Businesses in London and other major UK cities often struggle to manage logistics, especially during busy times of the year. When you’re short on space, and your budget is too tight to spend on permanent staff when they’re only needed for short-term, high-demand periods, you’ll need to look into other solutions.

This is where outsourcing logistics could be a real game-changer. By making use of on-demand removals services, you can scale up to meet demand when you need to – and save money during quieter periods.

Why it doesn’t always make sense to employ full-time logistics staff

If demand is consistent – and consistently high – then having a permanent in-house team to manage things like deliveries makes total sense. But for many businesses, it doesn’t quite work like that.

For growing or seasonal businesses in particular, demand and logistics needs tend to fluctuate throughout the year. You could end up paying quite a bit (including salaries, NI, pension contributions and holiday pay) to have people sitting idly when demand is low.

But then you may face a dilemma – what do you do when a rush of orders come flooding in, or demand unexpectedly skyrockets? Scaling is always difficult, which is why flexibility is so important – and why fixed staffing doesn’t always work.

Why more businesses are turning to on-demand, flexible logistics in London

On-demand logistics gives you access to professional movers, vehicles, and support only when you need it. You aren’t tied into lengthy contracts or need to pay hefty retainer fees upfront. Instead, you can simply book services by the job or day.

This enables businesses to:

• Scale logistics support up or down at a moment’s notice
• Avoid long-term commitments and large upfront (and ongoing) expenses
• Control costs more effectively
• Respond quickly to changing circumstances.

Flexible logistics is ideal for events, markets and pop-up shops

One of the most popular uses of on-demand removals services is for events. If your business regularly appears at exhibitions, trade shows, markets or conferences, hosts product launches and brand events, or even runs pop-up shops – you’re going to need some logistics support.

These kinds of events are time-sensitive and often involved multiple locations, tight schedules and heavy equipment. A professional removals company with specialist experience in this area, such as Kiwi Movers, could be the perfect partner.

We can help with:

• Event set-ups and breakdowns
• Transporting staging, furniture and promotional materials
• Early-morning or late-night access requirements
• Storage requirements, through our sister company Kiwi Storage
• One-off or recurring events across London

You’ll find that this could be far more cost-effective compared to purchasing vans or maintaining an events team year round.

Helping your business cope with seasonal surges

Many businesses are affected by seasonal surges, whether it’s the pre-Christmas rush for online retailers or the summer months for holiday companies. Rapid shifts in demand can be hard to manage, however much you try to plan for them.

Where it just isn’t cost effective to maintain permanent staff and temporary staff are hard to find, on-demand logistics could be the ideal alternative.

Choose the right partner and you’ll be able to book jobs at short notice, whenever you need to.

You’ll be able to get those Christmas orders out to your customers, deal effortlessly with the chaos of sales periods and move stock between storage and retail spaces with ease.

Book by the job or day with Kiwi Movers – no contracts, no risk

Standard logistics contracts can lock businesses into long-term contracts requiring minimum usage levels. If this doesn’t match up with the real demand your business experiences, you could end up paying too much for services you simply don’t need to use.

The good news is that there is a far more flexible and convenient alternative available.

Get in touch with our friendly team here at Kiwi Movers and we can help you book logistics support by the job or the day, with no ongoing commitments. It’s flexible, transparent and cost-effective – and you’re in the driving seat at all times.

We work with businesses across a range of industries, from the high-end concierge sector to interior design services. From handy man and van hire to multi-site logistics support, project management and consultancy – we do it all.

If your small business needs transport – whether its for deliveries or picking up supplies – you’ll have a choice to make. Do you buy your own van, or make use of man and van services?

Cost will inevitably be one of the main considerations, but you’ll also need to think about factors such as flexibility, convenience and control.

Here, we’ll take a look at the key costs involved with both options, to discover which could be the
most cost-effective for your business.

Option 1: Owning a van

Your first impulse may be to simply purchase your own company van. After all, this gives you complete control, along with the convenience of having a vehicle ready and waiting whenever you need it. It can also be branded with your logo, and driven by your own staff.

However, buying and running a company van can be a lot more expensive than you may think. You’ll have to shell out a large sum initially, and there are also ongoing fixed expenses – as well as legal and staffing responsibilities. These don’t disappear during quiet periods, so you could end up paying a lot for times when your new van is sat idle.

Option 2: Using man and van services for businesses (UK)

Another option to consider is making use of a man and van service on a regular basis. There are companies such as us here Kiwi Movers which offer dedicated and tailored services for businesses, whether it’s support for a one-off project or daily deliveries.

You might imagine that this kind of service is prohibitively expensive to use as more than just a one-off, but you might be surprised.

One of the main benefits is no upfront investment is required, and no long-term commitment either. Any costs flex with demand, so you’re not paying extra during quiet periods.

Van hire vs. ownership – the main costs compared

Owning a van

Let’s start with how much it costs to own a company van. There are a few different costs to look at, including:

Upfront purchase costs

You may pay anywhere between £15,000 and £40,000 to buy a new van. If you opt for financing, your monthly payments could be around £200 to £600 depending on the agreement, make and model. You should also consider depreciation, which can be around 20% to 35% especially in the first year.

Insurance

You can expect to pay between £600 and £2,000 a year to insure your new van

Fuel

It all depends on your mileage, but an average business could pay between £2,400 and £3,600 a year for fuel (based on 20,000 miles a year).

ULEZ and emissions charges

You’ll need to pay a flat rate of £345 a year in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for most vans. And if you’re based in London and your van isn’t compliant, you could be facing extra charges of £12.50 per day. Congestion charges may also apply.

Parking and fines

When you own your vehicle, you are solely responsible for parking charges, as well as paying fines and penalties. These may be small costs, but they can add up fast.

Maintenance, repairs, MOTs and servicing

Annual maintenance for a typical company van can reach £1,000 or even £2,000 a year, which includes costs relating to servicing, MOTs, tyres and unexpected repairs – as well as breakdown cover. You may also lose money while your vehicle is temporarily out of action.

Staffing and employment costs

If you have a company van, you’ll need someone to drive it. This means paying a salary, along with National Insurance and pension contributions, holiday and sick pay. There may also be training and additional insurance costs.

Using man and van services

If you make use of man and van services, you don’t need to pay any upfront costs. You also don’t need to pay for insurance, fuel, parking, ULEZ or emissions charges, maintenance or any staffing costs. It’s all included in the hourly or daily rate you’re quoted by the company you use.

But how much does it cost to use man and van for business services in the UK? It’s really important to get a quote tailored to your needs, but you could pay as little as £35-£50 per hour.

So which is the most cost-effective option?

If your business has scheduled deliveries all day, every day, it could be argued that owning a van is the more suitable option.

However, if your business only needs occasional deliveries, has quiet as well as peak periods, and needs flexibility – using a man and van service could be by far the most cost-effective option.

