­­The BAR (British Association of Removers)in the UK has announced that the proposal to develop an ‘Apprenticeship Standard for the Removals Operative’ has been approved by the Transport and Logistics Route Panel.

The BAR-led initiative (with the backing of AIM and Move Assured) has seen an Employer Group comprised of BAR member volunteers plus two non-BAR member employers working under the guidance of The Department for Education (DfE), via the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to develop a bespoke Apprenticeship Standard for the role of the Removals Operative. The proposal was presented to IfATE on 14 June and was duly approved on 6 July.

The next step is for the Employer Group, chaired by David Stranks (of Stranks Removals), to reconvene after the busy summer period in order to start putting together the granular detail of what will make up the Standard in respect of:

• Content – Knowledge, skills and behaviours and how to ascribe those to the duties the role fulfils.

• Assessment methods – Designing and implementing appropriate and measurable assessment processes.

• Appointing approved training provider(s) – A training provider(s) registered to/approved by Ofsted.

• Appointing an End Point Assessment Organisation – An approved EPAO to carry out formal assessments of each candidate’s progression and achievements.

   The recommendations made by the Employer Group will be developed by a smaller Steering Group, working closely with an allocated IfATE ‘Product Manager’ to develop the Standard. Although exact timescales are yet to be discussed and agreed, the aim currently is to submit the finished Standard to the Route Panel for consideration at their May 2024 cycle.

BAR Director General, Ian Studd commented: “The BAR is delighted to be leading this initiative and is very much looking forward to working with not just our member employers but also with our colleagues across the industry to develop a much needed, relevant and sustainable Apprenticeship Standard. It represents a big step forward for our ambitions to create a joined-up career pathway for the industry. My thanks to those who have contributed thus far in getting us to this point but now the hard work really starts.”

David Stranks, Employer Group Chair, MD Stranks Removals said: “Training is very important, but up to now we have not had a standalone apprenticeship for the removals industry. There is still a long way to go but we will at the end have a standalone Removals Apprenticeship for the industry.”

Chris Smallwood, Steering Group member, MD Britannia Anchor Removals added: “I know this will provide genuine and meaningful opportunities for every single person, especially those who are on the margins of society. We will finally have the chance to show the furniture moving industry for what it is - a profession not a job!”