Removal workers move household furniture and items from one location to another. They also deal with office moves, shifting furniture and equipment to other premises or into storage.

They work in small teams of between two and six, led by a foreperson, who often acts as the driver. The team pick up the day's removal instructions from their office then drive the removal van or lorry to the job location.

Removal workers pack items, load them into the lorry and secure them safely. Furniture removers may have to dismantle large items of furniture and remove doors, doorframes or windows to get them out of or into buildings.

Once the removal team have finished the packing, they drive to the new location and unload the items, in line with instructions from the customer. As moves often happen on the day when customers exchange ownership of property, arrival and departure times can be critical.

On certain jobs, the removers may go to the location a day or two before the move to wrap and pack delicates, such as china, glass, artwork and antiques. Sometimes, specialist packers are brought in do this work. Packers may also put furniture into special wrappings and packing cases for shipping overseas. This is often a that requires additional training.

Hours and Environment

Removal workers normally work between 37 and 48 hours a week, with start and finish times varying, depending on the job. Overtime is common, as many moves take place at weekends, and delays sometimes occur because of legal reasons, breaks in a chain of moves or simply due to traffic.

You travel from one location to another and this may include long moves cross-country, or to a European country. When this happens, you have overnight stops in lodgings or sleeper cabs.

Skills and Interests

To be a removal worker, you need:

• a good level of fitness
• the ability to work in a team
• a friendly manner and good communication skills
• a careful and methodical approach to work 
• the ability to work out the most effective way to load items
• an honest and responsible attitude to other people's property
• the ability to read maps and follow directions to locations.

Entry

You do not need any formal entry requirements for this job, but employers normally expect you to be physically fit. Some employers may insist that you pass a medical examination.

You can normally start working for a removal firm from 16 onwards, although some companies may have rules about what age you can start driving for them.

A clean driving licence is useful and a Large Good Vehicle (LGV) licence would put you at an advantage. Experience in related fields, such as delivery driving or warehousing can also be helpful. See the job profiles for Warehouse Worker, Courier and LGV Driver. 

See the websites for Careers in Logistics and Skills for Logistics in Further Information for more details about jobs in this field. 

Training

Larger removal companies often put you through their own formal training courses when you start. The training may be shortened if you already have some of the skills needed for this work. Most of the training will involve you working under supervision of experienced removal workers.

Once you are working in this role, you may be able to take NVQs/SVQs Levels 2 and 3 in Driving Goods Vehicles or in Distribution, Warehousing and Storage operations.

Your employer may put you through driver training once you have some experience, as this job often includes supervisory duties.

The British Association of Removers offers training, including removals management, health and safety, and packing and handling skills. You can also use these courses to support NVQ/SVQ training. See the BAR website in Further Information.

Opportunities

There are removal companies and depots of major removal companies throughout Britain, though most are in large urban areas. As many also offer storage, their bases are often on industrial estates on the edge of towns.

You may have the opportunity to travel overseas if you work for companies handling international removals. 

With experience, you can progress to become a specialist packer or foreperson. Companies often combine the role of foreperson with driving duties, so it may mean taking a training course and test for an LGV licence.

You can also become a removals estimator, visiting customers' premises to provide them with quotations covering prices and timescales. Other prospects include working in management either in the removals trade or in companies offering storage facilities.

You can become self-employed by buying or leasing a van and offering a removal service.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Income for new entrants is around £10,000 a year.
Experienced removal workers earn around £12,000 a year.
Senior staff and drivers may earn £18,000 to £20,000 a year. 

Removal workers may receive extra shift allowances for unsocial hours.

Further information

14 Warren Yard
Warren Farm Office Village
Stratford Road
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NW
Tel: 0870 242 7314