Moving Matters

In this episode Graham Byers, Managing Director of Removal Services Scotland discusses how he began in the industry in 1986 as a trainee manager for Pickfords, becoming their youngest branch manager at the tender age of 21!

In 1992/3 Graham’s good friend Ian Wright started Removal Services Scotland, a company Graham joined from the offset, and in 2017 Graham and his colleague Greg McMullan took over ownership.

Removal Services Scotland is your traditional domestic and commercial removal company with its own container storage facility. Removal Services Scotland also provide European removals, which since Brexit has become more complicated, bureaucratic, time consuming and costly, but they are getting better prices due to fewer companies providing this service.

Graham has faced many challenges in his removal career, especially in the last 5 years since becoming a company owner but moving from a long-standing employee to company owner has been his biggest.

The one thing Graham would like to change from his moving past is to have become a company owner sooner, something that seemed so daunting during his early years within the industry.

Graham has a couple of highpoints of being within the industry, his early days at Pickfords being one, and taking ownership of Removal Services Scotland, and more recently Guardian Moving & Storage, being the other.

The one thing Graham would like to change within the industry is to accelerate the transition from diesel to electric/bio-fuel trucks as the opportunity is very limited at the current time.

The advice Graham would give himself just starting out in the industry again is not to be put off having a go at running your own business.

In the next 5 years Graham wants to continue to push and develop both Removal Services Scotland and Guardian Moving & Storage, and to ensure that there is an easy transition if and when Graham’s wife says he has to stop! Industry wise Graham hopes more people join the industry, skilled or unskilled, by showing them the possibilities that exist within our industry.

Outside of the industry Graham enjoys running and is part of a local club, he is a season ticket holder at Glasgow Rangers FC and loves his holidays, with Italy being his favourite destination.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, two in fact, one regarding a new suit and the other a shipping container prank.

Enjoy!

Links to Removal Services Scotland:

Special Guest: Graham Byers.

In this episode Tommy McNee, General Manager of Guardian Moving & Storage returns for a full episode and discusses how he began in the industry nearly 20 years ago, but prior to that and when just out of nappies (Tommy’s words not mine) he began travelling with his Dad who had started a delivery company and consequently branched out into removals.

Tommy was due to go to Sterling University, to become an accountant or an actuary, however, from the age of 15 he was working the summer holidays for his Dad, earning £161.40 for a 45 hour week, a wage he soon got used to, and therefore ended up telling his Dad that he no longer wanted to go to university but wanted to work instead.

Guardian Moving & Storage are based between West Lothian and Edinburgh, and they provide mainly domestic and commercial relocation services, facilitate overseas relocation, provide containerised and self-storage as well as archive storage services.

Tommy has faced new challenges since becoming part owner of Guardian Moving & Storage as he’s since become HR, agony aunt, operator, salesman, etc., where so many more people have become reliant on him. However, his biggest challenge was experienced at a very young age, where he lost his father to a heart attack during a commercial move, and thus having to facilitate with the paperwork that followed, as well as taking over his father’s company.

Tommy would not change anything from his moving past and explains why, even with an old analogy.

Tommy’s most recent highpoint is becoming part owner of Guardian Moving & Storage, another is becoming part of the council of the BAR Young Movers Group.

Tommy goes on to inform us of the BAR Young Movers Group annual conference, which takes place in Cambridge as this episode airs, and we discuss how to become a member and the costs involved.

The one thing Tommy would like to change within the industry is to have a course on how to build/run a business, as described in episode 17 by Danny Pollard. Tommy also states that unlike many previous podcast guests he is against regulation, and I challenge him as to why, in which he builds an extremely good argument.

The advice Tommy would give himself just starting out in the industry again is to ask questions and seek answers quicker.

In the next 5 years Tommy doesn’t think the industry will change that much, although we are being quickly pushed into a more sustainable way of doing things. Personally, Tommy sees more of the same, growing, learning, and asking questions. I ask Tommy if he sees any changes in the selling side of the industry to which again, he has very strong views on.

Outside of the industry Tommy enjoys family time with his wife and 3 children, and he also runs his own fitness, nutrition, health, and wellbeing company.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding porters getting a fright.

