ABOUT BOURNES
Since 1875 Bournes has been making moving and relocation special, personal and easy. Today’s generation of Bournes brings professional expertise, innovative systems and a renowned personal touch to UK and worldwide solutions for both private and corporate customers.
Relocating means upheaval, and that usually means stress, but when someone can make that process easy and even enjoyable then it doesn’t have to be that way.
Our purpose is to support you as you move through life by making relocation easy and allowing you to focus on the things that are important to you.
We help couples move from their first apartment to their forever home where their children will grow up and where they will happily grow old together. When life changes direction and careers or life goals take them on a global adventure we help families make an easy and enjoyable transition to new homes all over the world. We help businesses grow by supporting them in transplanting the skills, culture and knowledge of their global talent pool as well as the physical resources they need to wherever they need them to be to reach their own goals and aspirations.
Relocation is more than just moving people and things, it’s about people and their lives, so whether you are a private customer managing your own move or a Corporate client managing the relocation of your employees, offices or customers - whatever it is you need, we’re here to help.
Find out more about our story and why we want to help you below.
1875
Thomas Bourne starts the business doing general cartage and delivering coal and continues to provide general transport services.
POST 1940
After the Second World War and after Thomas's son died the business was taken over by his grandson, Stanley. In addition to general transport the business branched into Removals as well as Coach hire and meat deliveries.
As the business grew Stanley moved the company into an old brewery, using the main building to provide storage services.
1960
During the 1960's Stanley's sons Eric and Roy joined the company full time, and thanks to the deregulation of the transport industry Bournes took advantage, buying up many competitors (Nye's of Bromley, Martins of Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, Knowles of Ashford and Bodkins of Gillingham) and branching out into other markets.
1974
Stanley handed the running of the business over to his sons and current fourth generation owners Eric and Roy, although he remained in the business for the rest of his working life calling on customers, providing quotes and making sure moves went smoothly. Over the next few years Bournes moved from the centre of town as their fleet and storage requirements grew, they built three purpose built warehouses and adopted the new 'containerised' storage system.
1990
Eric's sons Wesley (General Manager) and Leon (Sales Manager), and Roy's son Thomas (Facilities Manager) joined their fathers in the current management team and in leading the company towards the next generation.
1993
Having successfully branched into European Removals Bournes became a founding member of the UTS global network, built on a similar system to the American 'van line'. This helped to establish Bournes firmly as a leading European Removal Company, securing highly coveted contracts including those for the Ministry of Defence. This helped Bournes to establish a large inter-modal vehicle fleet - one of the first British Companies to do so.
2001
The UTS network formed a strategic alliance with UniGroup Worldwide (the international operating arm of America's leading removal networks United Vanlines and Mayflower transit) allowing Bournes and the rest of the network to expand its offerings to over 120 countries and 1500 locations throughout the world.
2012
Bournes group acquires facilities in Cranleigh, Surrey.
2013
Having diversified as a group with services into both corporate and private markets as well as servicing significant logistics and commercial clients Bournes undergo a major rebrand creating four sub divisions each with a strong image and tailored service. The UniGroup Worldwide UTS network also rebrand as UniGroup Relocation network to reflect the full range of service now provided.
2016
Following the mutally agreed termination of the strategic alliance with US based van line UniGroup toward the end of 2015 the global network of which Bournes are a proud member and co-owner rebrands as Harmony Relocation Network, the new brand being symbolic of our cooperative global network by putting people first in everything we do, for our corporate clients, their transferees and our own employees.
2021
Bournes acquires facilities in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire welcoming the Robinsons of Aylesbury team to the family.
WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT
“With Bournes, it’s personal” is more than just a strapline. It’s why we come to work every day, and it's how we feel about every customer and project we work on.
Our Vision
We aim to be a market leader in Relocation driven by customers who will always recommend us.
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Our Vision
Bournes will be a market leader in Relocation driven by providing a portfolio of services to customers who will always recommend us because of:
- Personal service from experts who enjoy their work.
- Proactive Responsiveness to their changing demands.
- Consistently improving service through innovation and a commitment to quality.
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Our Core Brand Values
Human, Responsive, Meticulous. It’s who we are, and what we do.
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Our Core Brand Values
With Bournes its personal is more than just a strapline.
- It means we’re human; the best people, providing personal service
- It means we’re responsive; creating and refining personal solutions for each customer as they move through life
- It means we’re meticulous; every team member committed to their personal responsibility for providing a great service
Human
- Our people will be experts in their fields through training, experience and a thorough understanding of customer needs.
- Our people will take personal responsibility for and pride in providing a positive experience.
- Through honesty, integrity and transparency we will be a trustworthy partner for our clients who know we will always act in their best interest
Responsive
- We will grow with our clients and enable them to reach their goals
- We will be flexible in our business to respond to our customers changing demands
Meticulous
- Through quality management systems, attention to detail and proactivity we will provide a consistent quality of service to our customers, every time
- We will strive for perfection through a process of continuous improvement and innovation
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ACCREDITATION
AWARDS
WHO WE ARE
Our company is known for the way it looks after customers. This reputation is built on over 140 years of trust and the passionate team of people that have always believed in Bournes commitment to deliver excellent customer experiences.
