About Us

About Matthew James Removals

Excellent

583 Reviews

About us

About Matthew James Removals

For secure, professional, and stress-free international removals.

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Excellent

583 Reviews

Excellent

583 Reviews on

Genuine reviews from legitimate customers

See what our satisfied clients have to say about their experiences with Matthew James

Matthew De-Machen, Managing Director of Matthew James Global Relocations (MJGR), is not your average removals man. In fact he’s not your average managing director either.

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From a very young age he has been fascinated by vehicles and entered the moving industry as a teenager to provide an outlet for his interest. As his company grew his passion never waned. On the contrary, his obsession with beautiful machinery developed into a similarly all-embracing crusade for perfection in everything he and his company do. It is this dedication to excellence that has made his company successful and his vehicle fleet the talk of the moving industry, both in the UK and throughout Europe.

The detailing on Matthew’s vehicles bears testimony to his compulsion for perfection and provides a window into the care with which he runs his whole business. ‘All right’ is not good enough: it’s either perfect, or it’s no good at all. This principle runs through Matthew’s business like a watermark. Inspiration flows down from the top and everyone who works at the company understands. Service quality is everything. Second best is unacceptable.

Matthew’s childhood dream has come true. Not only can he indulge his love of trucks, he has used this passion to build a successful business and his drive for perfection to provide an exceptional European and UK relocations service for some of the world’s most demanding corporations.

It’s serendipity: a coming together of skill, passion and belief that has built a unique company of people who know what excellence looks like, and are determined to let it shine through everything they do.

Matthew’s advice on
choosing your mover

Moving home can be busy and stressful. Amongst all the planning for buying, selling, and renting, it’s easy to overlook the importance of choosing the right removals company. Often, people leave it to the last minute, pick the only available or cheapest company, and things go wrong. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Drawing from my 30 years of experience, here’s some wisdom to help you make the right choices and avoid any moving day blues.

1

Plan early! It is never too early to start planning your move and choosing your mover. It’s worth noting that it is almost impossible to find a removals company with availability on Friday in peak season, so the earlier you start getting things booked the better. This will take the majority of stress out of the process and allow you all the time you need to make the right choices.

2

Look for companies that come with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 accreditations. This will demonstrate that the business has been assessed and accredited with internationally recognized quality standards and is operating at the highest level of professionalism. It will also show a company’s commitment to customer care by showing a consideration for response times and tight processes to which it has committed.

3

Don’t automatically look for the lowest quote. All industry leaders have similar running costs. If a quote seems too good to be true that’s because it probably is. If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur.

4

The removals industry can be a financially precarious one. Therefore, make sure to check that the business you are using is financially stable. Websites like https://www.gov.uk/ will give you a good indication of this. The last thing that you want is for your goods to be in international transit, where FCL relocations typically average 8-12 weeks to complete, and for the company managing your move to go into administration, leaving you to have to pay out again.

5

If possible, always have a surveyor visit your home. This will allow them to assess not only all of your goods but various other contributing factors that go into a move, such as allocating the appropriate vehicle, the correct size team, the correct materials and more. Should you need to complete an online quotation make sure to include absolutely everything you want to be moved. Any vague answers are red flags and can carry last minute costs on the day of your move.

6

Check out a company’s reviews online. There are multiple trustworthy review sites such as trustpilot.com. Be wary of companies with large numbers of 5* reviews lacking detail as in this modern age many companies will pay to have bots/AI flood their review sections with good ratings so that at a glance, they look better than they really are. Be thorough when investigating this.

7

Never go for a company willing to offer or negotiate a special cash deal. Any professional removal company will not operate in this manner and you must always obtain a contract and a receipt, otherwise, should the worst happen, you will have no means of being reimbursed or even proving the job took place.

8

When choosing a removals company always make sure to check that they have a registered company address on their website. This is a key sign of their level of professionalism and when inviting someone to your home you can never be too cautious.

