Quality Service Standards Limited (QSS) in the UK, the company that audits and assesses moving companies against recognised Quality Standards, has achieved 25 years in business having been incorporated on 9 July, 1999.
It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Association of Removers (BAR).
David Trenchard, one of the original QSS Board members, said: “During the first weeks of 1999, BS EN 12522 was installed on a trial basis into five [BAR] member companies. These eventually achieved certification and were awarded certificates during the BAR Annual Conference in Dublin in May 1999. The scheme was launched and publicised to the members. We had been fortunate in that Britannia Movers International had recognised the importance of the BS EN 12522 Quality Standard to the removals industry and had made it a qualification for membership of their organisation. This added to the interest already in place by BAR members aware of the standard.”
David also acknowledged the work of the late Brian Mitchell, BAR General Secretary at the time, for his work in getting BAR recognised by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and in forming the external DTI Committee which was chaired by Derek Payne. “Thanks also to him and the members of that Committee for doing the ground work for me to be able to represent the UK industry at European level.” David also praised Nick Brackin and the support given to him by the BAR secretariat, particularly Robert Syers and Mike Harlow. “Our thanks must also go to those members who have helped us with the pilot scheme and to our then BAR President, Gerald Sweeney, for his personal support.”
Chris Waymouth became QSS chief executive in 2004. During this time QSS took on responsibility for handling BAR member inspections; expanded its pool of auditors, all with vast industry experience; gained UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation and became the first service industry to be accepted by BSI (British Standards Institute) into its Kitemark scheme. Working with BSI and industry stakeholders, QSS was instrumental in developing further standards – for storage, self storage, overseas and commercial moving - and then took on several ISO standards. Through this growth, QSS had come from being a loss-making drain on BAR’s finances and started to show a respectable trading surplus each year. QSS accepted many non-BAR companies as clients and expanded its operations across Europe, including a very successful relationship with EUROMOVERS.
Chris Waymouth handed over to David Woodhouse, the current QSS general manager, in January 2018 ...
Photo: David Woodhouse.