It doesn’t tie you into expensive ongoing costs, and there’s nothing to pay upfront. It’s a pay-as-you-go option that could suit the way your business works.

Find out more about our trusted commercial services here at Kiwi Movers.

On any film production set – especially one on location in London – time is money. Every second counts, and delays can be enormously expensive. This is why production schedules need to be planned so carefully, particularly when it comes to logistics.

Here, we’ll take a look at how professional movers with experience in film production logistics in London could be the ideal choice for your next project.

Why speed is critical when it comes to film production logistics

TV and film productions often run on tight call times, with location permits measured in hours. If you need to close a road, clear the area or shoot at night, every minute will be costing money.

If there’s a delayed delivery of a lighting rig, AV case or vital elements of the set, it can throw the whole schedule into chaos. This may mean paying crew and actors to wait around, as well as shelling out for new permits – or paying penalties for breaching licence terms.

And the longer a production runs for, the more it is likely to cost. You could end up paying between £2,000 and £10,000 per day, with high-end productions costing £100,000 per day or more.

This is why urgency is so important in the TV and film industry. Reshoots, overtime and other costs can mount quickly when there are delays. Planning is also important, to ensure that every last item is delivered to set, moved between locations and handled carefully – so that the production schedule runs smoothly.

Why use professional movers for your next film project?

If you’re working to tight deadlines, with lots of kit, fragile props and expensive equipment – and you can’t afford delays, damage or crew downtime – you may want to consider using professional movers.

DIY transport could be a risk and a false economy, especially when you factor in van hire, insurance and the cost of crew time diverted from filming. And then of course, there’s the risk of damage, or of delays due to a lack of experience with film production logistics in London logistics (i.e. traffic, parking, access, permits, route planning etc.)

Not just any moving company will do, however. It’s important to choose a trusted business like Kiwi Movers which specialises in kit transport for the film industry in the UK. Here are just a few of the reasons why we could be the perfect partner for your next project:

Specialist handling for valuable equipment

Film equipment is often expensive, fragile and sensitive, as well as being difficult to replace. It needs to be handled carefully to avoid damage and ensure it arrives at the next location in full working order.

Professional movers understand how to transport lighting rigs, flight cases, props and AV equipment safely, using the correct loading methods, padding, and securing techniques.

London logistics expertise

You need more than just a delivery postcode to move film kit around London quickly and efficiently. You need someone with insider local knowledge of congestion zones, ULEZ requirements, restricted streets and tight loading windows at studios and filming locations.

This expertise in film production logistics in London ensures that deliveries are carefully planned and on schedule, avoiding access issues that can disrupt even the best-planned shoots.

Fast, reliable and experienced with filming schedules

Film shoots typically run to strict call times, and late equipment can bring an entire set to a standstill. Professional movers are used to early starts, night shoots and last-minute changes. They can deliver kit quickly, while still ensuring careful handling.

This reliability gives production teams complete confidence that equipment will arrive exactly when and where it’s needed.

Support for productions of all sizes

Whether it’s a small indie shoot or a major blockbuster production, working with a film logistics expert like Kiwi Movers can provide flexible support to meet the exact needs of your project. No project is too big or small. Get in touch with our experienced team of commercial movers and logistics specialists to discuss your requirements. Message us or call 020 8877 9682.

When planning logistics for a film shoot, it’s understandable to focus primarily on transport – how you’ll move equipment, props and costumes between locations. But what happens between shoots?

Storage is a crucial consideration when planning a filming project, but it’s often overlooked or organised at the very last minute.

You’ll need somewhere secure and convenient to keep equipment between shoots, where everything can be accessed exactly when you need it. This is especially important for long-running shows, adverts and independent shoots – or any production where shooting happens in stages.

Where (and where not) to keep gear between shoots

It’s not acceptable, safe or very professional to keep expensive equipment in the back of someone’s van, or in your spare bedroom – no matter how low-budget the project. Hired studios can be expensive if just used for storage, and there are safety concerns with many other temporary kit storage locations.

You need to have dedicated storage space where kit is protected, accessible and ready to move at short notice. Ideally, it should be based in London, near to your designated filming locations. The last thing you want is to factor in hours of extra transport into an already complicated production schedule.

Lighting rigs, flight cases, AV equipment, props and set pieces often aren’t needed every day – but they still represent a significant investment. Without proper storage, there’s a serious risk of damage or loss, which can then cause delays when filming resumes.

Film production storage in London – solutions for different production types Long-running TV and streaming shows

It’s really common for TV series and returning productions to film in blocks, with breaks between episodes or locations. With rolling storage already arranged, equipment, costumes and props can be kept safe and ready to use for the next block of filming.

TV ads

Commercial shoots are typically short, so you might think that storage isn’t really a requirement for these. However, it’s worth remembering that adverts often need reshoots or follow-up filming weeks later.

Having access to some dedicated storage can be hugely helpful with this, ensuring continuity between shoots and also saving money on repeated setup costs.

Indie and low-budget productions

If you’re planning a shoot as an independent film-maker, there may not be much money in the budget for a permanent place to store equipment between filming days.

The good news though is that there are plenty of flexible options for film production storage in London, where you can store by the day if you need to. This gives you access to storage when you need it, without expensive overheads or the need to sign up for a longer-term contract.

How Kiwi Movers and Kiwi Storage can help

Here at Kiwi Movers – along with our sister company Kiwi Storage – we offer a joined-up solution designed specifically for productions that need flexibility between shoot days. By combining professional film kit transport with secure local storage, we help production teams manage equipment efficiently throughout the entire shoot cycle. We’ll work closely with your logistics team, or provide our own logistics consultancy services if required.

Our experienced team here at Kiwi Movers will handle the careful collection and redelivery of film equipment, whether it’s lighting rigs, flight cases, AV gear or props.

We have extensive experience working to filming schedules, so we absolutely understand the urgency of call times and the challenges of location access – especially in a city like London.

Between shoots, your equipment will be collected and stored securely with Kiwi Storage in London-based facilities. This means it’ll be on hand and ready for delivery whenever you need it.

Storage terms are flexible, so there’s no problem if you need to make last-minute changes or scale up or down as your project evolves.

You’ll find that by using the same trusted team for both transport and storage, your project should run much more smoothly. You’ll get a reliable service, with expert handling of valuable equipment, secure storage and fast delivery. Plus, clearer accountability and smoother coordination from day one of the shoot. Get in touch with our commercial team here at Kiwi Movers to discuss your needs.

Moving house? Whether you’re hiring a van or using a professional removals company, you’re going to need to make a few key decisions.

The first is which size van you’ll need, to fit in all your stuff. You might also need to select an appropriate size storage unit to unload it all into at the other end.

Here, we’ll be looking at how much you can fit into a Luton van, which is a popular choice for removals here at Kiwi Movers.

We’ll also run through how much storage space you need for a full Luton van, so you can choose the perfect unit for your needs.  With our help, you’ll have both moving and storage sewn up.

