The Movers & Storers Show

Jan 03, 2019

A recent case at the Employment Appeal Tribunal has clarified the approach that should be taken when determining whether or not a staff member is employed or self-employed.

Dec 04, 2018

Changing our venue for the show is never a decision we take lightly, and it always causes a few sleepless nights. We worry about the floor plan designs, the set up logistics, and whether or…

Dec 04, 2018

If you carry out removals to and from Europe, you need to read this….ECMT permit applications open this week: international hauliers must apply – or miss out!

Dec 04, 2018

There seems to be a fairly major shortage of qualified drivers and removals staff at the moment, and we're convinced that Brexit isn't the only factor at play here...

Dec 04, 2018

During a panel debate entitled 'Holding onto European Staff' at the recent Movers & Storers Show, we asked whether the industry is sleepwalking into a recruitment crisis...

Dec 04, 2018

It seems there is one sector of business that never fails to maintain or grow period by period – self-storage. Big Yellow have just announced like for like revenue increases of 7% both in occupancy…

Dec 04, 2018

We found this story in the HMG Press Releases but are not sure whether you want to know about the number of new homes being built in any period. There is a knock on effect…

Oct 31, 2018

The Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered his Autumn budget on Monday 29 October 2018. Here is our breakdown of the changes that will most obviously affect movers and storers.

Oct 31, 2018

Bath and North East Somerset Council are considering the implementation of a Clean Air Zone in Bath with a £100 charge for non-Euro VI trucks - and significantly it could take in a section of…

Oct 31, 2018

Okay, I mentioned Brexit once but please don’t stop reading!!! Our thanks to The Mover Magazine who published a story this month about Mario Amato who is Head of Group Business Development at White &…

Oct 31, 2018

In a recent article, Backhouse Jones looked at the new ACAS guidance on how previous employers must conduct themselves when completing references for employees moving on and also when requesting references for prospective employees.

Oct 31, 2018

As it's Halloween, it seems only appropriate that we should mention one of the most anticipated sessions for the Seminar Theatre at this year's Movers & Storers Show: 'Headaches & Horror Stories: A Panel Discussion on…

Oct 31, 2018

U-Move Group - one of the exhibitors at this year’s Movers & Storers Show - has recently announced a restructure and rebrand. The company was previously offering six separate groups, which have now been reduced…

Oct 31, 2018

For those of you who have attended The Movers & Storers Show in the past, you’ll know that we strongly believe in raising money for worthwhile causes. This year is no different, but is a rather…

Sep 26, 2018

You’ve probably noticed a few articles recently in the trade press asking if the limit of £40 per item insurance liability is sufficiently high enough. There are plenty of arguments for and against, and several…

Sep 26, 2018

We spotted a recent article on Inside Self Storage on differentiating your business via eco-credentials, and felt that it was well worth a share. In the article, the author suggests that focusing on green initiatives…

Sep 25, 2018

We received a timely reminder recently from transport solicitors Backhouse Jones about the mandatory introduction of the Smart Tachographs from 15 June 2019. These new machines will, using GPS, automatically record start and finish locations…

Sep 25, 2018

Petersfield-based Britannia Reeves took on a monster move recently when they were asked to help the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard relocate a number of priceless artefacts. This included a cannon recovered from the wreck of Nelson's…

Sep 25, 2018

We recently spotted a rather unusual vehicle in construction in the Warrington-based Unique Van Bodies (UVB) factory. The vehicle will shortly join a firm who clearly needed to accommodate a few more crew members than…

Sep 26, 2018

Back in the day….when we had a removal for any European country, we had to undergo a time-consuming process of completing the correct paperwork before setting off. If memory serves, this included a C273, C2L,…

Jul 28, 2018

This shocking story published in a national newspaper earlier this week looks at how a man in Merseyside was tricked out of his worldly possessions by a company claiming to offer a removals service that…

Jul 28, 2018

Google announced a swathe of changes to its products this month, including a rebranding of Adwords to become Google Ads. This is our round up of some of the most exciting changes Google is introducing,…

Jul 28, 2018

A Christchurch-based start up is aiming to disrupt the self storage industry by connecting members of the public looking to either use or rent out extra space. Operating in a similar way to Airbnb, could…

Jul 28, 2018

The way companies request drivers license checks on employees has now changed thanks to GDPR. This article shared courtesy of Backhouse Jones solicitors explains the new procedures for checking an employees license credentials.

