GB Liners have 11 branches, run approximately 100 vehicles, employ in-excess of 250, and offer self-storage, containerised storage, document storage, and provide local, nationwide, European, and international removals for the domestic and corporate markets – and this year celebrate 100 years since the start of the family business.

One of Dan’s biggest challenges was when Sophie, Dan’s wife, was diagnosed with Leukaemia in 2013, at a time where Dan was given an opportunity to move from the vans to the estimating and sales side of the business, and Dan will always be grateful to GB Liners for their continued support during Sophie’s treatment.

The one thing Dan would change from his moving past is to ask more questions, question a lot more things, and not to be so worried about the unknown.

Dan has had several highpoints of being within the industry so far, the development he’s had within GB Liners and the industry and what he’s achieved, becoming part of the BAR Young Movers Group, and being elected as the youngest DED (Directly Elected Director) of BAR, which we discuss in more detail.

The one thing Dan would like to change within the industry is have a mentorship program.

The advice Dan would give himself just starting out within the industry again is to listen to the advice and the criticism, to never stop learning, and getting the balance right.

Dan is very happy with what he is doing at the moment but feels that he should probably get his head up (rather than down) and answer that question for himself, so we will just have to see how the next 5 years pans out for Dan. Industry wise, Dan does see a change in trucks, but maybe hydrogen over electric?

We discuss getting new blood into the industry and Dan asks the question of whether it’s more of an issue retaining rather than getting new blood?

Outside of the industry Dan is ruled by his children, he enjoys being busy with family life, and loves to get away when the opportunity arises.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding a Friday night in Cologne.

Enjoy!

Links to GB Liners:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Linkedin

Special Guest: Daniel Braddock.

Tommy was due to go to Sterling University, to become an accountant or an actuary, however, from the age of 15 he was working the summer holidays for his Dad, earning £161.40 for a 45 hour week, a wage he soon got used to, and therefore ended up telling his Dad that he no longer wanted to go to university but wanted to work instead.

Guardian Moving & Storage are based between West Lothian and Edinburgh, and they provide mainly domestic and commercial relocation services, facilitate overseas relocation, provide containerised and self-storage as well as archive storage services.

Tommy has faced new challenges since becoming part owner of Guardian Moving & Storage as he’s since become HR, agony aunt, operator, salesman, etc., where so many more people have become reliant on him. However, his biggest challenge was experienced at a very young age, where he lost his father to a heart attack during a commercial move, and thus having to facilitate with the paperwork that followed, as well as taking over his father’s company.

Tommy would not change anything from his moving past and explains why, even with an old analogy.

Tommy’s most recent highpoint is becoming part owner of Guardian Moving & Storage, another is becoming part of the council of the BAR Young Movers Group.

Tommy goes on to inform us of the BAR Young Movers Group annual conference, which takes place in Cambridge as this episode airs, and we discuss how to become a member and the costs involved.

The one thing Tommy would like to change within the industry is to have a course on how to build/run a business, as described in episode 17 by Danny Pollard. Tommy also states that unlike many previous podcast guests he is against regulation, and I challenge him as to why, in which he builds an extremely good argument.

The advice Tommy would give himself just starting out in the industry again is to ask questions and seek answers quicker.

In the next 5 years Tommy doesn’t think the industry will change that much, although we are being quickly pushed into a more sustainable way of doing things. Personally, Tommy sees more of the same, growing, learning, and asking questions. I ask Tommy if he sees any changes in the selling side of the industry to which again, he has very strong views on.

Outside of the industry Tommy enjoys family time with his wife and 3 children, and he also runs his own fitness, nutrition, health, and wellbeing company.

And as always we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, regarding porters getting a fright.

Enjoy!

Links to Guardian Moving & Storage:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Linkedin

Special Guest: Tommy McNee.

We discover what one thing my guests would change as a whole within the moving industry, with Michael discussing the general outside perspective for a trade in which he believes is a skilled trade (and I totally agree!), Mairead has a real dig at solicitors over exchange and completion dates, Tommy agrees with Mairead and provides an example on how it can effect the Working Time Directive as he believes the moving industry is always an afterthought, Alexandra covers the service being offered over the race to the bottom line and also agrees with Mairead, Calvin echo’s the comments already made and touches upon the professionalism of the moving industry, Ciaran would like to see some form of regulation, and Daniel reiterates public perception and would like the industry to work together a bit more.

When it comes to what advice this young bunch would give to a young mover just starting out in the moving industry, Michael suggests that you show initiative as there is so much room for development and progression within this industry, Mairead echo’s Michaels views and highly recommends that you get involved with the BAR Young Movers Group, Tommy recommends the invaluable networking, Alexandra reminds everyone that it’s not a weakness to ask questions, Calvin reiterates the advice already given and adds that if you are office based then hot desk to increase your own value within the company, Ciaran recommends training, lots of training, and Daniel suggests you surround yourself with the people that have the knowledge.