What is a Luton van and how big is it?

A Luton van is a large box van, with a raised section over the cab. It’s around 10-14 ft long, 7ft wide and 7ft high and offers around 600 to 800 cubic feet (17 to 19 cubic metres) of space.

To help you picture it, it’s around the size of a small bedroom or half a typical garage. You see Luton vans all around London doing deliveries. Supermarket delivery vans are essentially the same, but slightly smaller.

Thanks to its generous capacity yet compact, manoeuvrable size, the Luton is popular among professional removals companies and self-hire movers alike.

How much can you fit in a Luton van?

A Luton van can hold the contents of an average small house or 2-bedroom flat.

Here’s a short list of what this may actually look like, in terms of items and boxes:

• 30 to 40 medium boxes
• Wardrobes, sofas and dining tables
• Beds and mattresses
• White goods, such as a fridge and washing machine
• Bikes, suitcases and garden tools.

Is a Luton van enough for your move?

A Luton van is the ideal choice if you’re one or two people moving out of a 1-2 bedroom house or apartment. It’s also suitable for small office removals, and for students clubbing together for a storage space during holidays.

If you’re moving out of a large family home or you have particularly bulky furniture (such as a corner sofa or piano), you may need something bigger.

How much storage space do you need for a full Luton van?

A fully loaded Luton van typically requires a 100 sq ft storage unit to fit everything in. This also allows for a little walkway/aisle space, so you can access the unit.

This is for a van that is absolutely full, with no space to spare. If your van isn’t fully loaded, you may be able to fit everything in a 75 sq ft or 85 sq ft storage unit.

Comparing storage unit sizes for van loads

Here’s a quick look at typical vans used for removals, along with recommended self-storage unit sizes and what each can fit in:

Using this table, you should be able to estimate what size van and self-storage unit you’ll need, based on the amount of stuff you’re moving.

But if you need more help, use this handy space estimator tool. You can also contact our sister company Kiwi Storage for advice – call 020 8264 0550 or email [email protected].

Tips for loading your Luton van efficiently

To be sure everything will fit comfortably into your storage unit after unloading, here are some tips on packing your unit efficiently:

• Disassemble larger furniture where possible, to save space
• Use stackable boxes, and stack by size and weight (largest on the bottom) for stability
• Load heavy or bulky items first
• Label all boxes clearly, so you’ll be able to find everything once they’re in storage
• Use straps and blankets to protect items during the move
• Try to leave some walkway/aisle space free, so you can access the unit.

Ready to move? Request a quote for your move here.

Moving house is a physical and logistical challenge.

According to our own research, 31% of people who’ve moved house in the last five years say they’ve injured or hurt themselves during the process. The majority of that 31% say they’ve injured their back while attempting to carry heavy items.

Other common injuries include scraped knuckles from attempting to fit wide loads through narrow spaces, trapped fingers, injured toes and an assortment of bumped heads and on the latter, all occurred through (non-professional) house-movers attempting to stand up inside the back of a van.

As well the sheer energy required to get a house move – especially a London house move – completed, a good house move takes planning, logistical insight and a good degree of project management.

To make the process easier and less physically risky, we assembled a team of logistical, engineering and materials experts to plan the perfect move based on their respective and collective areas of expertise. That team includes a highly qualified civil engineer and British Territorial Army officer in Kiwi Movers’ own Matt Lowe, former British Army major and now Kiwi Movers director Regan McMillan and Dr. Greg Moakes PHD, an expert in materials science.

Here’s their advice:

Pre-move considerations

“Planning is everything” says Matt. “With the right plan you can identify hurdles, save time and shave hours off of the time it takes you to move. This of course will save you money, as well as hassle.”

Matt stresses the importance of taking a ‘reductive’ approach to the early stages of planning. In other words, be prepared to throw stuff away:

Things to get rid of:

Start planning this one month ahead of your move. Consider throwing out clothes you haven’t worn in six months and consolidate paper by scanning and storing digitally.  A week before your move, throw away any food that will be out of date by the time you’ve completed your move. If you are moving your refrigerator, stop buying frozen items a month before your move to use up your frozen items and avoid waste.

When to defrost the freezer before a house move

A good rule of thumb is that if you are moving the refrigerator, asses the time it will be unplugged for. If you can move it within 30 minutes, don’t defrost. If longer, start defrosting two days before the move.

What to keep around until the day of the move

Two days before your move, pack a suitcase of clothing, food, cleaning and toiletries. This is your camping kit and never goes in the back of the removals van. This will minimise the stress of moving by making it totally unnecessary to immediately unpack if you happen to be exhausted after the move.

The importance of labelling boxes

• Pick a packing station (if it’s nice weather, use the lawn) to assess how many trips you will need
• Box by room, and label by room, especially if hiring helpers
• Pack a special “open first” box last with food and drink essentials to get you through the first 1-2 days for the same reason as the suitcases above

Packing & Logistics

You should set a maximum exertion level that no single person involved in the move goes above. This helps reduce the risk of injury, fatigue and, if we’re being honest, tantrums.

According to the Niosh Lifting Equation, if conditions are optimal then healthy adult humans should be able to carry somewhere 51 lbs or 23 kg of weight. This assumes < 8 hrs with a recuperation time between work of at least 0.3x the duration of the work.

However, the optimal weight consideration doesn’t account for the extra stress to the body caused by carrying cumbersome or awkwardly shaped loads.

Dr. Moakes, who has extensive experience in the field of materials science stresses the importance of respecting the properties of different materials.

“It’s easier to move 20kg of books than it is to move a 20 kg mattress. For example, you can split the books into smaller batches, stack them, carry them on a dolly or lift from an elevated surface to give yourself a host of advantages. But a mattress is just one big floppy slab of weight that drags, snags and scuffs at will. Always be mindful of the different challenges posed by different materials.”

Moving boxes – which ones to use and when

A 1.5 cubic foot moving box, which is 16 x 12½ x 12½ inches can safely carry up to 60 lbs. But you should keep the weight under 50 lbs. This sort of box is great for books, for packing kitchen items, dishes, fragile and small appliances, lamps or shades.

This is the largest box you should carry without another person or a dolly or trolly. The reason for this is that the box measures 48 inches around which is approximately 0.8x the average human arm span.

A 3.0 cubic foot moving box which is 18 x 18 x 16 and can safely carry up to 65 lbs – clothing, pots and pans and electronics.

A 4.5 cubic foot moving box which is 18 x 18 x 24 and can safely carry up to 65 lbs.- larger lamps, linens and larger kitchen appliances.

A 6.0 cubic foot moving box which is 22 x 22 x 21 ½ and can carry up to 70 lbs – use for large, light items like duvets since overfilling will make it cumbersome to move.

Packing order reminder – optimising the house move process

Heavy furniture first, then heavy boxes, then a second and third layer. 

