ARPN is Launched

The Association of Relocation Professionals in the Netherlands was established April 2006 under Dutch Law. 

A group of relocation and immigration professionals got together to discuss the Dutch policies and governmental practices affecting their clients. Individually the team members are strong independent prominent players in the relocation industry in the Netherlands. Individually however, they are often not strong enough to make a change for the benefit of their clients.

The combined efforts, knowledge and enthusiasm of the Founding Members, Paul van der Smissen, SIRVA Relocation, Helen Rietveld, Relocation Services, and Isamar van Hilten, Partners in Relocation – with advisory help from Peter & Christine Schrage, PAS BMS and Pauline Son, Settle Services resulted in the organization of a powerful body to improve all aspects of Relocation Services in the Netherlands.

United they predict they would be powerful enough to be listened to, and make a difference!

The Mission Statement:

The Association is a not-for-profit organization for Dutch relocation and immigration companies.

The Association strives to improve and guard the level of professionalism of its members by education, active government relationships, business interaction and practical know how. The Association is neutral and will safeguard the industry from corruption and indecent behavior.

Art of Living Acquires Management Relocations

"We are pleased to announce that as of the 1st of June 2006, Art of Living has acquired Management Relocations sprl (ABRA and EuRA Full Members).

Management Relocations sprl was one of the references in the relocation industry with 15 years of experience in Belgium.

With this acquisition, Art of Living S.A. clearly consolidate their position as a major player in the Belgian Relocation Market."

Introducing the HCR Group

Following another year of continued growth and expansion, Countrywide Mobility Partners have undertaken a total re-brand that better reflects the size and diversity of the company.

 
As the largest independent relocation management company in the UK, the company has always been at the forefront of relocation services for the last 25 years. During that time, the services provided by the company have expanded significantly into other associated areas such as the sourcing and managing of rental accommodation for short and long term requirements. Taking away the burden from both employers and employees of finding and managing rental accommodation and making the whole process more cost effective is an increasingly important aspect of recruitment activity and assignment support – especially across national borders. So much so that the HCR Group is now the largest corporate tenant in the UK with its own accepted tenancy agreement, a specialist dilapidations team, its own UK-wide Property Adviser network and a personal service ethos rather than a call-centre mentality.

 
The new HCR Group identity – reflects the heritage and origins of the company in terms of the Hambros and Countrywide Groups and also the scale of the company today. Using the new brand and identity also gives the company the opportunity to even more effectively promote and reinforce its unique range of services, from Employee Mobility to Property Services and Recruitment Support. Thereby enabling the Group to offer practical solutions for the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce within the EU and internationally.  

Nathalie Gazal Joins foursquare group

Nathalie Gazal has joined the foursqaure group, at their Paris offices based in the prestigious Tour Montparnasse.

Nathalie has extensive experience in international relocation management, but also has personal experience of international assignment and the relocation process having lived in South East Asia for 12 years. 

Returning in 1990, Nathalie joined the industry and has become an expert in HR Mobility Management.  Nathalie has always placed a great emphasis on the importance of understanding cultural difference, and has been very involved in the development of training on cultural adjustment and the repatriation process.  Nathalie is the current Vice President of the SNPRM (Syndicat National des Professionals de Relocation at la Mobilite).

Kathryn Andrews Joins the EuRA Council

Kathryn Andrews of Andrews Roe Consult, has joined the EuRA Council as representative for the Benelux region.  Kathryn told The EuRApean;

“Some friends of mine first urged me to accept a nomination for election to the EuRA Council several years ago. At that time, circumstances were not right for me to give any such role the attention, enthusiasm and energy that it would demand.  However, I am now delighted that members have shown faith in me to join the Council.  EuRA has been very good to me; as a small DSP, many members will know that lonely feeling but EuRA gave me the opportunity to meet like minded individuals in similar situations and to bounce thoughts and ideas around in a way that is difficult for a sole practitioner.  I look forward to putting something back in to the organisation that has given me so much and working with what has become a very successful team.”

Welcome to Kathryn.

Edna Smith Retires from SIRVA

Edna Smith, European Director for SIRVA, has officially retired, although she continues to bring her skills to SIRVA and to relocation in new ways.
 
Edna has been working for SIRVA Relocation (previously Rowan Simmons Relocation) for more than 15 years, in diverse, complex and challenging roles.  From being the manager of the Destination Services team based in Leyland where she grew the business to more the £1m per year to helping restructure the European wide group, Edna is an acknowledged relocation and business specialist. 
 
On a global level, Edna helped to define the basis of the management and the development of the network of partners of SIRVA, and we will see the results of this work over the coming months.
 
Edna will continue in a role designed to support the industry through forging closer links with industry bodies, and supporting the work of the UK ARP through her work as a council member and chair of the training group.  Edna has supported the work of the EARP through her expertise at structuring training for the ARP, and will become one of the first people to graduate at Level Three of the CERP programme.

Margaret Moes - Takes over as Vice President of EuRA

Margaret Moes, Managing Director of LSS Relocation UK, became the Vice President of EuRA earlier this month.  Margaret has extensive experience in relocation, starting her company LSS in 1986 as one of the first corporate suppliers in London.  She has also served on the Board of the UK ARP, where she was part of the Conference and Marketing Committees.

"I'm very pleased to take on this role, and am looking forward to contributing to the industry in my role as Vice President.  I have been part of the EuRA council now for four years, and in that time have enjoyed working as part of the Marketing and Membership Committees.  In my role as Vice President, I'm looking forward to contributing to the ongoing success of the annual conference, and taking on the role of Membership Liaison.

I'm also excited about working as the Managing Editor of The European.  As part of this project I am keen to bring the extensive work of the council as well as news from our industry to the attention of our members and to the wider world. Please feel free if you have any comments, to email me at vicepresident@eura-relocation.com.

EuRA has grown enormously in both size and influence over the past years, and I'm looking forward to being part of its ongoing development, representing our diverse and dynamic industry"

The EuRA Council

For full details of the EuRA council and its members, click here.