There has never been a clear path into the removals business. Here, Steve Jordan asks whether it’s now time that there was.

I have lost count of the number of times that I have asked people how they got into removals.  The most common response is: “by accident”.  “Let’s face it,” they say, “schoolboys don’t dream of becoming a removal man do they?”

It’s probably true.  Removals doesn’t sound as romantic as being an airline pilot, a deep sea diver, an actor or an architect.  But for those of us who have spent a while working in the industry, it has its attractions.  Just look around, for example, how many people do you know who have worked in the moving business for any significant time that have decamped to do something else?  Very few.  Why?  Ultimately it’s because it provides a good living and they enjoy it I’d wager.

So why then shouldn’t youngsters want to be movers?  If you were to ask youngsters what they would like to do I suspect may would real off a list that would include, in various priorities: something that’s future proof, that’s different every day, that keeps me fit, where I’m working with people I like, that pays well, that has opportunities for international travel, and where I stand a chance of being my own boss one day.  Moving ticks all the boxes (except perhaps the money thing - but by the number of Range Rovers I see in movers’ car parks …).

I’ve just returned from Singapore, Bali and Rome.  Last year I visited Bucharest, Bangkok, Monte Carlo, Athens, Istanbul and, oh yes, Singapore again.  All for the moving industry.  For variation you wouldn’t do better as an actor, diver or architect and the pilot would be running to keep up too. 

There are plenty of opportunities but the problem is that there isn’t a clear route into the business.  People stumble upon it and then just work at it.  If removals carried an NVQ 3 qualification, some youngsters might get more encouragement from their doting parents over the dinner table.*

There is no formal apprenticeship in removals.  Some years ago BAR created an apprenticeship in Commercial Moving and it was hoped that this would expand into the domestic and international sectors too.  But so far, nothing. I remember meetings years ago at Skills for Logistics (SfL) on the subject, but they never seemed to go anywhere.  Perhaps now that SfL has a new brief since it lost its public funding, it will be able to inspire the moving industry to solve the problem.

A recent discussion on The Mover’s LinkedIn Group stimulated some interest that demonstrates that it’s a hot topic.  Shaun Doyle, Director, Arcadian Moves, said it all seems to be “a bit of a mystery”.  Angie Boreham from Alfabet Removals agreed that people just seem to fall into this industry.  “It would be a great idea if there were apprenticeships offered and that way those who were really interested could follow a particular career path in removals,” she said.  “There are already accreditations available so it shouldn't be that difficult to piggyback onto something that's already there.”  And Neil Rogers, Manager at Britannia Lanes of Bridgewater and Somerset, who helped BAR develop the Commercial Moving apprenticeship, was puzzled too. “I cannot understand why we don't have a domestic or overseas version. It would be nice to find out why all that groundwork wasn't used as a framework to bring the others into existence.”

There have been many people who have worked hard in the moving industry, mostly for nothing, to try to make apprenticeships a reality.  So far, with the exception of the CMG success, to no avail.  Is it time the industry had another push?

If you have a strong opinion on the subject of apprenticeships, I will be interested to hear from you: editor@themover.co.uk

*While on holiday in Devon a year or two ago, I spotted a certificate on the wall of the gentlemen’s wash rooms that proudly boasted that the camp site assistant warden had an NVQ in bog cleaning. Surely, skilled movers should have the opportunity of being at least equally qualified.