A key feature of the haulage strategy is to improve communications with the haulage industry regarding the prevention of immigration crime in freight, and a Lorry Crime Prevention booklet highlights the various threats and contains advice to help drivers stay safe and protect their vehicles. Tips include: • • • • •

Always lock your lorry when you leave it and set alarms Always take the keys with you; never leave them in the cab While driving, keep your cab doors locked While driving, lock the trailer load When loading or unloading, lock the cab.

Steve emphasised that road freight crime is a common problem across Europe and costs the UK economy up to £250m every year. This causes huge economic loss and disruption to the haulage industry and its drivers. Lorries and their trailer loads are often very valuable; criminals know this so will look to target vulnerable vehicles and loads to steal them.

Movers bringing people from overseas back into the UK should be aware that people smugglers and illegal immigrants will target lorries which they believe are travelling to the UK. They will enter lorries in parking areas on the motorway which face the direction of Calais and Dunkirk ports (and the northbound E40 in Belgium). An effective way to deter these illegal immigrants is to park your lorry facing away from the port on the other side of the motorway. This will make it look like you are travelling away from the UK, not towards it. Although it may take you a few minutes longer to park this way, it may make you less vulnerable to illegal immigrants and less likely to receive a financial penalty from UK Border Agency. BAR and SOCA BAR now has a confirmed relationship with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), whose representative made a presentations at the BAR 2011 Annual Conference in Manchester. Following the link up at the Conference, BAR will be meeting with SOCA in June, and will post information about this developing relationship on the BAR website in due course.

>> To Manchester for charity

aul Fox of Fox Moving & Storage, Lee Durso of Pickfords Moving & Storage and Darren Frostick of Red Recruit, heroically cycled the 199 mile hike from Pickfords head office in NW10 to the BAR conference in Manchester for charity. The journey took 13 hours and 18 minutes. This event was covered over 2 days with a stopover in Tamworth. The riders were supported by Richard Summers of Pickfords Moving & Storage who drove a Pickfords van along their route, provided refreshments at regular intervals and supported all the cyclists during the two day cycle. Pickfords Moving & Storage raised £508 for the NSPCC, with Fox Moving and Red Recruit raising £984.38 for both the RBA and Marie Curie. A lot of the money was raised at the conference itself through the generously-filled red buckets. There were some very generous

donations including £250 from Jonathan Hood on behalf of Cadogan Tate, £60 from Malcolm Halley of Britannia Bradshaws and £50 from Timon and Jenny Thorncroft of JT & Sons.

Lee, Darren and Paul cycled a staggering 199 miles for charity

Red Recruit put up a £50 prize for the person who chose the correct time cycled, a £25 prize as a random ticket draw for the correct time cycled pulled out from the hat, £20 prize for the correct distance chosen and a hamper prize was also donated by Red Recruit. The winners were: £50 - Ian Studd of Harrow Green (13 hours 18 minutes) £25 - Matt Purdie of Matt Purdie & Sons £20 - Greg Wildman of Basil Fry (199 miles) Hamper - Ria and Angus Russell of Britannia Lanes of Somerset

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BAR News Annual Conference 2011 Report

>> Keeping on the right side of the Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell, Traffic Commissioner for the North West Traffic Area, was the first and the youngest Traffic Commissioner, when she was appointed to the role in April 2000. The Traffic Commissioners’ mission is to champion safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport.

everley Bell, Traffic Commissioner for the North West Traffic Area, was the first and the youngest Traffic Commissioner, when she was appointed to the role in April 2000. The Traffic Commissioners’ mission is to champion safe, fair and reliable passenger and goods transport. The seven Traffic Commissioners are independent, appointed by the Secretary of State for the Transport and have responsibility in their geographical area for: • • •

licensing operators of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and of buses and coaches (Public Service Vehicles). registration of local bus services. granting vocational licences and taking action against drivers of HGVs and Public Service Vehicles. The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland is also responsible for dealing with both appeals against decisions by Scottish local authorities on taxi fares, with appeals against charging and removing improperly parked vehicles in

