Further to the recent Call for Nominations for the Association-wide Elections, I am pleased to announce the following;
The BAR Online Election will take place on Monday 7th March 2022 – Friday 11th March 2022, closing at 16.00 to determine the successful candidates. Please read below individual candidates applications for the positions.
The main contact of each BAR Member will receive an email containing a link to the Online Election. This process forms an important part of the democratic structure of the Association. Therefore, please can I encourage all Members to participate by casting your vote. Members are reminded that the Election is based on a ‘One Member, One Vote’ basis.
• BAR Board Election – All BAR Main Contacts ‘One Vote’
• Overseas Group Council Election – Overseas Group Member Company only ‘One Vote’
• Young Movers Group Council Election –Young Movers Member only ‘One Vote’
The results to be announced on 15th March 2022.
BAR Board of Directors – 1 x Directly Elected Director (DED)
***Online Election***
Daniel Braddock
GB Liners
I started in the removal industry at the age of 13 as a weekend job for a small family business, just moving boxes off the vans and sorting out the boxes that had been returned to the depot by customers. Some 20 years on, I clearly enjoyed my first years as I stayed in the industry for more and joined GB Liners.
I live with my wife Sophie (Sophie also feels she has been in the industry for many years as we have been together since school) and our two sons Mason (6) and Harry (4). I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.
I am currently a Branch Manager at GB Liners and I have covered the roles of porter/foreman/class 2 driver and estimator whilst with GB Liners.
I enjoyed 6 years on the Young Movers Group, and would recommend other Young movers to get involved. I enjoyed my final years as Chairman of the Young Movers and was lucky enough to help the group through the transition to Young Movers Group Council.
I currently hold the position of Chairman of the Western Area and RBA Representative.
Since the 2019 Elections, where I was successfully elected to the role of DED, I have worked with the Board supporting the Association through the COVID pandemic. Through 2020 and 2021, I attended 32 Board Meetings, meeting on a regular basis was a must to provide guidance to the Members during this time. I have attended many Council Meetings, Area Meetings and AGM’s. Whilst serving as DED I gained a better understanding about how important this role is for the Board and membership.
I have had the privilege of serving as DED and I hope that the brief outline above shows that I have been successful in representing the membership across many platforms and would like to do so again.
Angus Russell
Britannia Lanes, Bridgewater
Having worked in the removals industry from age 19, my experience has been with both small and large companies.
As a qualified BAR trainer, I try to help the industry build knowledge and I’m proud to have mentored some successful business owners.
I met my wife Ria at BAR conference, 17 years ago. Together we run our family business Britannia Lanes of Somerset & Bristol, in Bridgwater.
I have been a DED previously and feel I can still contribute.
I care about customers and colleagues, but always finds time to live life to the full and bring smiles to others.
After 34 years working in this crazy industry, I believe I have a genuine appreciation of the issues & challenges that all BAR members face, irrespective of their size.
I always try to aim to tackle issues that impact our companies, staff and clients.
I have been an employee, owner, BAR director and an active qualified trainer in my career so far.
My trainer’s role ensures that I do not lose touch with the backbone of our industry and I hope my enthusiasm and passion for the industry is evident to all who wish to share knowledge.
Chris Smallwood
Anchor Removals Ltd
I am married to Ros and live in Salford with my two boys Nathan 18 and Kieran 15. I have worked in the removals industry for 32 years and have spent the vast majority of that time in the Britannia group, working as a porter, driver, surveyor, manager and now owner. I am also a FA Level 1 qualified grassroots football coach for an under 15s football team. I am very much a “northerner” having worked in the North East, North West and Yorkshire areas, representing a number of BAR area positions including National Councillor and Treasurer.
I have previously served on the board of the BAR, but during that time I had experienced mental health issues which held me back from giving a “good account of myself”. Since then I have found my way back to a strong state of mind and I will run on the basis of promoting the “real” Living Wage to the BAR and our members. I believe it is important to help businesses understand the power of good employment practices and how a simple benchmark like the Living Wage can create genuine clear differences between our member companies and those who choose not to affiliate. I want to be open and approachable to all and use my connections with non-members to reach out and try and unify the industry under the BAR umbrella. I have long been an advocate that the industry is stronger with just one professional body and that the BAR must do more to make itself attractive to all removals companies without betraying its core values of delivering professional excellence across the industry. This includes an approach of equality and fairness, where all members are treated equally regardless of size, background and history, abiding by and enforcing the same rules.