Jul 28, 2018

In our last article on preserved removals vehicles for the time being, we look at this beautiful Morris Commercial LC3 owned by Michael Gerson. Could this be the most famous removals vehicle in the UK?…

Jul 28, 2018

The 2018 second quarter property and homemover report from TwentyCi gives removals companies plenty of reasons to be confident. House prices are stable, confidence is rising, and online agents are continuing to disrupt the traditional…

Jul 04, 2018

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain met on the 11 June 2018 to launch a consultation looking at whether the financial resources test for restricted operator licence holders (those that carry only their own goods)…

Jul 04, 2018

On a recent visit to Manchester, we found time to visit Unique Van Bodies and meet the new General Manager Rob Hampson. We also had a long chat with Terry Sinnott about his career, the…

Jul 04, 2018

Paul Fox of Fox Moving & Storage tells the story of the restoration of a genuine FT3 lorry with its original six-cylinder petrol engine, a very rare beast as most surviving examples have been converted…

Jul 04, 2018

TwentyCi’s most recent Property and Homemover report highlights the fact that nobody is taking advantage of renewed confidence in the U.K.’s property market more than older home buyers, who are responsible for an increasing number…

Jul 04, 2018

Our friends at transport specialist solicitor’s Backhouse Jones, have just published a very informative article about Internet fraud and how to avoid it. Speaking as someone who lives on the net, I am ashamed to…

Jul 04, 2018

According to recent research by the DVLA, around 25% of UK motorists do! It appears that ‘Doris’, ‘Dave’, ‘Henry’, ‘Betsy’ and ‘Bumble’ were popular choices, with the largest proportion of those who said they named…

May 30, 2018

Several movers have complained to us recently that Millennials (the generation currently aged 18-38) are only interested in low prices, so it’s a real struggle for the bigger companies to win their work. Whilst it’s…

May 30, 2018

Not exactly a vintage vehicle but long-lived and much loved, this Volvo F10 artic was bought by Britannia Appleyards of South Yorkshire in 1990, and has lived a varied and interesting life ever since, including…

May 30, 2018

We heard a disturbing story last week about a larger mover who lost a large piece of business to a small operator using 3.5t vans. Now, we have nothing against small van operators, but the…

May 30, 2018

With the introduction of dozens of new clean air zones looming and the additional costs that these schemes bring for truck operators across the country, the RHA has challenged some of the myths that support…

May 30, 2018

A recent case clarified the law around when notice is deemed to have been given, and when an employer can stop paying a member of staff who has left the company. As Backhouse Jones write,…

May 30, 2018

What do 40 beds, 96 chairs, 49 cushions, 163 mattresses, 52 sofas and 17 tables have in common? They have all been cleared off the UK's roads in the past few months by Highways England…

Apr 30, 2018

We've heard many people in the industry complaining that after a brisk start to the New Year, people aren’t moving to the normal high springtime level. Thankfully the Q1 2018 Property & Homemover report from…

Apr 30, 2018

Lots of people claim they would walk over hot coals for their customers, but that is now true of one remover in the south, Britannia Reeves of Petersfield. On the 16th March, Andy Shotbolt, director…

Apr 30, 2018

In our regular column on preserved vehicles, we're looking at this beautiful 1953 Morris 8 Z which amazingly has been with the original owner, Rainbow Removals from Birmingham, since new and is still in regular…

Apr 30, 2018

We are delighted to announce our first speaker for the 2018 Movers & Storers Show. Simon Evans, the Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England, will be making an appearance in the Seminar Theatre…

Apr 30, 2018

Our thanks to specialist transport solicitors, Backhouse Jones, for their article this week relating to the revised and updated guide from the DVSA, titled ‘Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness’. There are important changes here so stay…

Apr 30, 2018

Highways England has introduced a virtual reality app that it says can reduce the risk of commercial drivers being involved in accidents. The app is free, but the driver must put on a pair of…

Mar 29, 2018

Abels are no strangers to vehicle restoration, but here they tell the story of Maud, an iconic Bedford which has been lovingly preserved.

Mar 29, 2018

Changes to the Minimum Wage and National Living Wage take effect from 1st April this year, and payslips are also changing.

Mar 29, 2018

The latest market intelligence report from TwentyCi says that 31% of home movers have a compelling reason to sell. But what exactly does that mean?

Mar 29, 2018

In the first case of its kind, a businessman has been prosecuted for making MPs and senior public figures director roles in his companies without their knowledge...

Mar 29, 2018

There have been a disturbing number of recent reports on drivers being gassed in their sleep, rendering them unconscious during thefts from the vehicle.

Mar 29, 2018

Perhaps prompted by the collapse of Carillion, the government is taking steps to protect staff and small businesses from insolvent businesses.

Feb 27, 2018

In the second article in our series about restored removals vehicles, we hear from Andy Vater who has kindly sent us the story of his restoration of a 10 tonne Bedford TK Marsden Vanplan-bodied pantechnicon.

Feb 27, 2018

Stefanius PR have compiled a mind-boggling list of some of the things that are housed in self storage units across the country, but that you DEFINITELY would struggle to guess!