Where to keep important paperwork during a house move

All important paperwork and valuables should be kept out of site in the cab of the moving truck, or in a separate vehicle. Reasons for this are:

1. To reduce the likelihood of loss when mixed among the possessions in the primary storage area.
2. To reduce the stress associated with short-term loss of said valuables when mover inevitable forgets whether or not he/she packed the items in boxes now stored in the primary storage area.

Unpacking after a house move

Packing and unpacking should be performing according to human needs. (the higher the need for the room, the later to pack , earlier to unpack). Human essentials are water, food, sleep, sanitation and leisure in that basic order. As such:

Packing:

• Garage
• Living Room
• Bathroom (exception of essentials like toilet paper)
• Bedroom
• Kitchen

Reverse for unpacking

• Kitchen
• Bedroom
• Bathroom
• Living room
• Garage

Should you ever use supermarket boxes when moving house?

It’s so tempting to pop down to Tesco and blag a few of their boxes for the move. If you have a one-bed apartment and aren’t moving anything more than your clothes and a few books, this is fine. Supermarkets and “bix box stores” will allow you to take boxes. However, consider the following.

1. Thickness of cardboard is optimized to be just enough to carry the goods to minimize cost. A box designed to carry Walkers crisps was not optimised to carry your dumbbells.
2. Sizes of boxes vary wildly and minimize your ability to plan the number of boxes required will suffer
3. Integrity is often compromised since the boxes have already been used and there may have seen spills that you are not aware of.

Rules of thumb:

If you have two rooms worth of furniture, use a man-and-van service

If you have more than two rooms of furniture, or expensive/heavy items, use a home removal service

The internet and the popularity of online review sites has made it easier than ever to complain – about everything from companies and products to services and experiences. But when is it legitimate and indeed necessary to make a complaint about a removals firm? What’s the difference between a niggle based on unreasonable expectations, and a serious issue in need of investigation? Let’s take a closer look.

When you should complain

When you use a removals service, you expect and should receive a certain level of service. If the service falls short in any of the following ways, you have the right to make a complaint:

• Arriving late

Every moment counts during moving day, and arriving later than the pre-arranged time is simply unprofessional.

• Damaging items

All movers have insurance to cover damage, so you should always raise the issue if you spot a damaged item. It’s a good idea to have an inventory (with photographs) just in case you need to prove that the item was undamaged before the move.

• Losing items

Just like with damaged items, always contact your movers if something goes missing. Their insurance should cover it, so you won’t be left out of pocket.

• Rudeness/bad manners

There’s just no need – moving day can be stressful enough! The Kiwi Movers crew are known for being a super friendly, helpful bunch, which is as it should be.

• Slowness/taking way longer than planned for no good reason

Removals is an art form, which needs to be planned and executed with the utmost efficiency. It’s all to minimise disruption for you, and to complete the move on schedule. If your movers are sluggish, make sure you complain – especially if the extra time costs you extra.

Do you have reasonable expectations?

When using any service, it’s important to have reasonable expectations as to the service you’ll receive. If you’re not sure about anything, always ask in advance. Find out all you can about the removals firm and the service they offer, so you’re not disappointed further down the line.

Areas where complaints could be considered nit-picking, which are not likely to be upheld, include:

• Bookings not being held indefinitely

Removals specialists like Kiwi Movers are known for being flexible when it comes to moving day. They are able to pencil in dates, and possibly move dates if notice is provided. However,  they can’t hold unconfirmed bookings forever. Most firms get booked up very early, so they have to take firm bookings with deposits to avoid wasted time and manage their resources.

• Charging more than expected – when it’s your fault

A company which adds nasty, unexpected fees onto the final cost will always lead to complaints. This isn’t on, and it’s not how a responsible removals firm should operate.

However, you can’t really complain when extra charges are caused by your error or mistake. For example, if you have a lot more stuff to move than you said, or you’re not in at the arranged arrival time. If you’ve left a full removals crew sitting about for hours, or they have to do an unexpected second run, it’s understandable that there would be an extra cost.

• The service was more expensive than man and van services you’ve seen

This is like comparing apples and oranges, as these are very different services. Man and van gives you access to a vehicle and a spare pair of hands, while removals is a specialist service carried out with skill and expertise. Removals firms also offer higher levels of customer service, full insurance and extra services such as packing, cleaning and removal of specialist items.

Have more burning questions about removals? Call the Kiwi Movers team on 020 8877 9682* – we’re happy to help!

Maybe you’ve never moved house before, or perhaps you’re no newbie to the moving process and you know just how challenging it can be. Either way, the team here at Kiwi Movers has created a helpful guide on how to pack to move house, complete with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

What are the first things to pack when moving?

Knowing what to pack first when moving is key to reducing stress during the packing and moving process. If you were to create a packing order checklist, children’s books and toys would come first, followed by ornaments, cushions and throws. Next would be out-of-season coats, clothes, shoes, and books, then unused kitchen gadgets or Tupperware and other dinnerware, mugs or glasses you can do without for a couple of weeks.

This is also a good time to remove items from garages, sheds, etc. as it’s unlikely you’ll be needing them.

How do you pack awkward items to move?

Some items simply require more than bubble wrap and a box to be moved efficiently. In addition to a team of fit and capable movers, Kiwi Movers also has a host of removals equipment that allows heavy, large and awkwardly shaped pieces of furniture to be moved, even when faced with obstacles such as narrow hallways or multiple flights of stairs.

How do you declutter before moving (declutter and donate)?

Consider how much space you’re going to have in your new home to help you decide whether to get rid of extras or move them with you. You can then eliminate unwanted items easily by sorting through items that are either still boxed, not used or expired.

Items that never made it out of boxes are unlikely to be precious enough to move. The same goes with clothes or items that you’re unlikely to use again. Food or medications past their expiry date just take up space and are dangerous – toss them at the first opportunity.

Packing supplies you need

Before you pack anything, you’ll need to ensure you have the right packing materials – bubble wrap, heavy-duty boxes, parcel tape etc. You can order boxes of various sizes and other essentials required to seal those boxes directly from us. 

Start with rooms and items you use less often

As mentioned above, starting with rooms you use less often takes some of the stress out of the moving process. Packing items from your spare room or from the back of your wardrobe allows you to get a head start on packing without leaving you scrambling for anything you may still need.

Make a detailed inventory list

Although this may seem a tedious process, making a detailed inventory list allows you to keep track of what you have, what you need, and what has already been done. Speaking of…

Pack one room at a time

For the same reasons mentioned above, packing one room at a time helps you to keep track of what still needs to be done, decreasing the chances of becoming overwhelmed. Kiwi Storage services may come in handy if you need a place to keep extras such as furniture during the packing process.

Use plastic bags for spillable items

We offer expert use of packaging materials and ensure that your items are properly looked after during the moving process but if you wish to package items yourself, we advise that you use plastic bags for spillable items.