Edinburgh and Glasgow. Commissioners are statutorily independent in their licensing functions. There is an appeal process in case the Commissioner gets something wrong. Where necessary, they hold Public Inquiries, in particular to consider the environmental suitability of HGV operating centres and the possibility of disciplinary action against operators who have not observed the conditions of their licences. Checking your (wheel) nuts The Commissioners work with but are not part of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). Beverley told delegates at the BAR conference that one of the most common faults the Commissioners act on are drivers not doing what they should, for example, not testing their wheel nuts before a journey. The Traffic Commissioners’ office has issued a best practice guide for transport managers which is available on the internet or from the IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers), and this guide applies to all companies

including haulage and removals companies. VOSA gives all companies an Operator Compliance Risk Score and those who get a red light are likely to be inspected. Drivers of commercial vehicles need 35 hours training to get their Driver CPC and must get this within five years. Too many wait until the last year. If a driver breaks the rules, for example, by talking on their mobile while driving they will have their licence taken away for 14 days with all the commercial implications that occur if your driver is unable to work for two weeks. The Traffic Commissioners’ offices cost £7m a year to run. This is covered through the £16m in fees they raise, with £9m given to VOSA to help enforce the rules. In Beverley Bell’s view, the Coalition Government is unlikely to bring in further regulations on vehicles below 3.5 tonnes, however she said industry associations do have the ear of government and so should lobby if they want to see legislation brought in for these vehicles.

>> Where the property market is headed

he National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP) is calling for legislation to protect consumers who have lost millions of pounds to dodgy estate agents. The letting agents industry body, which includes the National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Lettings Agents, aims to promote the highest standards of professionalism and integrity among those working within the property industry, and to encourage members of the public to proactively seek out our members when involved in any kind of property transaction. NFOPP CEO, Peter Bolton King, told BAR conference participants that he appreciated that movers want to know how many people are buying and selling property and most importantly how many moves result. He had to report on unfortunate news that sales transactions in 2010/2011 are only 50 per cent of what they were in 2006/7. People now appear to be moving every 10-11 years rather than every 6-7 years as they did 52 Removals & Storage June 2011

during the boom. Peter was able to share more positive statistics with BAR delegates; the lowest interest rates for 300 years, and Peter does not agree with some economists who see another crash coming or rates going up steeply. He predicts rates will go up by not more than a quarter per cent by the end of 2011. New applicants to buy property are low but rising month by month, with branches making 8 sales per month on average as compared to 16 in the boom. Promising prospects Buy-to-let is once again the domain of the professional landlord with most landlords owning an average of 7 properties and intending to hold on to them for 10-20 years, so Peter thinks movers should look to this market for moving tenants. According to “Mystic Peter’s Forecast”, as he light-heartedly described it, the private-rented sector is expected to grow by 6 per cent by 2019, so this is a trend that is set to continue.

Peter forecasts prices in London and the South East will hold up well, and overseas investors will continue to invest in these areas. He does not foresee a massive crash as supply constraints will continue to impact on the property market.

Peter Bolton King, CEO, National Federation of Property Professionals

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BASIL FRY & COMPANY Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Close links with the industry since 1970.

Nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to call Basil Fry for a quote.

Choose the Removers Broker, Choose Basil Fry.

Speak to Ria Compton or Peter Doman Tel: 01372 385985 Email: broking@basilfry.co.uk www.basilfry.co.uk

BASIL FRY & COMPANY Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority June 2011 Removals & Storage 53

BAR News Annual Conference 2011 Report

>> Employment regulations pose challenges for employers New legislation on temporary workers, which will come into force on 1 October 2011, coupled with the repeal of retirement age provisions in April, will pose a significant challenge to employers, James Lomax of Backhouse Jones solicitors explained to conference delegates in Manchester.

