pso the van got back to base today , 14/04/2022 after another successful Spain - UK -Spain trip , the 4th of 2022 
It in fact despite taking us all the way up to Sheffield in Yorkshire was a quick turn around 
The van got off the Ferry on Monday 11th April in Newhaven and got back on the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe on the 12th 
Made it to Spanish Customs yesterday 13th April 
And Delivered today on the 14th

And yes during that time despite the current issues in the UK 
The knock on effect from P&O (causing in Dover operation Brock/stack )
(We always ship with DFDS on the Newhaven route (but the boat/ferry was extra busy that was for sure) 
Reports of Fuel issues in the south East 
Easter Traffic in the UK , France and Spain 

Despite all that the ERS team stuck to schedule and delivered another load to Spain making another customers dream move come true 

​Move with confidence 

 So what does a day in the life of the removals officer worker at a European mover like ?

There are many , many tasks involved in running and operating a European mover , now in a bigger company many of the role and task I do , would be done by several people 

But I thought I would discuss some of the tasks I do in the ERS office to ensure that your moves go smoothly and the other tasks I get up to you might not realise (some of these task are not of course done daily )

Tasks including :
Marketing 
Running the companies Social media accounts 
Networking 
Running the companies website 
Route planning Accounts and record keeping 
Dealing with Emails and phone calls that aren't from customers / general emails 
General Admin tasks 
Covid related admin tasks : EG Passenger locator forms when the vans on route to the UK (until this is dropped anyway )

Planning/arranging maintenance of the van and equipment : including the vans regular services , arranging/sorting any maintenance needed that is not planned/scheduled , for example replacement of tyres and likes. And of course keeping the required records of all planned and unplanned maintenance, and ensuring the van stays in a safe legal roadworthy condition.   
Planning moves: including ensuring the right equipment and likes is on the move and the van team know everything they need to in advance .A further example would be to ensure the can has sufficient removal blankets for said move , any packing materials is on the van , and if more is needed brought and got before the due move 

Dealing with customer enquiries 

Helping / advising customers 

Communicating /working with van team when they are on the road (including knowing where they are , when they expect to arrive at x or y (for example the customs depot or Ferry port )(and referring to when reaching the customs Depot , I also need to then let the Spanish customs broker know the Eta to the Spanish Depot )

Booking the Ferry/s: (which also then includes uploading/entering details onto the Ferry companies booking system with the customs clearance references etc)

Customs: Sorting / arranging customs , and working with our Customs brokers to ensure clearance is sorted and arranged in a timely manner to ensure that the move can carry on in a timely manner, as this side of the customs process can not be completed until the van is loaded and on the road 
This of course includes , putting your inventory and all the needed information onto a Spreadsheet for the brokers: (with information you as the customer couldn't in advance know , including what vehicle the loads on its weight ,value (the value is the value you advise us of (used 2nd hand value of your items ) a confirmed number of items , the sailing route and departure time (plus the Transit customs , customs post code ) and the receiving customs post ) 
(this needs doing twice once for the export customs and once for the import customs )
Some tasks in the customs process only need doing in one direction for example the French Envelope needs doing from Spain to UK when transiting via France (right now our Spanish agent does this (but using as an example , as we transit the return ,leg via T1 when don't need a French envelope on the return leg 
The Van team thou do need to complete the T1 , the UK broker sends us an LRN (local reference number) the van team then need to present that on the outbound leg to UK border force for a T1 to be generated 
(when discharged the T1 officially becomes a T2)
Sorting the GVMS (for both entry and exit from the UK (when loaded or unloaded ) The GVMS when completed becomes a GMR I then need to send that to the van team and monitor to see if the UK Government wants to do an import/ or export inspection and advise the team 
Then there is ensuring that the customer has sent all the required documents we need for the customs brokers (this task is of course done early as soon as a customer books we advice them the list of documents we need and work with them to ensure we get them , and in a format that the brokers can work with )
Don't worry this task/tasks may sound tricky when explained like that but , we take care of all that for you 

This is just an overview and no two days are quite the same and some tasks we do , I haven't included as they either are only done a few times a month/year eg submitting the accounts to company house etc 

There is quite a bit that goes into running a European mover , or any mover for that matter and as said the above is an overview 
​Yes I have gone into more detail for some tasks, than others 

Thanks for reading 
Fell free to ask any questions as would love to discuss /share an insight into the world of removals a bit more 

