Since its official launch at the 2013 Movers and Storers Show, AIM (Alliance of Independent Movers) says that it has received a lot of valuable feedback, most of which was positive.

However, the feedback has alerted the association to areas that can be improved and has, therefore, added additional membership levels that are designed to appeal to moving companies with a range of different needs.

Entry level membership

The first issue AIM has addressed is entry criteria. The Association says that if it is to help new businesses to develop and grow, it should be doing more to help the smaller or less experienced mover. Its solution is to create the Mentorship Level.

The Mentorship Level is for movers that don’t yet meet the AIM entry criteria for full membership. It is designed to help the mover to improve their business and includes a detailed Business Development Programme. As a Mentee, the member cannot use the logo or vehicle badges but is assessed every six months to see if the company qualifies for promotion to full member.

Sally Luckes of A. Luckes & Son commented that this mentoring service was potentially very valuable for new companies.  “I wish this had been around when we started 18 years ago as it is something we would definitely have found really useful,” she said.

Two full membership levels

The second issue that AIM identified was the wide variation on return of investment. Some members, it appears, require more from AIM than others. There are members that only want to be able to show they work to a Code of Practice, have insurance and employ trained staff. Others require Internet marketing and SEO help, document downloads and online reputation management. Therefore, the full membership has been divided into two membership levels: Standard and Enhanced Membership.

Standard Membership has just the basics and the Enhanced Membership includes several extra services (see table).

As AIM develops, the Association will be developing new services and benefits to membership. For this reason both the Standard and Enhanced Memberships will be modular. That is, as new services are introduced, members will be able to add them on to their membership if required.

For more information on AIM Membership or Mentorship, contact AIM on 0208 892 0369.

Photo: Matt De-Machen of Matthew James Removals receives the company's AIM membership certificate at The Mover conference last year.

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