In this episode, Andy Carr, a former removal company owner, discusses how he began within the industry over 50 years ago from the age of 10/11, as a lift boy at weekends for his father’s company Romford Office & Commercial (ROC).

Andy is a former (BAR) Commercial Moving Group chairman, and today is still very much involved within the industry, being a BAR inspector, a QSS auditor, the lead judge in the (BAR) Commercial Mover of the Year competition, and a practicing business coach and consultant, under his company The Moving Shop.

Andy has had several challenges within the industry, a major warehouse fire in 1988 which totally destroyed everything the company had built, clearing the Commercial Union floors of the Baltic Exchange Building shortly after the Saint Mary Axe (London) bombing on April 10th, 1992 (where incidentally Andy and a crew were working an hour before the bomb went off!), and becoming an auditor for QSS.

The one thing Andy would like to change from his moving past is to have not grown by acquisition, which was a recommendation from his bank!

Andy has a couple of highpoints of being within the industry, firstly, winning Commercial Mover of the Year award at the same time as winning East London Growth Business of the Year, and secondly, becoming chairman of the (BAR) Commercial Moving Group, where during his tenure he introduced the quality standard for commercial moving (BS 8522).

The one thing Andy would like to change within the industry is to see it recognised as a profession, as it is in so many other countries.

The advice Andy would give himself just starting out within the industry again is network, by attending BAR area meetings, conferences & seminars, and getting involved.

In the next 5 years Andy hopes his days on the road are over, however he still wants to continue offering his coaching, as this can be provided remotely. Industry wise, Andy wants the solicitors and conveyancers to get their act into gear and sort out the completions (for the domestic market), and for the CMG (Commercial Moving Group, or soon to be WRG - Workplace Relocation Group) to be more recognised by FM’s (Facility Managers).

Outside of the industry Andy is a keen West Ham fan, he used to play golf and would like to take it up again. Andy has a passion for cooking, enjoys country walks and he together with his wife volunteer at the village community shop.

And as always, we end Moving Matters with a funny moving story, in fact three, plus Andy tells a few during this episode too.

Enjoy!

Links to Andy:

• LinkedIn

Special Guest: Andy Carr.