Feb 27, 2018

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham recently made comments which sparked some controversy over whether the police would be starting to prosecute drivers who were just 1mph over the limit. He's now clarified his comments...

Feb 27, 2018

Is it legal to use covert video surveillance to catch an employee stealing from your business? The answer? Sometimes. In this article, Backhouse Jones assess the impact of a recent case in the Spanish courts...

Feb 27, 2018

It is now a legal requirement to identify PSC's within your company and to put their details onto a special PSC register at Companies House. Confused? Then read on...

Feb 27, 2018

The government has taken a step towards securing the future of the post-Brexit haulage industry with a new bill designed to assist hauliers regardless of whether we end up with a new system involving permits,…

Jan 30, 2018

In this our first article on preserved, restored or lovingly kept removal vehicles, we have turned to Nigel Shaw from Specialised Movers who has two such vehicles in preservation. This article relates to his Guy…

Jan 31, 2018

From automation and robotics to Millennials and business behaviour, Stefanius PR have identified a range of trends set to disrupt and reshape self storage companies this year.

Jan 31, 2018

The data and analysis company Twentyci have just published their Q4 Property and Homemover report which includes fascinating insights that anyone in removals and self-storage should have a look at. Generally, the figures show that…

Jan 31, 2018

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) have issued a press release supporting the DVSA clampdown on emissions standards cheats. On the 12th January they said ‘The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that more…

Jan 31, 2018

Building giant Carillion collapsed this month, appearing to owe millions of pounds to its creditors, including many small businesses. If you are affected, specialist solicitors Backhouse Jones have offered some advice.

Jan 31, 2018

U.K. self-storage operators will have to operate more creatively to maintain high occupancy into the 2020s, according to Mark Shaw, founder and chairman of investment-fund management firm Tritax Group. Shaw, who has more than a…

Dec 20, 2017

By now we must all be aware of the worsening shortage of HGV drivers in the UK and the threats posed by this. The issue is compounded for movers, who face the additional challenge of…

Dec 20, 2017

December produced a news story about the singer Lily Allen and her troubles in moving back to her flat in London. However, what caught our eye was the removal company responsible for moving her tenant…

Dec 21, 2017

Our thanks to transport solicitors Backhouse Jones for an article from their December Newsletter dealing with the thorny issue of what is and what is not considered ‘self-employed’. In a landmark ruling, the European Court…

Dec 20, 2017

We saw an interesting article this week in Inside Self Storage regarding Glasgow based ‘Storage Vault’ who recognised the need to develop in tune with its business customers. Basically, they have recognised that a mixed…

Dec 21, 2017

As always we will steer you in the direction of the full facts at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-house-price-index-for-october-2017. However here is a brief overview from the Government Press Release dated 12 December. The October data shows an annual…

Dec 21, 2017

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will be closed at times during Christmas and New Year 2017/2018. Should you need to contact them, here are their opening times for various services...

Nov 30, 2017

The current economy is challenging, so we all need to make more of our existing assets. Self storage companies have turned to automated pricing systems that increase prices in periods of high demand - could…

Nov 30, 2017

Unite the union has taken up the fight for improved truck stop facilities in the UK, stating that the current situation creates health issues for drivers and causes environmental problems as well.

Nov 30, 2017

With Clean Air Zones (similar to London's LEZ) coming to multiple cities across the country over the next few years, we've recently learned of a product that can be retro-fitted to your trucks to make…

Nov 30, 2017

A proposal to create a purpose built holding area on the M20 to ease the problems of drivers caught up in Operation Stack has floundered due to a missing environmental assessment, leaving the country facing…

Nov 30, 2017

A new appointee to the board of the DVSA suggests things may be about to take a more IT-focused direction at the transport industry's regulatory body.

Nov 30, 2017

The DVSA have given notice of a strike by some driving examiners which will take place on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December.

Oct 31, 2017

A sold out show floor with loads of new exhibitors, a packed programme of seminars, more vehicles than ever before, and it's all free! What's not to love...

Oct 31, 2017

As a follow on to our September story about increased powers for the DVSA (Driver Vehicles Standards Agency), in particular in relation to drivers taking a weekly rest in a properly designed sleeper cab, the…

Oct 31, 2017

One of the major self-store operators in South Africa, Stor-Age is finalising a deal to take over a major slice of UK operator Storage King.

Oct 31, 2017

At this year’s Movers and Storers show, the Association of Independent Movers will officially launch and members of its forerunner, the Alliance, will have their membership transferred on renewal.

Oct 31, 2017

A new report has been released which has found that despite industry lobbying, in 2016 over 40% of all house transactions still completed on a Friday.

Oct 31, 2017

Amazon are launching a service that will allow their couriers to get inside your home to deliver parcels, whilst being monitored with a cloud camera.