So it is as I write this the 20th December and less than 11 full days of 2021 left , where has the year gone ? Well for us here at ERS it has gone by in a busy enough year lets have a look back at 2021 

So 2021 has as you know been the first year of the post Brexit customs controls and systems (yes the final UK ones are coming into place the 1st January 2022) so yes 2021 has been a year different to the last few years that is for sure: 

So customs and doing customs clearances (as in arranging and sorting via our UK and Spanish agents ) has been a big part of the year we have as the year ends done 43 full loads on the Spain - UK - Spain route which equals 86 customs process in total (I would like to take this opportunity to thank both our UK Broker WS Logistics and our Spanish Broker Aduana Del Guadalquivir SL , for all their help this year and all the customs process they have completed for us , enabling us to complete successful all the moves/deliveries ) (and I would like to also thank the depot in Spain we do our customs clearances at )

And we have also of course done 28 crossing of the English channel via DFDS Ferry on the Newhaven- Dieppe route (so a thanks to all the DFDS port staff at Newhaven and Dieppe and the office team and the ferry crews ) 

While in volume we may have been down in 2021 on 2020 and 2019 , the 14 trips we have done have seen us go to place including Fife , Edinburgh , Cornwall , Newport and other places in Wales, As far as Marbella in Spain, so in 2021 the van has sure covered the miles , and of course as you know the van has also in 2021 been sign written (by 101 business success in Hull )(and As I have said the van has also been serviced as need this year with thanks to Tom at Tph Autos ) 

And as well as the 14 full trips on our Spain - UK - Spain we have done 3 runs into France relocating people to France from Spain going to places including Grenoble 

Also in 2021 we celebrated our 9th overall year in business and our first full year as a limited company 

We also got our new uniforms this year with our new company polos and Fleeces 

And I would also like to Thank the team at Purdie worldwide removals who have this year had us write them a guest blog on moving to Spain since Brexit (link below )
Moving to Spain post-Brexit - Purdie Worldwide Removals & Storage Ltd

Our Social media accounts have gone from Strength to Strength, and while I would like to thank each and every person I chat , network and interact with on twitter , facebook , instagram and the likes the list would be to long 

But I will mention Steve Barton of (1) Steve Barton (@KrasnayaDolls) / Twitter as once again he is working with us for the #NelsonandPercyatitagain Christmas adventures 

So 2021 has been an eventful year here at ERS Removal services ltd mainluy for the good thankfully a further example of something that has happened here this year is our Newspaper advert with Euro News Weekly 

But yes at times as with any year and any business there have been issues , been challenges (the first trip in January 2021 for example while successful was like that as it was a trail trip to make sure everything was in place for the Brexit systems at the time , which it was)
But 2021 has overall been a good year a rewarding year and successful (with thanks to all the mentioned people and many more as well ) 
We have made many a persons dream move to Spain come true and as need helped a few people return/relocate back to the UK (thou let me add that it was still more people and loads to Spain this year than to the UK)
​

 

So in the last blog entry of this blog i discussed why using a mover is better than (in most cases) than self moving and how that was partly due to the experience (often vast experience )that professional movers have , but that only really touched on the subject of a movers experience

So I will be again discussing it and expanding on what i previously said 
you might have expected me to discuss equipment movers have and how that is an advantage which is true but experience comes in here to , a mover has the equipment to do the job yes and the knowledge gained means they know how to use that said equipment in an effective and safe manner.
So what you might say anyone can use a sack barrow yes that is true but a sack barrow is only one piece of equipment.
I am more referring to things likes of Ratchet straps (and other load securing means) and the knowledge of how to properly load and secure the load on to the removal vehicle in a way that is :
A secure 
B The weight is properly distributed (as there is axle weight (each axle on a vehicle has a max weight each axle can take)
C The weight is evenly distributed so one part of the removals vehicle is not over weight/over balanced (connect also to Axle weight)
​ 
​
​

when it comes to moving house/home there is no denying it can be stressful , so why would you want to increase that stress and self move ? 
Are there any advantages of self moving ?
Well in my professional opinion no there are not and your better off letting a professional mover do your move for you ,but i hear you saying , oh but as a removals company your bound to say that , which is true but it does not change the fact, we think your better off letting a professional mover do it for you , lets explore why that is the case 
​ 
1 experience 
A good removals team do house moves all the time (and yes while no two properties are the same) and that experience builds up , a mover , will for example though that experience know how to lift and handle more awkward or heavy items , safely and effectively,
And have the experience and knowledge how to get things though tricky spots 
Plus ever noticed a removals person walking backwards while carrying large items ? Well when carrying many 2 person objects a person will need to be walking backwards and that is a skill in its own right , one thing you may have also noticed when watching movers at work is how often they can do a two person lift and carry the item straight to the removals vehicle when you would/might have had to put it down several times yes some time movers also need to do that  )