Enjoy!

Links to Guardian Moving & Storage:

Special Guest: Tommy McNee.

In this episode Adam Sinclair, Managing Director of Sterling Sinclair Removals discusses how he began in the industry only 6 years ago (in 2016) at the tender age of 23, after experiencing removals several times during his professional rugby career.

Sterling Sinclair Removals have a fleet of 6/7 lutons/loloaders, a 18, a 15 and a 7.5 tonne truck. Storage wise Adam has 130 shipping containers in Sterling, with 110 shipping containers in Edinburgh, and 100 wooden 250 cuft containers in a rented warehouse. Adam has recently purchased additional land at his Sterling yard where he plans to add a further 100 shipping containers, together with a further 150 shipping containers in Edinburgh.

Adam faces challenges every day, with a business constantly expanding he ensures that the service levels are kept high, to keep up with the expectations of his clients. Also, in the early days how to price a job was a challenge, especially as Adam was a total newcomer to the industry.

The one thing Adam would change from his moving past would have been to obtain advice from fellow removers earlier or starting his career at a removal company.

In such a short space of time within the industry Adam has two highpoints, the first is acquiring a fellow competitor, and the second buying his first piece of land.

The one thing Adam would like to change within the industry is to make it more of a career for people or making the industry a recognised trade.

The advice that Adam would give himself just starting out in the industry again is to approach other removal companies and fellow removers for advice and finding a good mentor to look up to.

In the next 5 years Adam would like his own warehouse, and to add one or more trucks, but to make the removals side as efficient as possible and to become a recognised brand. Industry wise Adam see’s huge staffing problems, with removals being one of the hardest labour-intensive industries left, people find it physically to hard. Adam also see’s changes regarding the regulation of the smaller vehicles, such as luton/loloaders.

Outside of the industry Adam still plays rugby, albeit socially, where he still trains 3 times a week, and he enjoys a good run or a workout at the gym both pre and post the working day.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding hired vans.

Enjoy!

Links to Sterling Sinclair Removals:

Special Guest: Adam Sinclair.

In this episode Andy Shotbolt, Managing Director of Britannia Reeves discusses how he began in the industry after a (non-working) 3 night trip away to Scotland at the tender age of 11 with his grandfather, who was a driver for White & Co, a company Andy joined, becoming a fourth generation remover for the company.

Andy spent approximately 18 years at White & Co, starting as a porter for Curtiss & Sons (a division of White & Co based in Portsmouth) before moving onto their Southampton branch and then head office in Botley. 24 years ago, Andy joined Britannia Reeves and today heads up the company as Managing Director.

Britannia Reeves celebrates 125 years in business this year, starting in 1897 by Robert Reeves originally as rag-and-bone. In the mid 90’s Reeves of Petersfield joined Britannia (prior to Andy joining the business), and today Britannia Reeves cover all aspects of removals, have 2 containerised warehouses holding approximately 800 containers, 2 smaller warehouses which have recently been converted to 24/7 self-storage (which Andy is looking to expand), and a successful shredding business. Britannia Reeves employ 14 full time staff and run a fleet of 10 vehicles (6 x large, 4 x low-loaders).

Andy’s biggest challenge was being sent to a branch on a Monday to problem solve, only to find that not only had the manager and manageress ran off together, but they had also emptied the filing cabinets, erased everything from the diary and told all staff on the Friday that they were no longer employed! Another challenge was moving a 4.5 tonne bronze cannon from HMS Victory into the museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

There’s not really anything Andy would change from his moving past, as his past has enabled him to be where he is today and to assemble a really great team around him.

Andy’s highpoints of being within the industry are the places he’s visited and the people he’s met along the way, but a proper highpoint was being voted onto the board of Britannia Movers International where he served for 7 years.

The one thing Andy would like to change within the industry is professionalism, and that has to start with us, beginning with employing your staff on a full-time basis and treating them with respect, as most have a family and want to be part of that family lifestyle in these modern days.

The advice that Andy would give himself just starting out in the industry again is to learn what we do, get a grounding in it, know your numbers, learn the legalities of the industry, and learn from those that went before you.

