Andrew Large, the newly appointed Director General of the British Association of Removers (BAR), sets out his vision for the organisation – and for the industry as a whole.
When Andrew Large took up his post as Director General of the British Association of Removers (BAR) in August 2025, he brought with him a long and distinguished track record in trade association leadership.
His career has spanned industries as diverse as construction, food, steel, and paper - and his arrival at BAR marks the beginning of what he hopes will be a period of renewal and reinvigoration for the UK’s professional removals sector.
For Large, the new role represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
“I was very keen to come to the BAR,” he explains. “This is an industry with deep connections to society and the economy. The removals trade is often at the sharp end of people’s lives - whether in happy moments, such as upgrading to a bigger home, or in difficult ones, when a move is forced by circumstance. The chance to help shape the future of an industry that touches so many lives is something I find both important and motivating.”
A career in association leadership
Large is not new to the demands of managing complex membership organisations. Before joining the BAR, he spent nine years as Director General of the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), representing a sector facing its own profound challenges in sustainability and international competitiveness.
Earlier in his career, he led both the British Poultry Council and the Cleaning and Support Services Association, worked in the Federation of Master Builders, and represented the steel industry. These roles exposed him to the workings of global trade associations and international regulatory frameworks, honing the skills he now brings to the BAR.
“In every association I’ve worked with, there is a common thread,” Large reflects. “It’s about listening to members, advocating for them at the highest levels, and ensuring they are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing world. But every sector has its own nuances - and removals has some very distinctive ones.”
Understanding “Member Value”
At the heart of Large’s approach is an emphasis on member engagement. He is clear-eyed about the dynamics that underpin most trade associations.
“As with many organisations, we see the classic 80:20 situation,” he says. “Twenty percent of members generate 80 percent of the involvement through their work within the BAR’s Governance and use of membership services. Other members may be less directly engaged but they value the tangible benefits of BAR membership - most notably, our Terms and Conditions and our compliance and inspection programme, which apply to all.”
The BAR’s Quality Service Standards (QSS) system remains, in his view, a cornerstone of the Association’s credibility. “It sets a benchmark for professionalism in removals and provides reassurance to customers. Upholding those standards is fundamental to our strategy.”
But Large is also keen to go further ...
Photo: Andrew Large, Director General, British Association of Removers.
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