Tag Archives: Kent

Moving Home and Keeping Safe

8 February 2021 Colin Batt Removals 2 Comments

As a house removal firm based in Kent we are still allowed to operate and we are following the government guidance on safer working to ensure we keep our staff and customers safe.

If you are moving house within the Maidstone Kent area then we have some guidance on what we can all do to keep everyone safe:

We will contact the household in advance to check that no member of the household is showing symptoms of coronavirus or self-isolating. If anyone is then we will delay the move
We request that you please ensure all internal doors are open, surfaces and possessions are cleaned with household cleaning products before we come
No work should be carried out by a person who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild
We wash their hands on entering the property and we will use clean towels to dry our hands
We will minimise contact with you and keep socially distant at all times
We will have enough staff on your move to not require household members to help us move bulky items
We will bring our own refreshments but please ensure we can access hand washing facilities, using separate towels or paper towels if possible, which should be washed or disposed of safely afterwards
We commit to keep up to date on the latest guidance on travelling safely

Company News

Colin Batt Removals Shortlisted for Three Awards

15 November 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Celebrations for Kent Removal Firm Colin Batt Removals

The team at family-run Kent removal firm Colin Batt Removals is celebrating again after being shortlisted for three awards. The company is a finalist in three categories in this year’s Ashford Business Awards – best customer service, best family-run business and best small business.

The team is hoping to build on their success last year, when they were finalists in the same three categories and won best family-run business. The winners will be announced at a dinner on Wednesday, November 20 at the Ashford International Hotel in Simone Weil Avenue.

The firm’s owner and managing director, Simon Batt, said: “To be shortlisted in three categories again is lovely. The quality of our service is something we’ve always prided ourselves on, so it always means a great deal to have that recognised.”

It’s been a pretty good couple of years for awards for the removal firm, which is based just outside Ashford and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018. That same year it won a Kent Excellence in Business Award for customer service, and was one of three companies shortlisted for the national British Association of Removers’ domestic mover of the year award, which is open to all 430 members of the professional body. The company also won the Ashford Business Award for customer service in 2017.

Run by Kings Hill event planners Best Business Events, the awards are open to businesses from Ashford, Folkestone, Deal, Dover, Hythe and Romney Marsh, and are judged by a panel of businesspeople from across Kent. There are separate awards for the Canterbury and Maidstone areas.

Shortlisted alongside Colin Batt are companies ranging from carpenters Wealden Woodstyle to IT company MPR IT Solutions and Realia Marketing, another of last year’s winners and the firm behind the Ashford snowdogs.

“Obviously we’d love to win, but just to be finalists is fantastic,” Simon Batt added. “Recognition like this helps new customers feel confident choosing us, as they can see that we really look after people. It’s also a real boost for our team, who all work so hard to take care of our customers.”

Colin Batt Removals covers all of Kent, carrying out removals in Ashford, Folkestone, Maidstone … and anywhere else you can think of. We also often work nationally and internationally – we are specialists in piano removals and have been employed by Elton John, the Royal Collection Trust and the BBC to take care of their musical instruments. We do both commercial and house removals – including packing and unpacking if that makes your life easier – plus we have our own secure storage facility at our premises in Maidstone Road, Ashford. Call us on 01233 740395 for an informal chat or a free quote.

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Company News

Andrew Urquhart – One of Kent’s family-owned businesses Unsung Heroes

26 September 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

We are extremely proud to say that Andrew Urquhart has been recognised as one of the extraordinary people that are at the heart of Kent’s family-owned Businesses. We are proud to be joining some of the County’s most exciting family businesses at Kent’s Unsung Heroes awards as we celebrate the achievements of our very own, Andrew Urquhart.

Kent’s Unsung Heroes was founded in 2018 to celebrate some of the most extraordinary employees working behind the scenes in Kent’s family-owned businesses.

The owners of family firms all over the County were given the opportunity to nominate someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty. A person who contributes to the success of the business and always gives 110% without seeking recognition.

Simon Batt, Managing Director of Colin Batt Removals nominated Andrew saying,,

“Andrew has been the General Manager of Colin Batt Removals since 2013. He has been utterly critical to the success of the family business, which has over doubled in size since he joined. Andrew is accountable for all tactical aspects of the business from every house removal and storage request to sales and compliance. In all respects Colin Batt Removals is a family business and Andrew is the beating heart of it.”