or James, there are two key areas that employers will be affected by and need to be aware of: Agency Workers Regulations 2010 and Employment Equality (repeal of the Retirement Age). Dealing with agency workers The Agency Workers Regulations grant equal treatment for temporary workers, who will have to be provided with equal access to onsite facilities and with equal opportunities for permanent employment at the organisation. Companies and employment agencies that are in breach of the regulations will face penalties from a Tribunal. The only workers excluded are the genuine self-employed, such as those on

managed service contracts. For the Regulations to apply, an agency worker must have undertaken the same role for the hirer for 12 continuous calendar weeks: employers are under no obligation to employ temporary workers beyond 12 weeks. A genuine break of 6 weeks between assignments with the same employer will break this cumulative qualifying period of 12 weeks. James explained that temporary workers will be allowed to be absent for a range of reasons during this qualifying period, including holidays, pregnancy, childbirth/maternity, and up to 28 weeks of sick leave. “If an agency worker works for 3 weeks, is then off sick for 10 weeks and returns, he still has 3 weeks

unbroken continuous service,” he said. Although employers will still not have to provide temporary workers with occupational pensions, sick pay or contractual notice periods and redundancy agreements, they must provide temporary workers with access to any relevant employment vacancies. “There is an obligation to tell agency workers about jobs in your organisation that they might be eligible for in the same way as you would your own employees,” James told BAR conference delegates. James said that “the regulations will have a large impact on UK businesses – there are many grey areas that are likely to lead to litigation, and it is important for employers to act now to limit the impact.” Implications of equal employment rules Meanwhile, the Coalition Government hopes that its Employment Equality legislation will facilitate the employment of older employees. As many R&S readers will know, as of 6 April 2011 the default retirement age of 65 in the UK has been abolished. That implies that retirement may be discriminatory at any age, James highlighted. In addition, no framework for discussions about retirement and no statutory provisions for retirement dismissal have been established. James said that employers would have to think long and hard about whether to remove fixed retirement ages or retain them in their contracts, as well as taking a fresh look at the whole recruitment cycle of the company in light of this legislation. “Performance, capability and health issues should be built into employment contracts,” he recommended. “It’s essential if you need to obtain access to medical records in the case of ill-health affecting an employee’s ability to do the job.”

54 Removals & Storage June 2011

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Memb No: O904

Tales of Success.

“A key point we make with customers is our ability to scan down to the tape level and require an electronic signature the ‘100% chain of custody’ we provide by printing the receipt of items we have picked up, or delivered with a date and time stamp. They always have a record of what happened at each transaction and not just a number total.” Greg Le Francis, President/General Manager Southwest Data Protection Las Vegas, Nevada

Just one of many stories. Ready to write yours? www.oneilsoft.com/stories Tel +44 (0)1908 635320 Fax +44 (0)1908 635328 www.oneilsoft.com eusales@oneilsoft.com Offices in California, Florida, Texas, UK and Australia.

What do you consider to be the most effective marketing tools for your business? Which areas of marketing do you need information on? Drop a line to rands-editorial@bar.co.uk.

scan. store. manage. deliver.

June 2011 Removals & Storage 55

BAR News Annual Conference 2011 Report

>> Ensuring quality in the international removals sector with FIDI Nick Kerr, Chair of FIDI UK, talked about the key topics on FIDI’S radar, and the benefits of joining this international alliance. FIDI, the global alliance of independent quality international removal companies, has over 500 affiliates worldwide and 26 FIDI associations including FIDI UK, which has close links with BAR’s Overseas Group. Changes to FAIM standards AIM quality standards for the international moving industry (established in 1997) have recently undergone a major overhaul and the revamped standards were launched in May 2011. One key aspect of the new standards is the financial conditions relating to liquidity and gearing ratios which have been raised to the higher FAIM/ISO level. FAIM quality standards scrutinize work practices, recruitment and training policy, organisation structures, codes of conduct and environmental practice.