9

Always investigate a removal company’s website. Specifically check for images of their work. Any removals company will have a proud portfolio showing off their wrapping and packing skills, professional staff, depot, fleet, and more. If you find that a company’s website is flooded with stock images then be cautious. It is worth asking yourself why this may be. It is possible the company is new to the industry or has a poor reputation.

10

Many removal companies will only use 2 packing boxes, a small and a medium. Be sure to enquire about which packing materials a company stocks. Any professional moving company, such as MJR, will have a vast range of different materials and boxes. Matthew James, for example, boasts over 16 different bespoke sizes, including custom made crates for exceptionally large or expensive items.

Meet the team

Matthew De-Machen

Managing Director

Matthew joined the removals industry as a pre-teen in 1991, going on to become the founder of Matthew James in 1996. Matthew has been committed to the industry ever since. Matthew is well known for his attention to detail, doing everything with his trademark OCD approach. Everything must be done to perfection and he simply won’t have it any other way.

Rachel Pepper

Operations Director

Rachel graduated and was a highly respected Ofsted inspector. Rachel is Matthew's sister and joined the business during lockdown and soon became a director. Rachel has been a breath of fresh air for Matthew and neither have ever looked back.

Ann De-Machen

Company Secretary

Mother to Matthew, even after reaching the age of 80 years young, Ann shows no signs of slowing down. Ann is out on the frontline daily ensuring that all work carried out is to the highest standard and making our customers feel well valued and cared for.

Daniel Roberts

General Manager

Dan joined Matthew James in 2024 with a background in removals management. As General Manager, he oversees the day-to-day running of the business while working closely with Matt and Rachel to keep Matthew James moving forward.

Chris Austin

Move Manager

Joining the company in 2018, Chris brought a wealth of knowledge and experience within international shipping along with him. Chris has been able to take Matthew James to new heights by allowing us to be at the pinnacle of the international removals industry.

Max Oughera

Move Manager

Coming aboard to the Matthew James family in 2018 Max has a unique expertise in the shipping of goods to South Asia. Fluent in Punjabi, Max has been able to project MJR to a whole new client base as well as providing an excellent customer experience.

David Mulcrone

Move Manager

David is our newest Move Manager, joining the Matthew James family in 2024 from a background in Corporate Removals, David fast became a customer favourite known for his calm demeanour and willingness to go above and beyond for our clients.

Raj Khaira

Move Manager

Coming to Matthew James from a sales background in 2019, Raj is our UK and European shared load expert. This allows our clients’ goods to be delivered in a way that benefits our customers directly, getting their goods to them with a greater efficiency and for a lower cost.

Joe Manning

Surveyor

Joe joined our company in 2013. Initially living in Spain, Joe joined as a road train driver, allowing him to learn Europe like the back of his hand. After moving back to the UK he became our trusted surveyor. Any question and Joe will have the right answer.

Marcus Marchant

Surveyor

After running his own removals company Marcus made the wise decision to join forces with Matthew James back in 2019. There is nothing in the removals industry that Marcus doesn’t know and is able to apply that knowledge well, leaving our customers feeling they are in the hands of an expert.

Jill Finch

Accounts Assistant

Jill joined the company in 2011. Jill initially joined as a receptionist, however due to her intellect and gift with numbers she soon worked her way up to join our Accounts department, managing all day-to-day invoicing. She is well known for her fantastic rapport with customers.

Kim Atkinson

Accounts Administrator

Joining the team in 2021, Kim settled in well immediately and became a vital asset to the company. Demonstrating an unmatched attention to detail Kim allows our suppliers to be kept updated and feel their transactions are in safe hands.

Grace Parker Fay

European Operations Planner

Joining us in 2022 a young Grace immediately became an irreplaceable part of the team. After a start in Customs, Grace has gone on to become our European Shared Load handler, managing both our clients and crew to ensure our European wheels never stop turning. Matthew has been known to say that he’d be proud if Grace was his daughter.

Bessie Heskins

UK Operations Planner

Joining Matthew James in 2021, Bessie is like a daughter to Matthew. She oversees all our UK operations. From scheduling to allocation to route planning there is nothing that Bessie cannot do and all to the highest standard in the industry.