After weeks of nominations, the judges chose 12 exceptional people who they felt deserved to be recognised as Kent’s Unsung Heroes and we proud to say Andrew Urquhart was one of them. They celebrated at a very special, red carpet Awards Evening on 25th September at Squerryes Winery in Westerham.

Amalia Brightley-Gillott, Managing Director of Family Business Place who hosts the awards says

“Family-owned businesses play such a huge role in the success of Kent’s economy. Whilst the family members are often the face of the business, it’s their fabulous employees who keep the cogs turning. From the woman who has been working in the warehouse for twenty years to the guy who drives the van and the person on the front desk; it’s these dedicated individuals who deserve to be thanked and celebrated.”

Each of the 12 Unsung Heroes were joined by their family, friends and colleagues at the Awards Ceremony on 25th September. At the Ceremony they were presented with a beautiful trophy and enjoyed a wonderful evening of local food, wine and a talk from Henry Ward, 8th generation at Squerryes.

Congratulations Andrew, from everyone at Colin Batt Removals.

Company News

We’re Recruiting – Removals Porter Wanted

29 August 2018 Colin Batt Removals Comment

We’re recruiting for an enthusiastic removals porter to join our award-winning team. You must be physically fit, enjoy manual labour and be hard working. Additionally, you need to be a strong team player and have good communication skills. You will be entering customer’s homes and handling their possessions, therefore you must be professional, courteous and well presented at all times.

As an expanding family business, based in Ashford, Kent, we are looking for the right individual to join our house removals company. We are passionate about delivering the very best removals with outstanding customer service and are looking for a porter who wants to be part of a top performing team.

You will be required to assist in packing, loading and moving customer’s furniture and belongings. As piano removals specialists you will also be handling these delicate instruments. A full induction and ongoing training programme will be provided for all aspects of the job.

Removals Porter Details

The job will entail:

Vehicle Preparation.
Packing.
Loading and unloading customer goods.
Piano Moving.
General deliveries.
Paperwork in support of the above activities.

This is a full time position with flexible start and finish times to meet customer demand, most days are from around 7.30am to 4.30pm. We mainly provide removals across Kent, such as Maidstone, Canterbury and Ashford, and London with some wider UK and European work. As such, the job demands some nights away from home and you will need a valid passport. A full and clean driving licence is desirable and previous knowledge of the removals industry would be advantageous.

We offer a competitive salary, which is dependent upon your experience and skills. To apply send your CV and covering letter to info@colinbattremovals.co.uk. Any questions or queries can be sent to the same address.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a keen individual to join our growing company, learn more about us here. Come and join our award-winning team and enjoy working with the one of the best in the industry.

Company News

Domestic Mover of the Year Award 2018 – We’re Finalists

19 April 2018 Colin Batt Removals Comment

This is becoming quite a year. Not only is it our 40^th anniversary but we have reached the finals in the British Association of Removers Domestic Mover of the Year Competition 2018.

We are one of only three companies from across the country that have been selected as finalists. This is a great honour and we are proud to be flying the flag for all the Kent house removals companies.

Customer Experience

The Domestic Mover of the Year award recognises outstanding performance, commitment and rewards companies that lead by example. This year the focus was on “Customer Experience”. From a customer making the decision to move, right though to post-move follow-up and customer feedback.

This prestigious competition is open to all of the 400 UK members of the British Association of Removers (BAR). Initially the BAR graded each application and down-selected to 6 companies to create a shortlist. Customers of the shortlisted removal companies were then interviewed to select the top three with the best customer service. Amazingly we were selected as a finalist. We are so grateful to all our customers for using and recommending our house removals company.

The next stage in the competition was a site visit and audit. This was conducted by the British Association of Removers Director General and a second impartial judge. The eventual winner will be announced at the BAR Conference on 19^th May.

Moving Up

It is amazing to think that Colin Batt started out with a van from a small bungalow in Bethersden back in 1978. 40 years on we are still a family-run business, now operating from Ashford under the leadership of Simon Batt. We have grown since those early days and now operate a large fleet with our own storage facility along with a document archive and shredding business.

Wining this award would be an unbelievable result but reaching the final is an amazing achievement in itself. We are proud of what we do, proud of our Kent roots and so proud of all the customers and staff that have supported us over the years. Ultimately it is the hard work and dedication of our staff that make our house removals services excel. Thank you for all your hard work, sacrifice and good humour.

Thank you to all, best of luck to the competition and our appreciation to the British Association of Removers.