When it comes to packing toiletry items, opt for a sturdy box and some plastic bags. You could simply place the items in plastic bags and seal them or you could unscrew the caps, place a plastic bag over the neck of each bottle and then screw the caps back on to secure the liquid.

Roll your clothes

Rolling your clothes is easier and more practical than folding them. Not only this, but it also reduces the amount of space they take and, bonus, makes it less likely that wrinkles will appear.

Use roll tubes to pack cables and appliance wiring

To avoid wires from getting tangled, use toilet roll tubes to pack them all individually. Once they’re packed, label them and store them in a single box to prevent them from getting lost.

Store all of your valuables in one place

Pack all of your valuables together and make an inventory so nothing gets lost or forgotten. Alternatively, consider renting a secure storage container. The containers at Kiwi are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can ensure maximum security for your most beloved items.

Take all of your documents with you

If you can fit all of your documents like passports and birth certificates into one box, pack them in a high-quality box and put them in your car to take with you. If you run a business or otherwise have a lot of documents to transport, consider an office removal service to help you.

Why choose Kiwi Movers to help you move?

At Kiwi Movers, we pride ourselves in being the best in the business, especially when it comes to understanding our city. We’ve spent a lot of time working and studying London and the surrounding areas to make us experts at moving and removals into, out of, and around the city. We aren’t just a removals team either – we provide comprehensive problem-solving services to help you get things done in the most efficient way possible.

It’s not just UK moves we can help with. We have got international expertise when it comes to removals, deliveries and shipping, so no matter where you’re coming from or going to, we’ll be able to assist in the process.

If you’re interested in making use of our professional removals process or finding out more about our storage spaces, or our shipping services, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team is always on hand to help answer any questions you may have or get the ball rolling on utilising our services.

Call us or enquire online today to discuss options relating to removals, storage, shipping, cleaning, and more!

Our man and van service is an alternative to a complete, full-scale removals operation and is a lot more cost effective for those who don’t need an entire team to help them move.

We provide a fast and flexible service with big or small trucks to suit your requirements. We guarantee fair and competitive prices for all of our customers so you can rest assured that you’ll receive value for money with our movers.

If you’re interested in finding out about our man and van removal services here at Kiwi Movers, get in touch with us today. Or to get your man and van quote, just give us a call.

What is a man and van removal solution?

A mobile removal solution involves one of our small teams coming to your property and helping with all things house removal. Depending on your specific needs, our trained movers will arrive at your address and begin to help you with your move. The movers will move all items into their van and transport it to the new location for you. As part of our packing and unpacking service, we will make sure that any fragile items are protected during the relocation with bubble wrap and the right packing materials, and during the unloading process too.

Over our many years of operating man and van removal services in London, we know just how stressful the moving process can be, which is why we aim to make our service as convenient as possible for our clients. Kiwi can remove items, furniture and goods by coming to you at your home or business and assisting with the packing process, offering packing tips and ensuring reliable services.

Our services aren’t just limited to those looking to move home. One of the many benefits of our man and van service is that they can assist with office removal, domestic shifts or commercial moves and have the job complete in little to no time.

What makes Kiwi Movers stand out from the rest?

• As a removal company, we pride ourselves on buying and operating the most modern and efficient equipment to really go the distance when assisting with moves.
• We operate with the utmost integrity and follow safety policies rigorously to empower our teams to make the right decisions on the job.
• We create value by forming alliances with our partners and putting our customers at the very core of what we do, at all times.
• One thing that makes us stand out from other companies is that we know the importance of details. We will arrange everything you need to move as well as recommend agents for end-of-tenancy cleaning services or delivery of single items if necessary.

How does a man and van service work?

We’ve worked on making the entire process of using our man and van service as simple and efficient as possible. The first thing you’ll need to do is email us at [email protected] with your enquiry to get a quote for the move or call us on 020 8877 9682*. When you’re happy with the quote, all you need to do is arrange a booking by selecting the date on which you’d like to hire our man and van service.

On the selected date, our man and his van will arrive and begin to help you with your move, doing all the lifting work for you. Our men are trained in lifting heavy items and breakable items and can provide cardboard boxes and plastic boxes to help with packing if required. Once the van is loaded, they will transport your belongings to your new address. If it doesn’t all fit in the van the first time, don’t fret. Our man will come back and collect the rest of your items for you.

With heavier items and some of the more valuable items, it might feel impossible to plan how to move them safely. As experienced removals experts, we have the ability to solve any issues before or as they come up. Whether that’s issues with moving items that are large in size or particularly heavy like books, or problems on the busy roads, it’s likely that we’ve faced similar issues before and will be equipped to get the job done within just a few hours.

Why choose Kiwi Movers for your mobile removal solution?

There is a range of benefits to choosing our man and van service, the most important being that we are a team of trained professionals who can make use of many different methods to ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible. You can guarantee you’ll always have a good experience when dealing with our team because every member of our team is friendly and professional at all times.

Hiring Kiwi Movers for your mobile removal solution takes the stress out of the move for you. When you work with us, you don’t need to lift or carry any of your furniture, even the lighter items, because our movers will do it all for you. This also removes the risk of injuring yourself because, even with light items like towels or boxes for storage, if you haven’t been trained properly you can do yourself significant harm by lifting them incorrectly.

Similarly, our movers can get the job done without disturbing you, which is especially ideal for office moves. With only a single van, our mover can get to work without getting in your way. This is also massively beneficial for manoeuvring down busy or small streets. Getting a van down side roads isn’t easy at the best of times, but trying to get large trucks and multiple movers down a street with lots of traffic can be a very challenging task. 

We’re always happy to discuss any requirements or answer any questions you may have, so get in touch with us today to find out more or to receive your man and van quote directly.

Moving home is stressful. Using a removal hoist when moving home in London can be more efficient and save a lot of hassle. In areas such as Chelsea, Kensington and Central London using a removal hoist makes a lot of sense when Georgian period homes have sash windows that can either be removed or are large enough to allow access. What might also involve a long day with a lot of labour can be done in a few hours.

Are hoists expensive?

Hoists will cost several hundred pounds and minimum hire period. This can appear a bit daunting, but when you compare the like for like with labour it can actually be less.

There are also several different size hoists depending on the load you need and also the height of your property.

Do you need a permit?

In some councils yes, you will need a permit as you will either need to reserve the bays outside the property or in some cases position on the footpath. This isn’t an issue though as we can sort the permits if required.

For more information about moving with a hoist, please get in touch with us on 020 8877 9682*.

Watch a removal hoist in action

Moving home can be a stressful process at the best of time with not least the added complexities of moving home safely during the coronavirus pandemic. The good news is that we now have a lot of experience with this and it’s actually a very safe process.