In the next 5 years Andy doesn’t think there will be much of a change within the industry but hopes we will endeavour to satisfy the green issue regarding materials, and IT will play a bigger role (Andy being a huge fan of Video Surveys, which we discuss in more detail). Personally, Andy still sees himself at Britannia Reeves, maybe slowing down slightly although his wife (and I) is of a different opinion!

Outside of the industry Andy likes fishing, clay pigeon shooting and in recently years, wait for it, Andy has taken up running, after a challenge from his youngest daughter, and is just about to start paddleboarding. Andy also has a huge passion for local history and provides historical tours of old Portsmouth, which involves 7-8 pubs!

And as always we end Moving Matters with a couple of funny moving stories, regarding divorce cases.

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Reeves:

Special Guest: Andy Shotbolt.

In this episode Max Kreynin, Managing Partner of VoxMe Software discusses how he began as a fellow supplier to the industry some 22 years ago after being told by his brother to develop tech for moving.

VoxMe Software is a Canadian based company, with offices and staff in Israel, Europe and the Far East, and they provide mobile apps for pre-move surveys, digital inventory control, scanning and label printing, a full stack move management system for removals, a fine art logistics system and a virtual survey app. All the inside and practical knowledge of the apps is down to Max’s brother Roman who was a mover from 1991 until 2017 when he sold his successful moving company.

Max’s biggest challenge has been the lack of technological savviness from the owners and upper management to trust their own staff to just go and learn to use mobile apps.

The one thing Max would like to change from his moving past as a supplier to the industry is to have taken a bottom-up approach rather than his top-down approach and developed the portal first rather than the full move management system.

Max’s highpoint of being within the industry was being on a digital inventory webinar at an IAM conference when a VoxMe client came on to explain that their crews are craftsmen and craftsmen require not only good tools but tools they can trust.

Max would like to change the way movers think when changing from paper to digital, and implement gradual changes, starting simple and letting the process take you to the next level naturally, rather than this need to change every single process and create havoc.

The advice Max would give himself just starting out in the industry again is to have learned to delegate and trust other people earlier.

In the next 5 years Max hopes to see VoxMe as the standard digital inventory infrastructure for the moving industry. Industry wise, Max see’s two extremes, the traditional movers will remain busy as the demand for them will be stronger, but there will also be an increase in smaller contractors as bookers/brokers/move managers move towards an Uber working style.

Outside of the industry Max likes to meditate and work out, and he does get to switch off and turn on ‘airplane mode’ when away from the workplace.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding biowaste modern art.

Enjoy!

Links to Voxme Software Inc:

Special Guest: Max Kreynin.

In this episode Mark Tresler, Managing Director of Britannia Movers International discusses how he began his career in the industry joining Britannia almost 19 years ago as a temporary financial controller on a 6 month contract.

Britannia Movers International is a co-operative of likeminded business owner/managers who all trade under the same brand and are shareholders within Britannia. Britannia consists of approximately 35 companies in 40 depots around the UK, 2 in South Africa and 1 in Spain. Britannia provide imports, exports, UK corporate, UK international and military relocations.

Mark explains that Britannia are looking for new members, specifically in Scotland, Cumbria, Coventry, Reading and Maidenhead, to name a few areas. Membership requirements are that 2 vehicles are liveried at the start of the relationship, BAR membership (or an intention to join) and BSEN12522.

Mark has had several challenges in his 19 years, the main ones being the financial side of Britannia when he first joined (as a temp), finding a warehouse to purchase or land to build a warehouse upon having spent 13 years in Croydon, and more recently the pandemic.

The one thing Mark would like to change from his moving past would have been to possibly find the time and/or the reason to go out on surveys and removals.

Mark’s highpoint of being within the industry is becoming Managing Director, a position he has held for 11 years now and is probably the longest serving, and also putting his mark on the annual Britannia Conferences, by taking them to places members wouldn’t have necessarily gone on their own accord.

Mark would like to change two things within the industry, the first being the conveyancing system, and the second being to move away from the noisy, smelly, diesel vehicles and onto electric (or any alternative fuel).

The advice Mark would give himself just starting out in the industry is to enjoy it, because life would be really dull if every day was exactly the same, but every day in our industry brings different challenges to rise to.