Samantha Woodnutt

Customs & Sales Support

Samantha joined our team in 2025 and has cemented herself as an integral member, often being the first point of contact for our customers and helping with multiple departments throughout the business.

Tony Mitchell

Training Manager

Joining the company in 2012, Tony initially started as a 7.5 tonne driver but quickly climbed the ladder by gaining his Category C and C+E licenses. He progressed even further to become the company’s training manager. Additionally, he carries out all our driver assessments and LGV training, with a superb pass rate.

Nicholas Ansell

Transport Manager

After a short hiatus, Nick returned to the team in 2024. He manages our world famous fleet, ensuring our maintenance and repairs are completed like clockwork as well as ensuring we are operating at the peak of modern safety standards.

Steve Thompson

Warehouse Manager

Steve began work at MJR in 2012. Coming from a background in logistics, Steve applied his skillset immediately. He ensures that all goods coming in and out of our UK warehouses are being expertly managed, tracked and stored in a professional and safe manner.

Olivia De-Machen

Office Apprentice

Olivia, Matthew's daughter, is our newest member to join the Matthew James family, doing so in late 2026. Our first official apprentice, Olivia is going to get involved in every aspect of the family business and help in any way she can.

Evie

Office Therapy Dog

Evie is a friendly face all staff love to see around the office. If ever someone is having a stressful day they can make use of Evie’s calming presence. Evie loves to be walked around the lake at lunch times and having her belly rubbed.

Achievement & awards

Our commitment to excellence has led us to achieve significant milestones along our journey. Here are some of our notable achievements

2024

THE KENT’S MEGA GROWTH 50 AWARDS

Shortlisted from a pool of 64,000 companies, Matthew James achieves an astounding 34th place in the Mega Growth 50 Awards. Now in its 20th year, the mega growth awards annual list of its fastest-growing businesses is put together based on the average turnover growth of privately owned businesses that have a minimum turnover of £1 million. We achieved this by boasting an incredible 51% financial growth

2024

THE KENT’S MEGA GROWTH 50 AWARDS

2023

HMRC APPROVED CUSTOMS BONDED FACILITY

In 2023 Matthew James became a fully HMRC Approved Customs Bonded facility. A customs bonded warehouse is a place where your goods can be stored until they are ready to be delivered to your new address, without paying Customs duties or taxes. This can be a great benefit for customers moving from one country to another where your possessions may need to transit the UK during the process

2022

ISO 45001 CERTIFICATION

Awarded in recognition of our commitment to industry leading standards of occupational health and safety management. ISO 45001 certification is a globally recognised standard that helps organisations to manage their Health and Safety controls

2022

ISO 45001 CERTIFICATION

2021

THE FIRST 5 STAR RATED SAFETY CAB FOR THE REMOVALS INDUSTRY IN LONDON (POSSIBLY EVEN THE UK!)

Another incredible industry first for Matthew James our Mercedes Econic equipped with its state of the art Direct Vision cab. This allowed our lorry to be the first removals vehicle in London to have achieved a rating of 5 stars by the safety requirement standards set by TFL. This vehicle allows for next to no blind spots meaning all pedestrians, cyclists and other road users are fully visible at all times.

2019

THE FIRST HYBRID LARGE GOODS VEHICLE IN THE REMOVALS INDUSTRY

Matthew James are proud to say that they were the first company in the removals industry to add an environmentally friendly hybrid LGV vehicle to their already impressive fleet

2019

THE FIRST HYBRID LARGE GOODS VEHICLE IN THE REMOVALS INDUSTRY

Matthew James are proud to say that they were the first company in the removals industry to add an environmentally friendly hybrid LGV vehicle to their already impressive fleet

2019

ISO 14001 CERTIFICATION

Awarded in recognition of our commitment to upholding excellent environmental standards. ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed and recognised standard for Environmental Management Systems. An EMS supports organisations in identifying, managing, monitoring and controlling environmental processes

