| Business Moves Group Ltd./Berkshire England |
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 READING, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND — Business Moves Group Ltd. invites Instructor Ed Katz back for another round of IOMI® Certified Mover® Training.
BMG Managing Director Rachel Houghton and a stack of chairs headed to one of the company’s four recycling centers. The managing director’s position in the UK is the same as chief exective officer in the U.S.
DECEMBER 21, 2010 READING, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND — At Business Moves Group (BMG), the spirit of giving doesn’t surface just at Christmas, it’s a year-round activity that takes many forms.
There’s the environment. The company operates four recycling centers.
“When one of our clients wants to dispose of their computers or furniture, we take the items to one of our four recycling centers where we separate and sort the wood, plastic, metal and other materials before taking it to processing plants. None of it ends up in a landfill,” said Simon Darvall, BMG’s chairman of the board.
The giving doesn’t stop there. BMG coordinates with Green Works to help save both landfills and school children in devastated Sierra Leona. BMG pays the cost of shipping disposed furniture and supplies from its school clients to Sierra Leona on the continent of Africa, the second poorest country in the world and in desperate need of desks, text books, and other supplies.
Green Works, a nonprofit charity dedicated to diverting used office and school furniture from landfills, audits BMG’s recycling centers to ensure the highest standards possible.
Dave Stacey, right, stopped in during a break to visit with IOMI® Instructor Ed Katz, left. A BMG branch manager, Stacy became an IOMI® Certified Office Mover® in 2007 then interned at Vic’s Moving & Storage in Kansas City, MO for a week to see the IOMI® process in action in the USA.
BMG’s seven branches throughout the United Kingdom give back to the planet in other ways, too, with 400 Samson Carts® for moving client libraries and confidential files, the only certified sustainable green library carts in the world, and reusable Mat-A-Doors® to protect office building doorways and elevator entrances.
A reason for giving in any season has proved to be good for BMG, so good that revenues have grown more than 20 percent in the past 12 months.
The UK’s largest office mover snagged seven new major commercial contracts throughout the United Kingdom in the past few years, and over the next 12 months will invest an additional one million pounds (approximately $2 million US dollars) to purchase additional trucks, moving equipments, and ongoing training for employees.
To handle the tremendous growth, nearly 20 new employees have joined the payroll prompting the latest round of IOMI® Certified Office Mover® training by Ed Katz, the sixth such certification/recertification training for BMG in the past 10 years. All new key employees from all branches attended the three-day session held at the Millennium Madejski Hotel in Reading next to the Madejski Stadium.
(L-R) Michael Downs, business development and Oliver Bridges, relocations consultant.
Gareth Smith, move manager
Stacie Darvall is the fourth generation to work in the family moving business. She works for her dad, Simon, right, as a sales executive.
Wayne Spiller, regional manager
Wayne Spiller, regional manager and Jennifer Jones, branch manager
(L-R) Lauren Shilvock, office manager; Billy Norman, move manager; and Stephen Sleighh, relocations consultant.
IOMI® Instructor Ed Katz admires BMG’s truck lettering advertising both the company’s endeavor and its web address.
(L-R) Jamie Thomas, installation manager and Robert Charlton, head of sales, southern region
Chairman Simon Darvall with one of BMG’s nearly 400 Samson Carts®.
Simon Darvall, left, thanks IOMI® Instructor Ed Katz for another great seminar.
Simon Darvall, left, thanks IOMI® Instructor Ed Katz for another great seminar.
Attendee Comments
Ed, this was an essential course for anyone in the moving industry.
Jennifer Jones
Branch Manager
I have just completed your BMG training…a truly excellent two and a half days…I look forward to implementing the processes that you have demonstrated so well.
Robert Charlton
Head of Sales, Southern Region
Ed’s seminar is a great course for anyone in the relocation industry.
Stephen Sleighh
Relocations Consultant
I enjoyed the course. You have opened my eyes to a whole new way of organising my moves.
Gareth Smith
Move Manager
Crazy Ed Katz is dangerously educated. It was a really great seminar and I learned a lot!
Gary Hilton
Business Development
Simon Darvall, BMG owner and managing director, wears a required health and safety high visibility vest while watching activities in BMG’s transportation yard.
*Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a man that you’ve heard of
Moving the British Isles.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Simon flew,
And the dreams that he dared to dream
Really did come true.
One day he saw an office move
And then he got into a groove
That’s BMG.
Where careful movers never drop
Computers from the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Lorries fly.
Reading, Leeds and Glasgow
Offices move in style.
With all his movers certified
Someone heard Simon shout out loud
“No rainbow is too high!”