In the next 5 years Mark would see himself 5 years closer to retirement, and that Britannia has a succession plan for as and when Mark decides to call it a day. Industry wise Mark does think we could go through a downturn in business in the next couple of years with talk of recession and costs continuing to rise.

Outside of the industry Mark enjoys walking and reading, especially the Jack Reacher novels (by Lee Child) and a bit of Jeffrey Archer, and Mark plays occasional (due to lack of opportunity) golf.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, or not in Mark’s case as he admits to never actually moved house.

Enjoy!

Links to Britannia Movers International plc:

Special Guest: Mark Tresler.

In this episode Ian Siddle, Managing Director of Arnold & Self discusses how he began his career in the industry some 33 years ago, joining Arnold & Self after being refused time off for his skiing holiday from his first job!

Arnold & Self was originally formed by Andy Self & Peter Arnold in 1986, mainly providing furniture delivery services for Alders during the week and undertaking removals at weekends. Today, Arnold & Self is owned by Ian, and operate predominantly in the domestic removals & storage market, although they also provide commercial relocation, archive storage and trade work. Arnold & Self operate 4 trucks, 3 lutons, and employ a daily team of 10-14, a small office team and a surveyor.

Ian’s biggest challenge was the crash of 2008 and the liquidation of the company, which Ian states was a challenging time but a very rewarding time as well.

The one thing Ian would like to change from his moving past would be to have got involved with the BAR (British Association of Removers) sooner, particularly the YMG (Young Movers Group).

As Ian mentioned he would have liked to have undertaken training earlier in his career, we discuss the Removals Masterclass course, which was a weeklong residential course provided by BAR Training Services in November 2021, in which Ian sent his Transport Manager on.

Ian’s highpoint of being within the industry is the friendships and contacts he has made, many being local competitors.

The one thing Ian would like to change within the industry is regulation (although we did discuss conveyancing off air) especially with the 3.5 tonne vehicles, and we discuss how we (as movers) or our association(s) should show that we are a regulated industry, should that come to fruition.

The advice Ian would give himself just starting out in the industry is to speak to as many people as you can, get involved, be part of the process, join the groups, join the associations, and get as much knowledge as you can.

In the next 5 years Ian would like to see himself with a lower handicap, but on a serious note Ian would like to see himself being in a position to work on the business rather than in the business. Industry wise Ian says there is clearly a challenge ahead trying to attract new (younger) staff into our industry.

Outside of the industry Ian enjoys a round of golf, Ian loves his football (although he is a Spurs fan), playing vets football on a Saturday and 5-a-side during the week, and Ian enjoys socialising and cooking.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, or in Ian’s case a funny warehouse story, regarding a fox.

Enjoy!

Links to Arnold & Self:

Special Guest: Ian Siddle.

In this episode Joshua Taylor, Managing Director of Caversham Moves discusses how he began his career in the industry 15 years ago, which was on a part-time basis for 10 years during his initial career as a sports & massage therapist.

Caversham Moves was formed 5 years ago (although their management team have 15-20 years of experience within the removals industry) and are based in Berkshire, providing predominantly local and national domestic moving services, although they also provide packing, installation, furniture delivery and trade assistance services too. Caversham Moves run a fleet of 2 x 18 tonne, 1 x 7.5 tonne and 5 x vans, employ a staff of 10 (employing only those living within a 3 mile radius of their operating centre) and offer containerised storage in 2 warehouses.

Joshua’s biggest challenges was firstly coming into the industry and starting a business with zero assets and zero financing, and secondly purchasing good reliable assets as the company grew.

Things that Joshua would change from his moving past is to give himself more respite, and to start his own business sooner, citing that it’s more beneficial for the development of yourself and your skillsets.

Joshua’s highpoint of being within the industry so far, is offering employment to multiple individuals, but also investing into their development.

The one thing Joshua would like to change within the industry is an operators licence for anyone that offers a hire and reward as a service.

Joshua’s advice to just starting out in the industry again is to have worked for a larger/national operator to get a feel for other avenues, and in the early years of Caversham Moves to invest in staff sooner.