2019

INDEPENDENT FURNITURE OMBUDSMAN SERVICE

Due to our confidence in giving an excellent service and our unmatched commitment to excellent customer service Matthew James becomes an independent member of The Furniture Ombudsman. This step gives our customers the peace of mind of knowing that no matter what happens they are safe and supported

2019

INDEPENDENT FURNITURE OMBUDSMAN SERVICE

2018

MEGA GROWTH 50

We were awarded 47th place in the top 50 fastest growing businesses in Kent with an amazing 52% increase in turnover. Mega Growth 50 is an annual ranking of Kent's fastest-growing businesses. The performance table is put together based on the average turnover growth of privately owned businesses that have a minimum turnover of £1 million, as stipulated in their full accounts registered at Companies House across the last four years.

2017

TRUCK SHOW – BRANDS HATCH

Best Rigid Truck 1st Place

2017

TRUCK SHOW – BRANDS HATCH

Best Rigid Truck 1st Place

2016

TRUCK SHOW - SNETTERTON

Best Rigid Truck 1st Place
Best Semi Customised Truck 2nd Place

TRUCK SHOW – BRANDS HATCH

Best Special Type Truck 2nd Place

2016

FORS GOLD FLEET OPPERATOR RECOGNITION SCHEME

Being awarded FORS Gold status signifies that we have demonstrated excellent practices in fleet operations and management across the board, including meeting certain criteria for: General fleet operations – implementing systems to ensure we run a high-performing business.

2016

FORS GOLD FLEET OPPERATOR RECOGNITION SCHEME

2015

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MOVERS

Matthew James takes its place among the global industry leaders by acquiring full membership to The International Association of Movers

2014

THE MOVERS & STORERS SHOW – BEST REMOVAL VEHICLE

Our vehicle wins first place for “Best Removals Vehicle” at the Movers and Storers Show, beating out fierce competition from a vast number of applicants

2014

THE MOVERS & STORERS SHOW – BEST REMOVAL VEHICLE

Our vehicle wins first place for “Best Removals Vehicle” at the Movers and Storers Show, beating out fierce competition from a vast number of applicants

2014

ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION

Awarded to us in recognition of our excellent standards of quality management. ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management. It helps organizations of all sizes and sectors to improve their performance, meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality

2014

FORS SILVER FLEET OPPERATOR RECOGNITION SCHEME

Matthew James adds another official accreditation to its large list. The FORS Silver accreditation confirms that you employ good practice and comply with the requirements laid out by the FORS Standard. By achieving FORS Silver accreditation your fleet will be compliant with the CLOCS Standard for Construction Logistics and with TfL’s WRRR (Work Related Road Risk)

2014

FORS SILVER FLEET OPPERATOR RECOGNITION SCHEME

2013

THE MOVERS & STORERS SHOW – PACKER OF THE YEAR

Matthew James proves our industry leading skills by winning first place in the Movers and Storers Show, packer of the year category

2013

FORS BRONZE FLEET OPPERATOR RECOGNITION SCHEME

Bronze accreditation confirms that you employ good practice and comply with the requirements laid out by the FORS Standard. This includes demonstrating dedication to driver and vehicle safety, combined with improving operating practices through effective monitoring of fuel and tyre usage. Operators must demonstrate that their vehicles are fitted with appropriate safety equipment such as mirrors, cameras, and warning signs. Driver training: Operators must provide evidence of driver training, including induction training, periodic training, and driver assessments.

2013

FORS BRONZE FLEET OPPERATOR RECOGNITION SCHEME

2012

TRUCKSTAR FESTIVAL – ASSEN

At Europe’s largest truck show with over 3000 entries Matthew James achieves the following.
1st place for best paintwork on a vehicle
1st place for best spraying
2nd place for best interior

2012

TRUCK SHOW – BRANDS HATCH

Best Custom Truck 1st Place

2012

TRUCK SHOW – BRANDS HATCH

Best Custom Truck 1st Place