*Sing to the tune of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
JUNE 18-29, 2007 Reading, England – Moving is in Simon’s blood. In 1923, his grandfather, Robert Darvall, began hauling coke and coal. When Simon’s father, Ken, entered the business 40 years ago, the company diversified into hauling furniture for residential moves. Ten years later, Simon left high school at age 16 and began working on a lorry in the family business. The family’s fourth generation mover, young Mathew Darvall, seems destined to continue the tradition.
In 1991, Simon launched the Business Moves division and opened an office down the block in another facility, while his father and brother continued running the residential side.
Simon eventually bought out his dad and brother and now owns the entire company. This year, BMG expects to do more than $20 million in revenue. With branches throughout the UK, Darvall plans to open another office in New Castle in the next 12 months.
BMG just completed its fifth recertification training through the International Office Moving Institute (IOMI®). Classes in both Reading and Leeds trained key personnel from throughout the company.
The first training session took place at the incredible Madejski Stadium, home of Reading Football Club in Reading England. Reading is also the home of BMG.
The first training session took place at the incredible Madejski Stadium, home of Reading Football Club in Reading England. Reading is also the home of BMG.
Dave Myers, project manager, and Debbie Twinn, new business sales manager
Dave Stacey, branch manager
During a break from training, attendees enjoy “feeding time” Madejski Stadium style.
During the Leeds, England training session, Andrea Evison role plays with Chris Kirkbright, project manager.
Rob Moody practices IOMI® proprietary estimating formula.
Simon Darvall, second from the left, chats with company directors, Graham Hardy, far left, Rachel Houghton and Colin Barker.
Evaluation Comments
“I have learnt so much … that I know will make moves more efficient & profitable.”
Andrea Erison
Manchester Branch
“Thanks … I learned so much. After 20-plus years in the moving industry, you’ve made my job measurable, simple…”
Rob Moody
Sales Executive
“Brilliant teacher.”
Chris Kickbright
“Ed is very clever at showing [the job estimating formula]…it works, very easy to do.”
Steven Lewendon
“Ed is an extremely clever man and the formulas he comes up with is very good. Young people like myself can learn a lot from him.”
Matt Darvall
“The answer to all move headaches and stress…”
Tim C. Smith
“…followed a methodical process which was delivered in a fun & educational way!”
Debbie Twinn
Trying out some of their new sets of Mat-A-Doors® on a move in downtown Reading, Team BMG puts the doorway protector through a three-way workout, first shielding a single office door and glass wall, second, guarding against damage to double wooden entry doors, and third, protecting elevator jambs and adjacent walls.
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JUNE 23, 2007 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – BMG employees and their visiting Amercian instructor attend the British Institute of Facilities Management’s (BIFM) north region Summer Ball.
(L-R) Graham Hardy, business development manager (BMG), Colin Barker, Leeds branch director (BMG), Ed Katz, IOMI instructor, Ian Broadbent, BIFM north region chairman, Peter Cordy, BIMF chairman, and Andrea Enison, BMG Manchester branch general manager.
Peter Cordy, BIFM chairman and wife, Jean.
Pat and Graham Hardy dancing the night away.
Ed Katz, IOMI instructor, at Buckingham Palace
Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Bridge
Speaking of “over the rainbow”, at 443 feet (135 meters), the famous London Eye is the second largest Ferris wheel in the world behind China’s The Star of Nanchang. Situated on the banks of the Thames River across from the Houses of Parliament, the attraction moves so slowly during its 30-minute revolution, it doesn’t have to stop to let riders on and off. Besides a stunning look at the city, clear days reveal a 25-mile (40 kilometers) view from one of the city’s newest attractions, which opened in 2000.
Reading/Berkshire, England/May 8 – 10, 2006 – Simon Darvall intends to remain the very best in the commercial relocation business and is clearly focused on how to stay there. The owner of Business Moves Group Ltd. (BMG), with six branches sprinkled throughout the UK, Darvall believes ongoing training and a menu of unique services found no where else in the United Kingdom are the ticket.
For the company’s fourth recertification training by Ed Katz of the International Office Moving Institute (IOMI®), Darvall sent 15 managers and associates representing all branches to the Berkshire Arms, an 18th century country inn just outside of Reading, England, BMG’s headquarters. Being away from the office allowed attendees to focus on the business at hand – how to continue to be the very best in the commercial relocation business.
Darvall’s march of excellence led BMG to become ISO 9000 Certified just last month. In 2004, he bought out his retiring father, Ken, and acquired the remaining shares by buying out his brother, Gareth, late last year.
