Not only has Jacob worked in the family business, but he has also worked for Pickford’s (in their Anglo Pacific office) and Crown Relocations. Today, Jacob works for Reason Global, specialist insurance brokers within the Moving & Storing industry.

Jacob’s biggest challenge was being the boss’s son when he was younger where he had to work harder, faster, longer, than anyone else in order to gain respect from staff members. Jacob’s current challenge is combining his moving knowledge with insurance.

Jacob is reluctant to look back and change anything from his moving past, but if he had to it would be to have remained in the family business longer, to have obtained his HGV driving licence, and to have got involved with BAR and YMG (Young Movers Group) earlier.

Jacob has two highpoints of being within the industry, the first being at Reason Global, and the second running the London Sales Centre for Crown Relocations at the age of 25.

The one thing Jacob would like to change within the industry, apart from perception (as many previous guests have stated), is the balance of technology with in-person meetings.

The advice Jacob would give himself just starting out within the industry again is that everyone you meet can teach you something, so listen and learn from others.

In the next 5 years Jacob sees himself still at Reason Global and attending as many industry events as he can. Industry wise, Jacob sees a continual trend in smaller shipments, and a rise in the use of smaller vehicles, such as lo-loaders.

Outside of the industry Jacob enjoys chasing around after his young family, playing rugby, golf, and live sport in general, whether watching or playing.

And as always, we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding a swimming pool, some absurd outfits and some quite surprised homeowners.

Enjoy!

Links to Reason Global:

• Website

Special Guest: Jacob Dolan.

After a stint at university, and travelling the United States of America teaching tennis, we discover that Greg returned to a company he used to work for as a Saturday boy during his college days, Russell & Bromley, where he then set about making a successful career for himself, but soon began to realise that the opportunity to climb to the top the career ladder would be limited as Russell & Bromley was and still is a family owned company.

In 2001 Greg was headhunted by his brother, Philip Wildman, and offered an opportunity to join his brother at Basil Fry & Company, which he duly accepted, and in 2004 Greg spearheaded the recruitment side of the business, adding the likes of Ria Houston, Peter Doman and Adam Kellaway over the years to name a few.

We discover that Basil Fry’s jewel in the crown is Removal Claims Services, which provides claims handling for goods in transit policies. And discover that over the years one claim was for half a bag of pasta that went missing, and how Chris Thorpe (now retired) was so disgruntled by one claim that he settled it in stamps!

Greg explains the difference between liability cover and an insurance solution, and declares that from the 1,500 removers on his books 70% offer an insurance solution while 30% offer liability cover.

Greg also offers an important piece of advice for movers, ensuring you have a signed acceptance of contract form from your customers at all times – vitally important!

We discover several challenges Greg has overcome, purchasing the company with brother Philip heading up the management buyout in 2007, recruiting the right people to drive the company forward, making preparations to buy the company himself 10 years later in 2017, and on a personal level, Greg’s colon burst in 2010, putting him out of action for 9 months.

Greg goes one better than David Bunting did on episode 7 and lists 6, yes 6, highpoints of being within the industry!

We discuss how Greg would like the public perception of the moving industry to change, citing once again just how skilled the workforce actually are, and how he would like to see the insurance industry be more proactive and improve on their service levels.

We discover that outside of the world of work Greg has a passion for AFC Wimbledon, enjoys collecting watches, and it will come as no surprise that he enjoys socialising, with the friends made through business relationships formed from working within the industry.

And as always we end with a funny story regarding a well known member of the Basil Fry team that involves a revolving door and a bloody nose, and another regarding Greg’s very own house move and a little present left by a fox.

Enjoy!

Links to Basil Fry & Company:

• Website
• Facebok
• Linkedin

Special Guest: Greg Wildman.