We discover where each of my guests see themselves and the industry in 5 years, where Michael believes his own future is in the hands of his Directors, and that the young movers can drive the industry forward, Mairead believes the industry will slow down for city movers as more and more people relocate to their ‘forever home’ in the countryside being as they are now able to work from home as a result of the recent pandemic, and she sees herself as maybe moving more into a surveying role, Tommy would like a Directors role within Guardian Moving & Storage and would like to become a voice for the industry, and he hopes a form of regulation comes about for the industry, Alexandra sees herself growing within her current role and expanding her knowledge, but doesn’t see any huge incoming changes to the industry, Calvin would have served his stint as Chairman of the BAR Young Movers Group as he moves into the role of Vice Chairman next year and sees more responsibility coming his way from the family business, in the industry he has noticed shipments are getting smaller and has seen a change in commercial relocation as more and more of us are now able to work from home, Ciaran is in the process of buying a warehouse to stand the business in good stead for the future, but isn’t too sure on the industry, and Daniel would like to still see himself as part of GB Liners and driving it forward and maintaining his involvement within the BAR.

And finally, we end with several funny moving stories, Michael didn’t have a funny story as they were far to incriminating, but he did recite a story that involved moving Professional Golfer Rory Mcllroy and how curiosity got the better of him, Mairead recites a packing job she was once on where she was tipped in Home Made Greek Halloumi Cheese, and the moment she took the DNA from a cup Rock Legend Liam Gallagher drank from while in attendance at their warehouse, Tommy recites a story where he and his crew pranked an apprentice by telling him he needed a passport to cross the border into England, Alexandra is far to young to have a moving story but does recite the history of Lanes, Calvin recites a story he had been told regarding a couple of PBO boxes coming from a bedroom making the sound of a battery powered toothbrush, and Calvin clears the company name regarding receipt of a damaged shipment for British Long Distance Runner Sir Mo Farah, just in case its mentioned on ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’, Ciaran recites a story regarding a foreman, the foreman’s wife and a snooker table, while on a removal, and Daniel recites a charming story regarding a large bronze garden statue of a lady, with a black mark on her thigh.

Enjoy!

Links to the BAR Young Movers Group:

• Website
• Facebook

Special Guests: Alexandra Lane, Calvin Tickner, Ciaran Mullarkey, Daniel Braddock, Mairead Almandras, Michael Dunbar, and Tommy McNee.

We discover that Michael is 33 and works for McGimpsey’s in Belfast, Mairead is 29 and works for Britannia Sanderstead’s in Surrey, Tommy is 33 and works for Guardian Moving & Storage in Edinburgh, Alexandra (the baby of the group) is 22 and works for Britannia Lanes in Devon, Calvin is 28 and works for The Eurogroup, Ciaran is 38 (and not 28 as I mistakenly wrote down!), and works for George Pickersgill & Son and Daniel is 32 and works for GB Liners.

We discuss the BAR Young Movers Group as a whole and discover from Ciaran that the group networks and socialises together, and have previously sold out 3 educational events, held at remover locations in Birmingham, Cardiff and Brighton, with Belfast on the calendar for 2021.

We discover from Daniel that membership has just been launched, at the mere cost of £55 + VAT per year, and is available to BAR and non-BAR members, with non-BAR members requiring individual membership too at the cost of £100 + VAT per year. Being that it is a group for ‘young movers’, there is a cut-off age of 40. We discover from Calvin that there was a Young Movers Group in the past and how he set about resurrecting it.

When asked who has the aspirations to become the next BAR President, Ciaran threw Calvin’s name into the ring before both agreeing that Mr GB (Daniel) was first off.

We then delve into each council member and discover how they got started in the industry, discovering their previous roles as well as their current. We discover that 3 work within the family business, thus being Mairead, Alexandra and Calvin, and that Ciaran is a partner of George Pickersgills & Son. We discover that Calvin went to University in Nottingham, chosen purely on the ratio of women to men! And we discover that Dan is a 3rd generation remover.

We discover the personal challenges of each, Michael losing his driving licence, Mairead being sent to a Young Movers Conference in Budapest not knowing anyone, but it really helped with her confidence, Tommy not being taken seriously as a 22 year young project manager, as well as losing his father on a job, Alexandra has had no challenges as yet but there is the child of the boss syndrome that goes with the territory, as Mairead, Calvin and Ciaran also discuss, and Dan’s biggest challenge was moving from the operative side of the business to the office and into management.

We discus what each person would change from their moving past, even though they are all so young, and discover that most would not change anything, yet. Calvin regrets not starting out on the vans and holding back at conference due to nerves, Ciaran would have joined the BAR earlier and Dan would have joined GB Liners earlier.

And Calvin corrects me!! I had mistakenly taken down the age of one guest and Calvin just wanted to set the record straight, much to the dismay of Ciaran, who is actually 38 and not 28 as I had noted, and is therefore nearly no longer a young mover! 😊

Enjoy!

Links to the BAR Young Movers Group:

• Website
• Facebook

Special Guests: Alexandra Lane, Calvin Tickner, Ciaran Mullarkey, Daniel Braddock, Mairead Almandras, Michael Dunbar, and Tommy McNee.