In the next 5 years Joshua is looking to get more involved in networking having recently attended the BAR Young Movers Group Conference in Belfast, to join BAR, and possibly FIDI too as Joshua looks to add on International moving to their current services. Industry wise, hopefully in a good place, but Joshua would like to see is more emphasis put on quality and service delivery.

Outside of the industry being an owner operator Joshua finds that there is not a lot of free time.

And as always we end Moving Matters with two funny moving stories, regarding broken windscreen wipers and a device found in a divan storage drawer.

Enjoy!

Links to Caversham Moves:

Special Guest: Joshua Taylor.

In this episode Neil Purdie, Managing Director of Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage discusses how he began his career in the industry some 21 glorious years ago, delivering coal in the company’s early years before the role of the business changed to removals and storage.

The original company was started in 1960 by Neil’s grandfather, as Matt Purdie & Sons, a coal merchant but he quickly began to see opportunities in moving and storage, where Matt Jnr (Neil’s uncle) and Archie (Neil’s father) became directors. In 2015 Matt Purdie & Sons was subject to a takeover and is now known as Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage.

Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage offer domestic, international, and commercial moves, as well as storage and self-storage. They currently run 26 vehicles, employ 46 staff, and have recently expanded into property maintenance and haulage.

Neil says every day brings its own challenges, growing up and working within the family business was and still is challenging, but his major challenge was in 2015 turning a paper-based office into an IT savvy office.

Neil doesn’t believe in having any regrets and that everything happens for a reason, so he has nothing that he would change from his moving past and has learned from every little mistake made.

Neil has many highpoints of being within the industry, but the main one is the people and classing many of them as friends, becoming Managing Director is a huge highpoint which allows Neil the chance to grow and change the business.

There is nothing in particular that Neil would change within the moving industry, but regulation for the 3.5 tonne market does need to be looked at which would help to make the industry be seen as a profession.

Neil’s advice to just starting out in the industry again is not taking anything for granted and time, enjoy the time that you are in this industry but do take time out for yourself and your family.

In the next 5 years Neil is in the process of having an 11,000 sqft unit with retail shops built on the land next door to their current location which they have been chasing for the best part of 20 years. Neil has recently started a haulage side to the business and is looking to expand upon this. Industry wise, Neil would like to see the industry achieve regulation.

Outside of the industry Neil is a big football supporter, his team being Hearts, and with his son now playing for the local team (which of course is sponsored by Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage, as too is the local stadium), Neil helps throughout the week and at weekends with coaching sessions.

And as always we end Moving Matters with three, yes three funny moving stories, regarding a costly sat nav error, a McDonalds Drive-Thru and a burst zipper.

Enjoy!

Links to Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage:

Special Guest: Neil Purdie.

In this episode, Andrew Fahey, Director of P. Fahey & Sons discusses how he began his career within the industry by joining the family business some 40 years ago.

P. Fahey & Sons is based in Manchester and was started by Andrew’s grandfather some 65 years ago from a second-hand shop. However, legend would have it that, Andrew’s great, great, grandfather moved to Chicago in the 1890’s to work for Wells Fargo Transport.

Andrew’s biggest challenge is being enthusiastic to carry on doing what he’s doing!

Andrew didn’t have anything to change from his moving past but going forward he would like to change conveyancing.

Andrew’s highpoint of being within the industry is being able to do what he’s been able to do over the last couple of years regarding Covid, learning to adapt, keeping customers and staff safe, and having the lads step up to the challenge.

Apart from the conveyancing, Andrew would like to change the pay and conditions for the guys, and women of course.

Andrew’s advice to himself just starting out in the industry again is that it’s not all about money, it’s important and vital to what we do but it’s not about being the cheapest, or the most expensive.

In the next 5 years Andrew hopes to encourage the kids who have taken up roles within the company. Industry wise Andrew see’s more competition from the man & van type of operators who started up during the pandemic.

Outside of the industry Andrew spends his time with the kids and family, stating there’s nothing better than a Sunday roast and getting the family around.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story regarding Jock and his modus operandi!

Enjoy!

Links to P. Fahey & Sons LLP:

Special Guest: Andrew Fahey.