Planning your move

The first step when choosing a removal company is to get some quotes. Traditionally a surveyor would visit your home, but many companies now offer a video service. This is something that Kiwi Movers has been doing for sometime and is fast becoming the preferred option of our clients. It is convenient and can be a little less intrusive than having lots of people come to your home if you are getting multiple quotes. The video quote is surprisingly accurate and if there is any doubt a surveyor can always do an onsite visit at a later date.

Once you have selected your removal company you will just need to make the normal preparations you would for any move. Get everything packed up, get rid of any unwanted items and arrange all the services. For more information about preparing for your move check out our handy FAQ section.

Moving Day

The main consideration for moving home safely during coronavirus is practising social distancing where possible. On your moving day this won’t always be easym, but maintaining a 1m distance should be possible. Our team do not wear masks when moving for the simple reason is it restricts breathing when working hard. Our team will keep a safe social distance though and work in pairs to form a bubble. At the start of each day they also use a temperature scan and having hand wash and paper towels in their trucks. Going to and from work we have limited the use of public transport by using private vehicles or biking.

If you are shielding or do have an underlying condition that may may you susceptible to coronavirus then we recommend following the relevant government advice. You don’t necessarily have to be present during the move. You could also wait a period of time to enter your new home or touch the boxes etc.

Ultimately we have found applying good old common sense ensures peace of mind and moving home can be done safely.

For more information, please feel free to contact us

The Role:

You will be responsible for taking inbound phone sales, invoicing, client management and liaising with sales/operations in a office team of 4 to 5 individuals. You will report to the General Manager. You will be paid a basic salary + commission and eligible for the weekly bonus system. OTE £30k.

Whilst prior experience in office administration or sales is desirable, full training will be provided. The successful candidate must be motivated, solution orientated and a real people person.

Your hours will be Monday to Friday 0830 – 1730h, but where required you will be expected to work later during busy periods (summer is the busiest period). You will work one Saturday morning per month which will be compensated with a half day off the following week.

The ideal candidate is someone who wants to be challenged, learn new skills and to develop as an individual.

Must Have Skills:

• Visa to work in the UK or EU/UK Passport.
• Excellent communication skills (verbally and written)
• Commercial experience is desirable (any size business, small or large)
• Sales experience is desirable as you will be dealing with new & prospective clients over the phone. (inbound sales only)
• Ability to work under pressure and problem solve, independently and unsupervised (the role will require you to work outside normal working hours during busy periods).
• The ability to multi-task & have a sense of humour
• Ability to think outside the box
• Good time management and the ability to prioritise tasks
• Previous leadership roles is desirable (management or sporting)

The Company:

Kiwi Movers is a dynamic company that specialises in removals, storage, shipping and logistics. Kiwi is a growing company whose staff are from diverse backgrounds with a company culture that is based on trust and a ‘can do’ spirit within a fun and challenging work envrionment.

We are proud that our staff really enjoy their jobs and often develop friendships for life.

Benefits:

• Bonus scheme
• Company pension
• Private medical/dental insurance
• Casual dress

Application deadline: 31/05/2020

Currently, the world is gripped by the spread of COVID-19, better known as Coronavirus, a potentially fatal illness that can affect your lungs and airways.

With every passing day, it feels like the global pandemic hits new heights. As the number of cases (and fatalities) continues to rapidly rise — now surpassing 345,000 confirmed cases and 14,000 deaths worldwide — we’re witnessing several countries enter full lockdown mode, entire populations being urged to quarantine/self-isolate and socially distance themselves, schools and businesses being forced to temporarily close down, major sporting events being postponed and supermarket shelves being depleted.

In the UK, there have been over 8,000 confirmed Coronavirus cases and more than 400 deaths, according to the latest reports.  While these figures are less than those in countries like Italy, China and the United States, the Government has been forced to implement strict social distancing measures in an attempt to “flatten the curve.” With the highest number of cases of any region in the UK, London is a particular cause of concern.

How can you prevent the spread of Coronavirus?

There are preventative measures you can take, as an individual, to help combat the spread of Coronavirus and keep yourself safe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises you to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently; cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze; and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

While this is excellent advice for when you’re out and about, it’s also important to keep your home or office safe from the spread of Coronavirus. Just think how easy it is to carry germs inside without realising it, especially if you live in a busy city like London. So, how can you help to safeguard your home or place of work from Coronavirus? Through cleaning.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “current evidence suggests that novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials.” Therefore, “cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings.”

Coronavirus-free cleaning service

If you live in London and are looking for a professional cleaning service to protect your home, office or place of work from Coronavirus, look no further than Kiwi Movers. Our cleaning service provides deep cleans to disinfect your building from top to bottom. We can also clean areas infected or possibly infected by COVID-19, safely and effectively.

Responsive, reliable and reasonably-priced, our cleaning service is available throughout London.

To safeguard your home or office from the spread of Coronavirus, get in touch with our friendly team on 020 8877 9682* or at [email protected]. Or you can get a free, no-obligation quote by filling out our enquiry form.

Kiwi Movers already offers an extensive range of extra services when you move house, from disassembling wardrobes to deep cleaning. We’re now delighted to reveal that we’ve made it even easier to move to a new pad. It’s all thanks to the super helpful service from Please Connect Me.

We’ve teamed up with this time-saving utility connection service to help our home and business movers connect all of their essential services quickly. Please Connect Me hooks you up with everything from energy, internet and TV to water, council tax and many more. This means that your new property is up and running, and ready to live in or use, right away.

Why Kiwi Movers + Please Connect Me is a real game-changer

If you’re one of those people who love to be organised and who love their lists, you’ll find Please Connect Me a dream to use. It’s the ideal way to plan another part of your move in advance. Book in your Kiwi Movers crew for moving day, then use Please Connect Me to get your gas, electricity, water and more up and running from the moment you move in.

As well as being able to arrange it in advance, the service also offers these other tempting benefits:

• Take advantage of the best deals. If finding the very best deals and prices for energy, water, TV, broadband and more is important to you, Please Connect Me won’t disappoint. They save you time and money searching the market, comparing prices and finding the best deals. They work with leading suppliers and have immediate access to prices, promotions and availability.

• It can all be customised to suit you. The people at Please Connect Me care about finding the right options to suit you, and it isn’t always about finding the lowest price. They take the time to understand what you need and put together a bespoke solution to suit you.

• You can get everything sorted in one phone call. Rather than ringing round lots of different suppliers, having to repeat your details several times, you can get it all sorted in one phone call with a real person. They don’t believe in answer machines or subjecting you to horrible hold music – just real people ready to help right away.

More about Please Connect Me

Working with Please Connect Me is a natural fit for us. For starters, we both originated back in New Zealand before expanding our brilliant services to home and business owners here in the UK. We’re also passionate about making moving easier. It doesn’t need to be stressful, back breaking or hugely disruptive. Services such as Please Connect Me are revolutionising moving house, making it as easy as possible to move into a new place and be comfortable right away.

Have questions about Please Connect Me? Drop us a line at 020 8877 9682*. You can also start using Please Connect Me right away, booking in your connections through this easy link.  