Overseas Group Council – 3 x positions
***Online Election***
Iain Adams
Gosselin Moving
Like many, of us I fell into the removals industry by accident, and I am very glad I did! In return it has given me a career, the opportunity to work in four different countries and to meet some truly amazing people.
I returned back to the UK a couple of years ago to continue the career and would like to support, in however small a way, the industry I have enjoyed working in.
I’ve spent the last 24 years working in the overseas and international removals areas of the industry. The course of my career has afforded me the pleasure of working in four different counties and feel that this experience could add value in supporting the work of the Overseas Group Members.
Robert Bartup
GB Liners
I think we can say 2022 will see me commence my 47th year of full-time work and my 50 somethingth year of working in the moving industry, having started as a Saturday boy cleaning out tea chests. I am the third generation to run the family business which was started by my grandfather in Brighton in 1923. I was fortunate enough to obtain a Business Studies degree from Leicester Polytechnic in 1975 in the days when education was for the talented rather than the average which seems to be the case now. I was BAR President in 2002 and TMI Chairman before that. I have had the pleasure of serving on the Overseas Group Council since 2003 and, of course, for a long time before I was BAR President I was Chairman of BAR Training Services Limited. I was also a Director of IMMI for quite a period and I have been Chairman of the Advanced Payment Guarantee Trust since its inception.
I would hope to carry on doing what I have always tried to do which is to make this a better industry for companies, individuals and customers. I would also hope to continue my well deserved reputation for questioning everything.
Melissa Campbell
McGimpsey Brothers Removals Limited
After leaving school I completed an accountancy degree at Queens University in Belfast before joining KPMG as a trainee accountant. I completed my Chartered Accountants Ireland exams with KPMG whilst working and once qualified, I progressed to the management team within the firm. The family business, McGimpsey Brothers, was for sale a few years later, so my partner Steven and I decided to purchase the company from the 4 McGimpsey Brothers. In 2018 and at the age of 26, I became Managing Director of the Company. We are now a second-generation family business, and I am very excited to see where we can take the future of the company and brand.
I am a qualified Chartered Accountant and have always had an interest in business and have a good knowledge and understanding of how important cash flow management is. From my time at KPMG, I worked as an auditor which allowed me to see the internal operations of a vast array of businesses and industries within the UK. This knowledge is invaluable in that there are many transferable skills that can be used within the removals industry. I would like to join the Overseas Group Council as this is a large part of our Revenue stream and I am keen to keep up to date with developments in this area. With Brexit implications now affecting a lot of European traffic and certainly GB to NI trade, I feel I would be a good asset to the Council as we are in a unique position, being in NI to the rest of the UK and I feel I can bring real life experience to the Council from this perspective as well as communicating the challenges and opportunities for Overseas shipping from an NI perception. I am currently the NI Area secretary meaning I am in an ideal position to communicate feedback from members to the Council.
Jason Franco
BTR International
My background has always been in international moving, working for various movers over the years. I’ve recently joined BTR International, heading up the rates team who are looking after suppliers and agent business globally, and is a great opportunity for me to gain experience in the world of RMC/Corporate relocation with an established, highly regarded moving company. I’m a married, father of 2, born and bred in Hertfordshire, and currently a coach for Bedwell Rangers Galaxy U7’s football team, So most of my weekends are spent teaching seven year old the importance of looking up and positioning, passing the ball comes next!
My background and industry experience has always been in international household moving and fine art forwarding, having worked for a big part of my career with one of the biggest shippers within the MTC. I have always been heavily involved with BAR and the MTC, having sat on the MTC board for a number of years, and recently, as treasurer for the MTC until 2018. Shipping has always been my passion within the industry, and wherever I find myself, I am always drawn towards that love. I have many years’ experience with the MTC and OSA, dealing with the UK lines and European brokers directly.
Gemma Hendry
Purdie Worldwide
Having worked in the removals industry for more than 12 years and previously in logistics for 8 years this has given me a great insight into the world of shipping from both sides. My start in removals was as International Co-ordinator working my way to international manager within 3 years for a multi-national company. I joined the Purdie Worldwide team in October 2020 as Overseas Manager I love working for a family run business with great values and support in helping to grow the international side of the business as that is where my real passion lies.
