Pickfords is a moving company based in the United Kingdom, part of Pickfords Move Management Ltd. The business is believed to have been founded in the 17th century, making it one of the UK's oldest functioning companies, although the similar Shore Porters Society was founded earlier. The earliest record is of a William Pickford, a carrier who worked south of Manchester in 1630. In 1646, a north-country yeoman by the name of Thomas Pickford had his lands confiscated by Parliament for gun-running and supporting the Cavaliers during the English Civil War. Today, Pickfords has branches throughout the UK and Ireland. The company provides a complete portfolio of services to consumers and businesses including moving within the UK, moving to Europe and further overseas, business moving, transition and project management, employee moving services, small moves and packing materials. Pickfords Removals operates independently from Pickfords UK with branches located in the cities of Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria. Additional sales offices are based throughout the country. Both Pickfords UK and Pickfords South Africa form part of the Allied International Moving Network.
Corporate history
The Pickfords family of Adlington, south of Manchester, and later of nearby Poynton, first entered the wagon trade in the 17th century. At first, they were engaged in supplying quarry stone by packhorse for the construction of turnpike roads; instead of the packhorses returning with empty loads, they carried goods for third parties. In 1756, the company relocated to London and in 1776 it invented the fly wagon which could travel from London to Manchester in the then fast speed of four and a half days. A year later, it bought the carrier business of William Bass, a Staffordshire haulier who carried ale for a local brewer. With the funds he went on to form Bass Brewery which still exists today. In 1779, it entered the canal industry as well. In the 19th century, it operated wagons on other companies' railways, but this was contentious, and eventually this service was eliminated. In 1816, the company was close to bankruptcy after many years of decline. The Pickford family sold out to a number of businessmen led by Joseph Baxendale, whose family become instrumental in running the company for over a century. For being late in delivering a miller's iron shaft, Pickford's was involved in the famous English contract law case, Hadley v. Baxendale, where the court held the company was not liable for unforeseeable losses resulting from Pickford's lateness. In the 20th century, the company switched to road haulage. During this time it formed a rivalry with fellow hauliers Carter Paterson, with whom they merged in 1912, although both kept their separate names.
Nationalisation
In 1920, the company was sold again, to Hay's Wharf, on the back of a burgeoning post-World War I home removals business. Pickfords still continued to operate under that name. In turn Hay's Wharf was taken over by the four main British railway companies in 1934 and was subsequently nationalised in 1947 as part of British Road Services and what would become the National Freight Corporation in 1969. In 1942, the heavy haulage division moved Mulberry harbour sections to sea launchings prior to them being towed across the English Channel for the Normandy landings. As part of the NFC, Pickfords was involved in a wide range of haulage activities, including heavy haulage from the 1950s to the 1980s. The company absorbed several well-known haulage companies during this period but then withdrew from the sector. A number of former Pickfords vehicles have been preserved and can be seen at events, demonstrating moving outsize loads along with the earlier steam tractors.
Privatisation
The National Freight Consortium, as it was subsequently renamed, was privatised via a sale to employees in 1982. Downard Pickfords was established in 1982 when Downard Transport in Australia was purchased. Pickfords' travel agency business was the second largest in the UK in 1984 and included the Harry Leek chain as well as its own brand. Pickfords Travel was sold to Airtours in 1992, when it comprised the Pickfords and Hourmont Travel brands; Hourmont had been acquired by Pickfords in 1987. After Airtours acquired the travel agency business of Hogg Robinson in 1993 it was merged with Pickfords and Hourmont Travel to form Going Places. In 1996, the NFC sold Pickfords to the American company Allied Van Lines in a deal worth $400 million, In 2002 the parent company was renamed, becoming Allied. In 2009, Allied Pickfords, the international arm of Pickfords, became Pickfords. The company continues to operate as part of the Allied International Network which has 600 offices in over 45 countries. In 2012, the UK arm of the company entered a pre-packaged insolvency, before being bought by two of its directors. This deal secured employment for the company's 900 staff members.
Management
Kevin Pickford, an Australian who traced his ancestors back to 1750 in the same parish as the Pickford family, became managing director of Pickfords in 2002. In 2010, Kevin Pickford returned to Australia, continuing to work with the group. Russell Start became managing director of the Pickfords operating company Moving Services Group UK Ltd, having previously worked for Pickfords for many years as a senior manager. As part of its approach to corporate responsibility, Pickfords announced a fundraising partnership with the NSPCC in 2010.
