Removers' consortium doubles up
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• Removals consortium Britannia Movers International is planning to almost double its membership of family-owned businesses, in readiness for the Single European Market.
Britannia comprises 35 member firms, including Devereux of Billingham and Lanes of Truro. All of them are British Association of Removers members and they all carry out domestic and foreign work. Each member holds £5,000 worth of shares in Britannia, whose aim is to offer customers personalised service combined with the resources of nationwide coverage, says marketing director Bill Walker.
Britannia has agreements with similar organisations in France and Italy, and sends out a dozen or so vehicles to Europe every week.
The biggest growth area is UK corporate moves, says Walker, which Britannia negotiates on behalf of its members.
Reading-based remover Robert Darvall is the latest recruit. It specialises in moving to Spain and Portugal, where it runs three depots, with 21 vehicles and a £2m turnover. Darvall is now one of the largest Britannia members.
Managing director Ken Davan says he hopes for increased business by joining Britannia "and with sharing loads, we should save a lot of empty running". Business with Spain is down by 40%, says Darvall, but work for insolvency companies is booming.