Over my 12 years in the industry, I have attended many conferences including IAM on a regular basis which has allowed me to build a large network of not only colleagues but friends. Overseas has always been my forte and have recently helped Purdie Worldwide set up their own haulage. Given the current economic crises and shortage of drivers this was seen as an opportunity that I was proud to be a part of. International moving and shipping in particular is ever changing, this has been highlighted recently given the increases currently facing the overseas members for containers and haulage. I feel my knowledge and experience could be an asset within the overseas council and ultimately the members with a chance to play a part in shaping the industry going forward excites me. This will give me a chance to discuss any current issues and topics first-hand with the council members but to benefit all members of the overseas group. No 2 days or moves are the same and helping both families and trade partners successfully gives me self-satisfaction when moves are completed successfully and still believe “everyday is a school day”
Young Mover Group Council – 2 x positions
***Online Election***
Michael Dunbar
McGimpsey Removals
I started in the industry back in 2006. I have worked my way up from Porter to heading our UK department. I am a very big believer in the training aspect of our industry and to push standards higher and get closer to the goal of having our trade recognised as a skilled trade.
I would like to continue as a member of the Young Movers Council as I feel I have unfinished business with some training courses we are putting together and would like to see it out and continue to keep pushing us young professionals forward as we learn and grow.
Alexandra Lane
Britannia Lanes
I started working in the family business full time at the age of 18 as an administrator after finishing college. I decided to join the business to earn some money whilst deciding where I wanted my career to go. Like so many people I have met, I got sucked into the ‘allure’ of the removals industry and here I have stayed. I now assist with managing our removals office in Exeter, whilst overseeing our self store, self drive, record management and shredding departments.
I am a current council member of the BAR Young Movers. I have really enjoyed the time I have spent on the council so far and I have made life long friends at the same time. I feel I have made a significant contribution to the success of the Young Movers in recent years and would like to continue sharing my ideas for our training and events.
The Young Movers has helped me to invest in both my professional and personal growth and gain a further understanding of our industry and therefore I understand the value the our council provides to our Members.
I left education with a Distinction* in Business Entrepreneurship and felt that this expertise was better spent moving straight into work than progressing to higher education. This qualification assists with my understanding of how to look for ways a business or organisation can improve, make processes more efficient and overall increasing customer satisfaction.
I am sure there is much more to learn and would therefore be grateful for the opportunity to continue sitting on the BAR Young Movers Council.
Scott Middleton
GB Liners
I started at Clark & Rose in 2018, working in the head office as the Removals Consultant, covering Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, and the Highlands & Islands.
I can handle surveying, pricing, and quoting domestic, European, Office & International as well as Special (Museums, Libraries, etc.)
Worked in GB Liners Leeds in January 2020 in the same role. Covered North England during Covid, booked one of the most famous people in Yorkshire (beating the local competition!)
Known for large (3000cuft+) moves with challenging accesses.
Back in Aberdeen since mid-2020 working for both GB Liners & Clark & Rose.
2:1 in Management BA (Hons.) from Robert Gordons University.
I believe I could contribute my negotiation skills, extremely organised take on nearly everything, my customer friendly smile, and all round happy go lucky attitude.
Very easy to work with, and will help anyone with anything if they ask.
I would like to work closer with the BAR, as I firmly believe in its goals and history. I have seen, and see on a daily basis, when discussing with clients the benefits of using a Member of the BAR over anyone else.
Bring a rural perspective to the discussion!
Organised large events before, booking venues, organising the team, etc.
Justin Yates
JamVans
I am 29, enjoy skiing, swimming, dog walks. Main interests are F1 and reading about entrepreneurship. Live in Hertfordshire.
Started a removals and storage company after completing A-levels in 2010. Co-founded the business with best friend from school. 10 years later have grown the business to a 7-figure turnover, with an additional brand created in 2019 – Williams & Yates.
My career is focused mainly on how to scale the business at a sustainable rate, looking at new sectors, like our more recent ventures into international shipping. I also focus on problem solving and the implementation of new processes and procedures.
12 GCSES – A to C
4 AS/A2 Levels
I would like to join to express my ideas on how we work together to continuously improve the image of the removals industry. It is my desire for it to more widely recognised as a skilled trade like one would value a plumber. I think with more regulation and collaborative work we get it there.
Also I would like to surround myself with others in the industry to get ideas from them to also aid the growth of my own business, building trade relationships.