Moving house in London can be a challenge, with everything from traffic and parking to narrow hallways and steep staircases to battle with. The good news is that there are loads of ways you can de-stress the experience. You’ll need to be a whizz at planning, seek the right help and be ready to react to unexpected obstacles.

Here’s our guide to moving house in London without having to take a month-long holiday to recover:

1. You can’t always do it on your own – so use professional movers

Of course we would have this as our number one tip, but it is an important thing to consider. Would you rather save money and have one of the most stressful, back-breaking days of your life, or spend a little more and take a huge load of hassle off your plate? It’s up to you, but most people find that moving house alone is a mistake. You could also risk hurting yourself, and that’s not worth doing for the sake of a few pounds.

Kiwi Movers offers a range of options to suit your needs and budget. You can book in a full team to handle packing, moving and unloading for you, or simply a man and van service. The latter gives you both a vehicle and an extra (fully trained) pair of hands for short moves or if you don’t have much stuff.

2. Pack and prepare like a pro

When it comes to moving house in London, preparation is key. Lists are your new best friends, helping you to organise and plan your move down to the last detail. Make yourself a to-do list and an inventory of what’s in every box. Pack carefully but logically, sorting your boxes by room so it’s easy to unpack at the other side.

3. Have a massive clearout before you move

Do you know what makes moving house easier? Having less stuff to move! Be ruthless and sell, give away or bin anything you haven’t used in the last year or so. You may even be able to raise some extra cash – which you can spend on a moving crew!

4. Have a clear plan for moving day

Moving day will sneak up on you and once it’s here, it’ll pass in a blur. Things move fast, so you’ll need to be on hand to direct and manage the move. Come up with a plan for the day, or work with your moving company to draw something up.

5. Ask loads of questions before the move

Will your movers disassemble and reassemble furniture, and disconnect appliances? Can they move your piano down from the top floor? Will they help you unpack and place furniture on the other side? How should you best pack your boxes for an efficient (and breakage-free) move? These are all questions you should ask your removals company. The answers can help you prepare and set your mind at ease ahead of the big day.

6. Choose the right day

Weekends may be most convenient for you, but they can also be more expensive if you’re using a removals firm. You’ll find cheaper rates during the week, but make sure you avoid rush hour and other busy times for traffic.

Kiwi Movers specialises in stress-free moves. If you’re moving house in London, you can trust our team to handle every detail – including the heavy lifting. Give us a call on 020 8877 9682* to get a quick quote for your move.

Despite having to pay for the privilege of having a background check conducted on themselves, most renters don’t perform the same due diligence on their potential landlord, leaving them at risk of renting from dodgy or criminal landlords, according to brand new Kiwi Movers research. In fact, just of 8% of renters in the capital do any sort of background check and half say they’d take what they got. Our research also found that more than a third of renters would favour a landlady over a landlord, with 44% of women saying they’d prefer to rent from another female.

What else did our London movers study find?

• Only 20% of UK renters do any sort of check on their landlord before agreeing a tenancy.

• Figure drops to just 8% for London with almost half of renters in the capital willing to ‘take what they can get’.*

• More than a quarter of renters would prefer to rent from a female.

• 44% of women would prefer to rent from another woman.

• 1 in 5 believe renting from an agency meant they didn’t need to worry about landlord credentials or history.

• 18% of those who did find useful negative information on a landlord say it affected their decision to rent from that person.

• Renters in Liverpool most likely to check out a landlord online before renting.

Just 8% of London residents do any kind of background check on their landlord, 62% below the national average of 20%. London residents are also the least likely to act on information about a potential landlord, with fewer than half (44%) of them saying negative the information had influenced a housing decision. In other words, the need to secure a property was greater than their need to rent with confidence.

Renters in Liverpool are most likely to carry out background checks on their landlord. A third of the city’s residents say they’ve performed a background check on a landlord before agreeing to move into a property.

Dan Wilson Craw, Policy Manager, Generation Rent says:

“Anyone with a spare room or flat can let it out with no checks involved, so there is an unknown number of dodgy landlords out there. For the tenant, there is no way of finding out what their prospective landlord is like beyond a Google search, and even then it might be too late to back out of a contract without forfeiting fees. This is why we need to open up the list of convicted landlords for tenants to access, and, better yet, introduce a system of licensing.”

A separate study, conducted in March 2019 by London property maintenance firm Aspect found that more than half (53%) of London’s renters have experienced injuries and health problems from poorly maintained rental property. Aspect operations director Nick Bizley said ““Our tradespeople regularly see and report examples of corner-cutting on maintenance, especially where properties have been converted into homes of multiple occupancy, such as a large houses converted into flats, but also at the higher end of the property market too.”

Landlords vs Landladies

Almost half of female renters would prefer a female landlord.

More than a quarter (29%) of tenants surveyed said that if they had the choice, they’d prefer to rent from a woman and that the sex of their landlord would influence whether they rented a specific property. For women, that figure increased to 44%.

Men were less picky, with just a quarter saying the gender of the homeowner would influence their decision to rent a property. Of those expressing a gender preference, more than half (52% would prefer a female).

Cities with renters most likely to check out a potential landlord

Billie Gianfrancesco a PR manager for YOPA, a fixed rate estate agency, has been renting in London since 2008 and is on her fifth rental property.

“In my experience, female landlords tend to work more closely with property managers or put a system in place whereby tenants can resolve any issues quickly without needing to bother or chase them.

I’ve found that male landlords prefer to try and resolve the issue themselves first. This often means repeat visits in person, which makes any tenant nervous, and a greater recurrence of botched DIY repairs. In one situation an upstairs bath was leaking, and our male landlord visited four times attempting to fix the issue himself. Because of this, the problem wasn’t resolved for over a month. I faced a similar issue a couple of years later with a female landlord – she called in a professional and the issue was resolved within a week

As a female tenant, I also prefer to deal with a female landlady as in my personal experience, I have at times felt intimidated by male landlords. This is particularly true when dealing with the inventory check out and deposit negotiations at the end of a tenancy.

I have in the past felt patronised by certain male landlords quoting ridiculous prices for repairs (for example £768 to replace a chipped slate tile on an outdoor porch, and £1,020 to replace a 20 year old alarm system with a brand new one, when multiple technicians had confirmed it was broken due to age) and as recently as this year, I was threatened by a male landlord for disagreeing with his deposit deduction demands above. I’ve never had this experience with a female landlord!

I’ve also had a great male landlord. It’s just that if I had a preference it would be a female.

Regan McMillan, boss of Kiwi Movers, believes the rental market is so cut-throat that tenants are putting themselves in the hands of potentially dodgy landlords, just to secure a property:

“As a London removal firm we see the sharp end of the rental market. We get to meet and speak to a lot of people who, quite frankly, are at the mercy of the highly competitive rental market. Rental properties are snapped up in a flash and most people know that if they want to secure a place to live, they need to act quick. This means they simply don’t have time to check out a landlord and even if they did, I think a lot of them would take the risk just to get a place to live.

