Birmingham delivers

The British Association of Removers (BAR) recently organised its 2026 Annual Conference. Report by Andrew Large, BAR Director General

The British Association of Removers held its Annual Conference at the Grand Hotel Birmingham from 21–23 May, bringing together over 150 delegates from across the removals, storage and relocation industry.

The Grand Hotel itself provided a magnificent setting. First opened in 1879 and recently restored following a £50 million refurbishment, its Grand Ballroom served as both the backdrop for our business sessions and the venue for Saturday evening’s Gala Dinner and Awards. Birmingham, a city shaped by industry, resilience and reinvention, felt like entirely the right place for an association whose members share those same qualities.

Welcome reception

The conference opened on Thursday evening with a welcome drinks reception and buffet, during which Professor Carl Chinn MBE – resplendent in his Aston Villa scarf – delivered a wonderfully evocative history of the city he clearly loves, weaving together tales of heavy industry and the infamous gangs that have made Birmingham’s social history so compelling. It was a warm and fitting start to proceedings.

The evening also marked a special moment for the industry, as Mark Chudley was presented with Honorary Life Membership of the Association in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the removals industry over many years.

Conference sessions

Friday brought a full day of business sessions, and the programme was deliberately designed this year with a practical focus: not simply informing delegates about the issues of the day, but helping them identify concrete actions they could take back to their businesses.

Stuart Ducker of TwentyCi opened with a data-rich assessment of the current property market, forecasting 1.2 million transactions in 2026 – steady, if uncertain – while urging delegates to harness local data and build relationships with the growing number of self-employed estate agents reshaping the market. The message was clear: uncertainty is the new normal, and agility is the response.

Geraldine Collett represented the Association of Relocation Professionals (ARP) and spoke about the newly established collaboration between the BAR and ARP – a relationship that holds genuine promise for members operating in the corporate relocation space.

The insurance fireside chat that followed, with James Thynne of Basil Fry and David Brown of Reason Global, tackled both macro and micro risks, from geopolitical instability and shipping disruption to the increasingly unavoidable threat of cyber-attack. The message for SMEs was stark: assume you are not fully covered until you can prove otherwise.

After lunch, John Herriman of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute spoke about the ongoing battle against rogue traders and the informal economy. His illustration of the damage caused by an unsuitable mover – culminating in the revelation that the unfortunate customer was one of his own colleagues – drew both laughter and a serious point: that consumer harm is real, and the BAR’s Approved Code membership remains one of the most powerful tools available to distinguish professional operators from the rest.

The afternoon continued with a wide-ranging session on consumer marketing and BAR’s awards framework, a compelling fireside discussion on digital marketing from Laura Moxham of YBA and Dom Honey of RemovalsPlus – both of whom reinforced that visibility, speed of response and tracking are now non-negotiable for any business serious about growth – and a practical session from BAR Vice President David Strank on how removal companies can compete more effectively in the storage and self-storage markets.

Breakouts

Saturday’s programme began with the functional group breakout sessions, where the Overseas Group, Movers’ Trading Club and Workplace Relocation Group (WRG) held their respective formal Annual General Meetings. The WRG saw the outgoing Chair Rob Poyner hand over to David Russell of Harrow Green, who took on the role with immediate effect. BHL Removers received a Certificate of Excellence, whilst Russell Fewins, Ede’s and Crown Workspace were recognised as finalists in the Workplace Relocation Company of the Year competition.

The wider Saturday morning sessions covered staff recruitment and training – with Carl Widdowson from the DWP outlining how Jobcentre Plus and Government-backed schemes including Driving Academies can serve as a practical pipeline for new talent – alongside informative sessions on devolution from Fabian Cooper-Chaudry of Inflect and Stewart Argo of LighthousePR. Fabian’s central message resonated: that with 50% of England’s population now under mayoral control, and the government committed to extending that model across all regions by 2035, businesses need to understand which level of government owns their issue before seeking to engage. The BAR, he confirmed, is well placed to help members escalate concerns directly to the relevant minister.

The keynote address was delivered by Philip Eeles, co-founder of Honest Burgers, who spoke candidly about his entrepreneurial journey – from a market stall in Brighton to 43 restaurants and a turnover approaching £70 million – and the lessons he has learned about culture, autonomy and the application of behavioural science in building high-performing teams. His reflections on growing a business without losing what made it distinctive in the first place struck a chord with many in the room.

Gala Dinner

Saturday evening’s Gala Dinner was the highlight of the social events. The RBA raffle and auction raised vital funds for the Removers Benevolent Association – a cause that depends on the generosity of our members and the industry’s suppliers, all of whom rose to the occasion.

The evening concluded with the announcement of the Workplace Relocation Company of the Year, with the judges finding Crown Workspace and Russell Fewins inseparable – a worthy joint outcome that reflected the strength of both entries.

Across three days, the 2026 Conference demonstrated the enormous breadth of what this industry faces and the considerable depth of knowledge and commitment that exists within it. I am grateful to every speaker, sponsor and delegate who made it what it was. Birmingham was a great host city, and the Grand Hotel an outstanding venue. We look forward to seeing you all at the next one.