Point2Point December '08

Point2Point December 2008
The Newsletter of the Association of Relocation Professionals

Credit Crunch
Sally Goodsell CEO FSE

It’s hard to feel positive when you can barely swing a proverbial cat without crashing into stories of redundant professionals, collapsing businesses and comparisons with the Great Depression. With 111 profit warnings from quoted UK companies in the three months up to 30 September the financial turmoil is making itself felt in the real economy*. Many good companies will suffer, yet it is in the power of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to turn things around.

In an economic downturn there are always winners as well as losers; if we stick together we can make sure there are more winners this time round.
For the full article, click here

News Digest
Annie Panton

It's now December and coming up to the shortest day in the year and while nature continues its own consistent pattern, dark days have given us all something other than nature to think about lately. When I started to write this piece, I came across more and more statistical evidence of gloom and doom and I vowed I would avoid all this by being a little light-hearted instead! The industry has held several events during the autumn – the ARP Annual Conference in Oxford – a new venue for us and it gave everyone a chance to hold forth on the State of the Industry – very interactive and positive, I thought.
For the full article, click here

Oxford Conference
A Memorable Event

Nearly a year in the planning, our 2008 conference took place in the august setting of St Hugh’s College Oxford.  This was the first year that we took the event out of London but the reasoning behind this decision was sound.  Over the years we have been running the event, we have always asked delegates to fill out evaluation sheets on every aspect of the conference, from the speakers and catering, to the event location.  The results of these evaluations from the last two conferences have highlighted how difficult many of our members find it to come to London, with the associated costs of travel, parking and accommodation. 
For a PDF gallery of the event, click here
For the full article click here

Inspire Before you Expire
"Grey Thatch"

By chance, I came across an article the other day about Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University Professor who died of cancer at the age of 47. For those of you who haven’t come across it, his is a truly inspirational story – so inspirational that Pittsburgh City Council declared November 19th to be "Dr Randy Pausch Day". And his lecture has already been translated into 18 languages. So what's all the fuss about? To adequately answer that question you really need to access one of the web sites, including google & youtube etc (or an excellent piece by Tim Walker in The Independent 25th March 2008) all of which carry coverage of Rausch's "The Last Lecture" a hugely funny, poignant and insightful goodbye lecture he made shortly before he died.
To view Randy Pausch's Last Lecture, click here
To read the full article, click here

Hometrack Report
Camilla Stephens

The latest national housing market survey from The Relocation Company* shows that average property prices have fallen by 8.1% over the last 12 months with average values back to a level not seen since January 2006.  Average prices were down across 70% of the country. As Richard Donnell, Director of Research comments, “All the indicators from the latest survey point to a continued fall in property prices in the short term.  A weak economic outlook and limited availability of mortgages are set to keep prices under downward pressure in 2009.  Despite this transaction volumes may be close to bottoming out.  The market has been stripped back to the bare bones and now comprises just a relatively small number of committed buyers able to access finance, and needs based sellers who are having to become more realistic on pricing.”
For the full article, click here

Christmas Lunch
Annual Festivities

We had a great time at the Christmas lunch and it was fantastic that the event was fully sold out, which led to a really festive atmosphere in the grand court rooms of Browns, Covent Garden.  As is the tradition of the Christmas lunch, our annual quiz was more difficuilt than ever.  In this age of i-Phones and Blackberry's it is becoming increasingly difficult to devise a cheat proof quiz, so instead a penalty system was devised.  Anyone caught using a mobile internet device, was required to stand in the dock and sing all the words to mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is You".  If you think you have what it takes to do the Christmas Quiz without resorting to Wikipedia, click here
If you need the answers too, click here

What's Your Story?
Alison Van Dalen ARP Chair

At the last council meeting, held at the start of December, Alison Van Dalen was duly elected Chair of the Association.  She takes on the role from Carla Roundell Greene, who has generously acted as Chair for the past few months.  Alison joined the council in 2006, has worked in relocation for over 20 years and is Director of Pricoa Relocation UK Ltd.
"My career originally started as a Home Economics teacher for 3 years in South London. After that I went to the Middle East for 10 years spending time in Dubai, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi as a Corporate Expat wife.
When I returned to the UK I wanted to find something to do part-time and some friends suggested Relocation. They were relocated by Karen Deane Relocations and gave me their number to call - the rest as they say is history!"
For the full article click here

Re:Locate Awards
Have You Entered?

The ARP are is endorsing the Re:locate Awards, and we'd  like to encourage you to enter!

The Re:locate Awards 2008/9 will pay tribute to inspirational talent from across the relocation spectrum, with seven categories that between them recognise individuals, teams, policy and innovation. Both HR and service providers are warmly invited to enter. The closing date for entries is 16 February 2009.

The judging process will culminate in a gala dinner, to be held on 7 May 2009 at the Institute of Directors, in London’s Pall Mall.
For more information, click here

Member News

Dow Sheppard win Prestigious BP AwardDow Sheppard Relocation has been awarded "BP Local European Vendor Award 2008".  This prestigious accolade reflects the expertise and high levels of service delivery for which Dow Sheppard is known.  Judith Dow Paling founded the company in 1980 and was one of the Founder Members of the ARP.  Having worked with Burmah Oil since 1981 and BP since 1995, the accolade underlines the values of excellence and consistency of service that Dow Sheppard deliver.

Sourcing Property; The New Face of TV Show
Jo Eccles, Director of London search company, Sourcing Property, is the new area property expert for ITV1’s current Homes and Property series. The series runs for six weeks and is on ITV1 every Thursday night at 7:30pm. Each week focuses on different property themes and areas and Jo is on screen every week giving an insight into each area.  Jo also worked behind the scenes advising the production company, Talkback Thames, on which areas to focus on, providing market information and resident profiles. Sourcing Property was established in 2006 and provides a search service for clients with all budgets looking to buy or rent in London. The company also handles corporate relocations.For further information on Sourcing Property, please visit the website: www.sourcingproperty.co.uk or call: 020 7834 1343

New Members
Welcome!

Gallica Relocation Cheshire Associate Members

Fish Homefinders Warwickshire Associate Members

MSS Relo Wiltshire Associate Members

Blanchard Relocation Berkshire Associate Members

South Coast Relocation Services Associate Members

Barclays Wealth Affiliate Members

Saint Martins School Solihull Affiliate Members

Baker & Co. Surveyors & Loss Adjusters Affiliate Members

Source Relocation Scotland Upgraded to Full Members

Property Search Wales Upgraded to Full Members