“The problem is less pronounced outside of the capital, but it’s still a sad state of affairs for renters all over the UK. That only 20% of renters nationally are checking out their landlord before renting is hugely concerning. As a nation, we probably take more care when buying a car than we do when choosing a person from whom to rent a home.”

It might be one of the most exciting and innovative cities in the world. But London has earned a certain reputation for its commuting lifestyle, and for good reason too. The number of daily commuters travelling 2 hours or more has rocketed 20% in the last 5 years.

That’s over 900,000 London commuters every year. Not to mention it’s expected to rise in the next decade too.

So what can you do to make this journey a bit more enjoyable?

Mindfulness Daily

4.5/5.0

Okay, so the tube is rammed. You have a busy day ahead. And the guy behind you is standing so close you now know the entire back catalogue to Snow Patrol (we feel your pain).

Don’t worry, though. There’s a nice little solution directly accessible from your smartphone.

Mindfulness Daily is designed to help make stressful situations – whether it’s the morning commute or a big stakeholder meeting – easier to handle as time goes on. There’s breathing exercises, meditation guidance videos, and even TED talks.

What’s more, you can actually track your progress over time and focus on particular goals to suit you: like being more patient, kind or just finding time to relax.

You can even set push notifications at particular times during the day so you don’t forget.

How useful is that?

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History

4.0/5.0

There’s a special place in our hearts for this epic podcast. Filled with fascinating tidbits, dramatic anecdotes, and a sweeping narrative that spans from Alexander to Churchill, Hardcore History isn’t for the faint hearted.

But don’t let that put you off. Carlin is down-to-earth and has a genuine love for this podcast, even if the topics are a bit gruelling at times (think the assassination of Caesar or the murderous court dramas of Ancient Persia).

What does this have to do with your London commute, you may ask?

This is fantastic storytelling and makes even the longest journey more enjoyable. The episodes tend to last between 3-4 hours too, so you can block them out and dive in at your leisure.

The only downside to this wonderful podcast, however, is that you’ll have to wait a couple of months between each new episode. There’s quite a bit of research involved, as he likes to remind us:

It’s difficult to be annoyed though.

Duolingo

5.0/5.0

Fancy learning a new language on your journey?

Duolingo is one of the world’s most popular tools for learning a new language quickly and with all the conversational skills that you didn’t really learn at school.

As you can probably tell, this app is a champion of gamification and has lots of different levels to work you up to fluency. You can even use Duolingo just to brush up on your skills.

We reckon if you spend around 10-20 minutes on this every day, you’d be prepared for your next summer holiday in no time.

Do you have any more tips on how to improve your London commute? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter.

In this new monthly post, we highlight our Rising Star of the month, highlighting a little bit more about some of the awesome people that work at Kiwi Movers and what makes us a great London moving company.

Adrian Cook – Team Leader

1. Where are you from?

Born in Palmerston North but live in the Waikato’s in a little country town called Te Aroha

2. How long have you been with Kiwi?

Since February 28/2/16 2years 8 months

3. Your background (training, previous jobs)

Farmer from NZ of 15years

4. Your role?

Senior Team Leader aka formy or foreman

5. What you enjoy about the job?

Mixing and working with the boys and meeting new clients

6. Best moment/memory on the with Kiwi?

Moving Kit Harrington ( Jon Snow from Game of Thrones)

7. Most challenging situation and how you overcame it?

Getting a sofa in a house hoisting it up and over a balcony and the look on the clients face when we get it in the house safely

In this new monthly post, we highlight our Rising Star of the month, highlighting a little bit more about some of the awesome people that work at Kiwi Movers and what makes us a great London moving company.

Thomas Aires – Operations Manager

1. Where are you from?

Havelock North, Hawkes Bay and Wellington more recently.

2. How long have you been with Kiwi?

This December will be 2 years

3. Your background (training, previous jobs)

I have a BA in International Relations and Criminology as well as management experience in a number of bars and pubs. I have also contracted to the NZ Police previously.

4. Your role?

As the Operations Manager, I am responsible for the smooth running of all aspects of our operation, from basic truck maintenance and repairs to inducting and training new staff, through to responding to the day to day incidents that arise.

5. What you enjoy about the job?

Dealing with a variety of personalities, whether it be clients, suppliers or staff. I enjoy the interactions with people from all different backgrounds and the challenges this sometimes brings.

6. Best moment/memory on the with Kiwi?

Too many to choose from, delivering to parts of the UK I would never normally get to see as well as meeting some really interesting people along the way

7. Most challenging situation and how you overcame it?

Breakdowns are the most challenging situations to deal with. While rare, they require creative and reactive thinking to organise recovery and minimise delays and costs.

As a London removals company, we often hear what new arrivals make of life in the UK. We also hear a lot from people moving back home after living here for a while. It’s really interesting to find out what people’s expectations were before they got here.

To get a more scientific understanding, we polled more than 500 people to get their opinions on life in the UK and how it compares to what they were expecting before they came.

On the whole, almost half said life in the UK was better than expected, 15% said it was as expected and 37% said it was worse than expected with the weather, the nightlife and friendly locals most impressing new arrivals.

Better than expected

57% of respondents said the UK weather was better than expected, although this year’s summer heatwave may have something to do with the generally positive perceptions.

More than three quarters said the nightlife and entertainment was better than expected.

The people of the UK appear to have made a good impression too. The UK’s work ethic, sense of humour and attractiveness were all rated as better than expected.

But it was the UK’s friendliness that really impressed, with 92% saying the UK was friendlier than expected.

Worse than expected

It wasn’t all positive though. 57% said the food was ‘as expected’ and 28% said it was worse than expected. The UK’s culinary offerings exceed expectations for just 15%.

Public transport was the biggest disappointment for new arrivals. 74% said it was worse than expected, 16% said it was as expected and 10% said it was better than expected.

Regan McMillan, director of Kiwi Movers who moved to the UK from New Zealand in 2007, says:

“The UK should be proud at just how much it exceeds expectations. There’s a reason people leave behind great places like New Zealand, Australia and America to experience UK life. We help a lot of people from New Zealand and Australia move back home after staying in the UK and the vast majority tell us they’re sad to leave.”

Although McMillan warned that the study shouldn’t be taken to reflect the views of everyone who moves to the UK.

“The majority of those who took part in the survey came to the UK from English-speaking countries, like New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the States. They have the advantage of shared culture, common language and large expat communities that act as an important support network.”

Full study results

About the study

Between the dates of September 22nd and September 24th, we polled 521 adults who moved to the UK in the past five years, some of whom have since moved away from the UK. Nationalities polled were; Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United States of America, Canada, Spain, Zimbabwe, France, Sweden, China, India, Pakistan, Poland, Czech Republic.