Now as the sole owner, Darvall plans to become uniquely known for solving his customers’ worst relocation nightmares. In their arsenal of services is the Boxless Move®, and BMG continues to be the only commercial relocation company in the entire United Kingdom to offer it. Another customer-friendly service is the great lengths to which BMG goes to minimize the risk of damage to computers, furniture, and office buildings.
BMG looks forward to more IOMI® training later in the year.
“I invest in ongoing training for key employees and get, in return, competent personnel who care about our customers,” said Darvall.
(L-R) IOMI’s Ed Katz, Neil Plant, Kevin Dorn, Phil Evans and Jason Paige during a beverage break at the Berkshire Arms pub.
Though class moved outside to the beautiful countryside of south central England, BMG students remained riveted to their instructor, Ed Katz, third from the right.
Commanding center stage, Instructor Ed Katz keeps managers and associates of BMG entertained during an outside session at Berkshire Arms where attendees experienced three intense days of IOMI® Training.
BMG’s Reading, England facility.
BMG’s Chris Schofield conducts an on-spot inspection. The UK requires the lime-green reflective vests for transportation workers.
Some of the 15 BMG managers and associates during IOMI® training.
Simon Darvall (right), owner and managing director of Business Moves Group, Ltd., accepts his IOMI® Certified Office Mover® diploma on behalf of his company from Ed Katz.
Reading, Berkshire England/Jun 16-17, 2003 – Despite its best year ever, Simon Darvall, right, managing director of Business Moves Group Ltd., knew an “injection of adrenaline” by Ed Katz of the International Office Moving Institute (IOMI®) would infuse managers with a renewed sense of enthusiasm.
The two-day seminar was held at the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre in Reading overlooking Madejski Stadium.
The company prides itself on protecting office building surfaces from accidental move damage, covering elevator and door surfaces with the Mat-A-Door® and floors with hardboard. Business Moves Group Ltd. offers customers the “crate-free” move called the Boxless Move®.
Business Moves Group Ltd. and its 140 employees specialize in office moves and are authorized distributors in the UK and Europe for Office Moving Systems, Inc.
Business Moves Group Ltd. hosted their first IOMI® training in Oct 2000.
Ten Business Moves Group Ltd. managers, including participants from all five branch offices, took part in the two-day training lead by Ed Katz of IOMI®. Katz gave them plenty to think about and, according to comments below from attendees, operational tips they could put into action immediately. (L-R) Chris Lansbury, Dennis Siggery, Phil Evans, Gareth Darvall, Andy Gerrard and David Marshall.
Comments From Attendees
“May I thank you for the course on Monday and Tuesday last. Personally I thoroughly enjoyed both days and took a great deal away with me. The team is already putting into practice the things we have learned and that, to my mind, is a real mark of excellence in training.”
Richard Gee, National Business Development Manager
“I used to think that building managers were a nuisance. But in your seminar, I learned how to form strong alliances with them in order to get more business. I would just like to… express my appreciation for what you taught me… You have certainly made my life a lot easier with your estimating formula and I started implementing it the day after our course! Thank you Ed. The Oysters were great too!”
Phil Evans, Account Manager, Reading
“We learned how to manage our employees by motivating and coaching instead of mandating.”
Rachel Houghton, Branch Manager, Birmingham, England
“We loved your formulas for estimating office moves–They are so simple and very accurate.”
Gareth Darvall, Branch Director, Reading, England
“You showed how to have fun at what we do.”
David Marshall, Northern Region Sales Manager
I enjoyed the seminar and I like the way you deliver it……..it’s refreshing to have somebody successful from our own industry who recognises the quirks we face on a daily basis…coming up with solutions…and neat ideas at that!
Gareth Darvall, Director, Business Moves Ltd
During breaks, attendees enjoy discussing what they learned over tea. (Above L-R) IOMI® Instructor Ed Katz, Chris Lansbury, David Marshall, Simon Darvall, company owner, Andy Gerrard and Keith Tillman. (Below L-R) Rachael Houghton, David Marshall and Andy Gerrard.
During this evening get-together, seminar participants ranked implementation priorities.
CARTERSVILLE, GA/Feb 3, 2003 – Simon Darvall, center, president and CEO of Business Moves Group, Ltd., Reading, England and son Matthew, a next-generation mover, traveled to the U.S. for more industry training with Ed Katz, left, of the International Office Moving Institute (IOMI). Business Moves, Ltd. is the authorized distributor in the UK and Europe of Office Moving Systems, Inc. products and an IOMI® Certified Office Mover®.
