Top tips for a smooth business move

Moving business premises may well be something more organisations need to do as we come out of the pandemic and into the ‘new normal’.

A recent survey by the BBC showed that 70 per cent of workers didn’t expect they’d ever return to the office as before. With most opting for a hybrid or remote working set up going forward, businesses aren’t likely to need the office space they once did. With workers only coming in on certain days or to do specific tasks, many will be able to reduce the space they need or may want to consider alternatives to traditional office space.

Which means lots of organisations may be looking for a business removal company in the coming months!

Planning a business move can be daunting – things tend to be on a larger scale than a home move, and not everything is within the main organiser’s control. Here are our top tips, from decades of business moving experience, to help ensure everything goes to plan.

• Plan ahead. Removals companies are extremely busy at the moment – for both home and business removals. Start talking to the company you want to use as soon as you can so planning can begin and to ensure you have access to the removal vehicles and staff you’ll need. Ideally you want to plan three to six months in advance.
• Do your homework. Make sure you check out reviews for business removals and ask for word of mouth recommendations in your business network. Your chosen removal company should also be a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and have the relevant British Standard for safe removals. These can both be checked on the relevant databases.
• Start the decluttering ASAP. If you’re planning on downsizing or even just reworking your business space, you’re unlikely to need the same fixtures and fittings you once had. Begin sorting through items as soon as possible. Bring in team members to sort their own individual belongings/desks.
• Donate what you can. If you have spare desks, chairs, filing cabinets, tech and so on, firstly see if anyone in your team needs anything for their working-at-home set up. If not, donate them to charity if they’re of a reasonable quality. If you’re donating tech, make sure they are completely wiped of all data by a professional. Electronic recycling can take place for any laptops, phones or USBs which are no longer working. Try and minimise what gets sent to landfill where possible.
• Don’t skimp on packing materials. Good quality boxes, tape and bubble wrap will definitely be worth it – you don’t want boxes falling apart halfway through the move, or for anyone to get injured carrying heavy items.
• Do you need the paperwork? Some paperwork will need to be kept for legal reasons. But remember for GDPR purposes you shouldn’t be hanging on to details longer than you need to. So much of what we have now is kept digitally – do you need to keep paper copies too? Consider bringing in an external shredding service, or whether you would benefit from a document archive/records management service. It’s pointless paying more for extra office space, just to be used as storage. An external storage facility would be far more cost efficient. If you’re moving things of a confidential nature, work with your removal manager to decide how they’re kept safe and secure during the move.
• Label everything. Make sure all boxes are clearly labelled and it’s clear where they need to go in the new office. Removals companies such as ourselves can help with packing services and helpful equipment and advice if required.
• Don’t forget parking. Discuss parking arrangements at the old and new premises with your chosen business removal firm. Permits may need to be arranged, or special permissions given – it’s always doable but you need to be prepared.
• Reassess suppliers. Use the move as an excuse to review businesses suppliers, such as energy companies, IT, phones, insurance etc. It may be time to get a better deal as you’re dealing with the changing addresses. Remember to check you have the necessary insurance to cover items during the move.
• Updating addresses. Make a plan for someone to update your address on your website, social media, email footers, printed materials and everywhere else it might be needed, asap. Have an email ready to send to customers, clients and suppliers in plenty of time.
• Make IT the priority. Most businesses are now pretty reliant on technology. Devise a plan with your removal company around how you will tackle moving IT equipment. Component parts should be carefully labelled and packaged, cables removed and stored safely and everything transported with maximum levels of care and protection.

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