Asset ownership Another priority issue for FIDI radar is that of assets, specifically whether warehouses and lorries should be owned by the affiliate, or controlled by them in such a way that they have the same accountability as if they did own them. The asset ownership criterion was first tabled in 2008, approved by the FIDI General Assembly, which then overturned its asset decision in 2009 and transferred asset

pre-requisites to FAIM. Nick believes that around 20 per cent of FIDI affiliates are currently non-compliant with the asset requirements being brought in. Since December 2011 is the deadline this topic poses a significant challenge for a number of FIDI companies. Corporate responsibility Ethical standards have become a hot topic for FIDI following news of price fixing in Belgium and France, with the damage to reputation this entails. Affiliates will now be required to upload their annual financial statements in line with their national reporting requirements. FIDI is planning for much stricter compliance, and will introduce a FIDI slow payers reporting procedure allowing only two proven slow payment complaints – a third proven complaint will result in expulsion from FIDI. Nick added that there will be more emphasis within FIDI on Risk Management and Security as well as on Environmental Management.

This will translate into more in-depth work on areas such as the wellbeing and security of the business, security in the supply chain, the workplace and how companies manage their waste. “There is nothing,” Nick told BAR conference delegates, “for a small firm to be intimidated by in all this, although clearly these changes are designed to and will raise the bar over time.” The next big project is FIDI Netting under which all affiliates will pay and receive payments via a netting system. FIDI has in recent months made a detailed investigation into the financial benefits of FIDI going down the route of a netting scheme, as used so successfully by UTS Worldwide. FIDI believes that the savings are far from modest, although they will vary from company to company. For the average affiliate with 226 shipments a year, the potential savings are about €8,000 pa (outgoing €5000 pa and incoming €3000 pa), according to FIDI, plus a significant reduction in administration costs. This topic is still under discussion within FIDI.

Ethical standards have become a hot topic for FIDI following news of price fixing in Belgium and France, with the damage to reputation this entails.

56 Removals & Storage June 2011

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BAR News Annual Conference 2011 Report

>> Worsley Park Golf The weather, although windy, held up well at the BAR golf tournament in Manchester’s leafy Worsley Park, sponsored by Basil Fry & Company. R&S Editor Andy Stern joined the golfers for the afternoon, taking snaps and notes of some good golf swings as the tournament progressed. Peter Doman

espite lingering clouds and occasional light rain and winds, golfers at this year’s golf tournament mostly enjoyed good golfing conditions, and players’ approach to the competition ranged from the keen to the carefree, with scores to match – although it was not necessarily the keen who scored the best! The 18-hole, par 71, 6,611 yards course is set in lush Cheshire countryside not far from Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United F.C. Worsley Park hosted the European Challenge tour (the 4th largest golf event in England 2004) in July 2004 for the JJB Sports North West Challenge, as well as other high profile events such as the Professional Footballer’s Association golf classic, the Ryan Giggs Testimonial Golf Day and the inaugural Sir Alex Ferguson golf Classic.

“Basil Fry & Co. Ltd. were proud once again to sponsor the BAR Golf challenge as has been tradition for a number of years” said Basil Fry account executive and keen golfer Peter Doman. “We would like to thank the 21 golfers from 16 companies who attended the day. I hope everyone had a good time, and apart from being a little windswept, the weather held and some excellent scores were recorded.” Special mention should go to the team that included the highest percentage of players to come in the top eight (Mark Dell, David Ewart and Onkar Sharma), whose modesty and regular cigarette breaks belied some true golfing artistry – and I should perhaps add that Onkar bought me a beer at the 19th hole!

Stuart Fitton, Colin Jeromson, Fenton Archer and Roger Moore

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BAR Annual Conference 2011 BARReport News

The Winners 4th and Nearest the pin: Graeme Lorimer

Winner: Fenton Archer

5th: Paul Tracey

Longest Drive: Stephen Vickers

3rd: Mark Dell

Eight players qualified for the final to be held at Portal on 15th September and the players (and final positions) are as follows: Fenton Archer, Browns Removals & Storage Ltd. – 1st Place - 39 points Mark Windle, White & Co Ltd. – 2nd Place – 38 points Mark Dell, S Dell & Sons Ltd. – 3rd Place – 36 points 6th: Roger Moore