I could go on about Experience for hours but I think you get the point , the fact a professional mover is doing this all the time is one of the key benefits,
Experience breeds expertise


(I will discuss the others in follow on pieces so that I can explore them in detail without this becoming to long)

So as you may well be aware all loads that enter or leave Spain for the UK must go though a Customs facility
which 1 can cause delays of course as we have to wait there for Clearance before re hitting the load 
But 2 please be advised that at the current time this places are in Spain not 24/7 and shut around 6pm 
And are in only  a few places open Saturday but that is for limited hours 
As a result this effects our schedule as we have to ensure we don't cross the Spanish boarder on the weekends (or if we do we will have to sit waiting until Monday morning ) 
Which of course means .We have to ensure the schedule reflects this 

*So another thing to note is that each time a load (in your case your items /belongs ) cross the boarder (as in Imported to Spain) they need customs clearance which of course means if you send say 3 loads they need each a set of clearance and each time there is fees to the customs brokers , so for example if you send a 2nd load with us the customs broker fees need paying again they are not a one of sum/figure but each time 

​Good afternoon everyone
Trip 3 since #Brexit is going well again
#Spain - #UK - Spain
So the #Van is once again in #France and on the road
All the paperwork correct
We where the only Freight Vehicle allowed on the NewHaven - Dieppe ferry despite others been booked for the crossing
As if the paperwork is not correct the Ferry company can't let you on the ferry

Load from Spain to the UK Cleared Customs and Delivered
2 Loads for Spain from the UK Collected
Them 2 same loads customs cleared from UK and T1 Form issued
Van boartd the 10am Gmt Ferry this morning 
Disembarked
Though French Customs/passport Control
Though Rouen France
On route towards Tours right now 
​

Updated 22/01/2021
Updated 19/01/2021
Good evening everyone so i though i would give you an update on how the First trip of 2021 and since Brexit is going 

Update *13/01/2021
so the Van left our base in #Turre #Spain this morning. And I am pleased to Say it is cleared the export stage of the Spanish Customs process (for goods leaving Spain) and will once again hit the road in the morning

*Updated 14/01/2021 
the van is on the road again and making progress (having collected the paperwork this morning ) and is on route towards #Zaragoiza #spain then towards #Jaca and Somport and then #France  

*Updated 14/01/2021*
The van is not far from Somport tunnel which is the tunnel between Spain and France , the driver is having a quick break before heading into France 

*Updated 14/01/2021*
The van has left #Spain and now is in #France on it's way towards the #UK ​

*Updated 15/01/2021 *
Great news the van is sat at the port of Dieppe having checked in with Dfds and is waiting for the Ferry (which is the 18:00 sailing from Deppie ) 
Latest Update the van is sat on the Ferry Seven sister waiting for it to depart the port and head to the Uk 
*Updated 15/01/2021*
The #Van is off the ferry in #NewHaven #UK and thought customs and on the road in the UK again

*Updated 17/01/2021*
So the Van did all it's Uk deliveries from Spain yesterday and today is onto the collections 

*Updated 19/01/2021 *
So the van has competed all it's loads in the UK and the driver has had his PCR test done and came back Negative (as it has to) so now the van is waiting of the customs paperwork to be received back from our Uk customs agents so the van can get on the Ferry at Newhaven and ship into France to Transit for Spain 

​*Update 20/01/2021*
So the van has checked in for the 17:00 GMT ferry from Newhaven UK to Dieppe France with DFDS (all paperwork for customs checked and everything ) and is now on the ferry waiting for the Ferry to leave the port of Newhaven and head to Dieppe France then on to Spain and the customs clearance activity their before heading to deliveries in Spain

*Updated 21/01/2021*
So the van got into France last night after another successful crossing on the ferry with Dfds and entered France , the van this morning is making good progress towards Spain 

*Updated 22/01/2021*
Great news so the van presented it's self to the Spanish customs activity this morning and has about and 90 minutes ago cleared Spanish Customs and is on the road heading to delivery 1 of 4 in Barcelona then heading south along the Autovia 7 towards the Almeria province for 3 deliveries