A Bristol business is preparing to roll out plans for the UK’s first boutique removals franchise. Move On Removals and Storage, which has a team of ten people, has already grown by ten times since being established in early 2020.

Now Joint Managing Directors Richard Batten and Joanne Kallevik say the time is right for the next phase of the company’s growth, which involves launching a nationwide franchising model with the ultimate aim of becoming international. 

“Removals has always been in my family and I think it will always be in my blood, so founding Move On was like a dream come true,” said Richard Batten. “My Grandad was director of a big removals and storage company which operated around 15 trucks and one of my first memories, when I was two years old, was riding in the front seat of one of his Bedford Pantechnicon lorries as we drove around the yard.”

Richard said he started as a sole trader in 2014, originally using a short wheel-based Transit van which he had from a previous job.  “I worked in the construction industry and after losing my Dad to cancer in 2013 I was looking for a new direction; something that gave me more freedom to spend time with family and live life to the full. Jo joined the business in 2018, followed by her sister Helen, who is now a senior member of our leadership team, making it a fully-fledged family business.” 

According to Richard the company has grown by a factor of ten in three years and is now ready to scale up. “Our ten-year vision at Move On is to become the world’s number one boutique removals franchise company and we will embark on this next stage in 2024. This will be achieved by ‘one move at a time’ as our customers and team are our number one priority.”  

Richard said the first Move On franchise will be established in Newport or Swindon. “We will own the first operation and it will be based relatively near to Bristol, so we can test out the systems with our own manager in place.”  

He expects his new company to be able to compete with the biggest and best in the industry.  “Our vision is to be individualistic and offer a personalised service during what is one of the most stressful times in people’s lives. We will make this a service and relationship that customers will reflect on and use again for many years to come.”

Move On Removals and Storage was one of four businesses nominated in the trusted trader category at the recent Which? awards, held at Euston Square in London. “Which? is such a trusted and respected brand and being nominated at the awards was the biggest day in the company’s life so far. We’ve been a ‘trusted trader’ for three years but nonetheless, we didn’t know that we’d been short-listed and it totally blew us away.” 

Photos: Joanne Kallevik and Richard Batten.