Sep 28, 2017

As of 6 April 2017, HMRC requires operators paying drivers the Industry Scale Rate for overnight subsistence allowance to apply for an Approval Notice. Operators must now demonstrate that they have a checking system to…

Sep 28, 2017

Soon to be introduced into UK legislation is a move by DVSA to provide their examiners with the power to issue on the spot fines to drivers for hours infringements committed over the last 28…

Sep 28, 2017

Following on from our previous report of small vans being included under O’licence regulations, we have found out a little more about the proposals. It appears the changes to EU Regulation 1072/2009 will incorporate ‘car…

Sep 28, 2017

The removals industry doesn’t have a great reputation for innovation, but video surveying seems to be the exception. Here’s why recorded remote video chat is making waves, and why you should consider trying it in…

Sep 28, 2017

Two stories relating to self-store hit the headlines this month. One involved rats and the other a devastating fire. The fire related to a property operated by Safehouse Self Storage in White Hart Lane, north…

Sep 28, 2017

This particular stowaway turned out to be a huntsman spider roughly the size of a guinea pig! The container had been shipped from Australia and was being unpacked at Britannia’s Merstham head office and warehouse.…

Aug 30, 2017

Bespoke Bodies and SBR, two of the best known names in the body building business, have agreed to merge their businesses. Putting the two family-owned companies together will increase the level of resources available for…

Aug 30, 2017

For many years now there has been a reasoned argument from UK removers that the age of their vehicles is not particularly important since their trucks do very little mileage per annum, especially when compared…

Aug 30, 2017

If you saw the reports on the news over the bank holiday about truck platooning, then like us, you may have checked the date to see if it was April Fools Day. Nope - this…

Aug 30, 2017

A decade ago Britain introduced legislation to ban smoking in the workplace, which includes the cab of a van or lorry as well as company cars. There are exceptions to this law, primarily for owner-drivers…

Aug 30, 2017

It would appear that creating new self store depots inside the M25 is tougher than ever. Indeed, Access Self Storage appear to have abandoned the idea of a new storage depot entirely on one site…

Aug 30, 2017

From 2018 onwards, learner drivers will be allowed onto the UK's motorways in order to gain valuable experience of motorway driving providing they are with a registered driving instructor in a dual control car.

Jul 25, 2017

I’m sure most employers reading this article have at one time or another faced the situation of one of your staff leaving your employ and setting up in competition. This is a subject covered in…

Jul 25, 2017

Having recently missed a road sign myself I found this press release from the AA about overgrown bushes hiding road signs very interesting. Clearly this issue is becoming more of a problem for motorists. “Apparently,…

Jul 25, 2017

I might be on ‘dodgy’ ground here, but I’m fairly certain very few movers or self-store operators surcharge a customer for using a credit or debit card. However, if you are imposing this penalty you…

Jul 25, 2017

I have to admit I’m a fair weather cyclist….I cycle to and from work every day during the summer – unless it rains! I know from first hand (and bitter) experience how cyclists seem to…

Jul 25, 2017

If you were born between 1981 and 2000, you are a millennial. You are the latest ‘must win’ group with disposable income and a desire to do things a little differently. You look to the…

Jul 25, 2017

Early in June I had the good fortune to attend the Counter Terrorism Seminar arranged by transport specialist solicitors, Backhouse Jones. As always with seminars they produce, it was a superb and informative event, well…

Jul 25, 2017

The biggest story this month is the NEW Movers & Storers website is now up and running! It is user friendly, clean and easy to navigate. The registration page is also open and ready for…

Jun 29, 2017

The EC (sorry, just when you thought it wouldn’t continue to bug you!) has announced proposals to amend both the Drivers Hours Rules and also impose restrictive legislation on small vans.

Jun 29, 2017

We found an interesting article this month in Inside Self-Storage that raises the question of how newbies to the industry might benefit from looking at under-performing self-storage operations rather than starting from scratch.

Jun 29, 2017

According to a new report, UK residents are likely to utilise self-storage four times more than the French and nine times more than Germans, and this is driving a boom in the self-store sector. However,…

Jun 29, 2017

In the early hours of Tuesday 20 June a Polish van driver who has not been named died near Calais in France after he collided with trucks that had been forced to stop due to…

Jun 29, 2017

From August this year the DVSA will be targeting lorry drivers and operators who try to cheat vehicle emissions. This will be done via the use of normal roadside checks with the new emission test…

Jun 29, 2017

A woman from Rainham has attempted to sell her £475,000 home using Facebook. She was taking part in a trial run by Facebook Live with online estate agency Housesimple, using Facebook streaming as a way…

Jun 27, 2017

A director of a construction firm who refused to pay the £848 hire charge for an external furniture lift has been found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act after two workers…