This article is part of a new series highlighting relevant talent mobility programs and practices across mobility sectors. These articles are for informational purposes only and do not represent an endorsement by WERC. If you would like the WERC editorial team to consider developing a specific case study, email mobility@worldwideerc.org.
In the world of talent mobility, a broad ecosystem of companies vie for responsibility to manage an incredibly personal task—moving an individual (and sometimes their families) across the world and setting them up for success in a new location. When the stakes are this high, it can be difficult to find room for collaboration and opportunities for cooperation.
Ben Jones, client success director at Simply London, noticed this and started to consider ways everyone involved in the relocation process—from relocation management companies to destination service providers, household goods shippers, immigration offices, tax professionals, and more—could help change the narrative. What if there was room to collaborate in a way that put competition aside and leveraged the strength of the industry?
An Organization Built on Community and Charity
Founded in 2021 by Ben Jones, Miriam van Kempen, global mobility director (Europe) at Heart Relocation, and Hannah Zentgraf, chief executive of c + s relocation management gmbh, Relocate the Profit was created with two goals: improving friendliness in the talent mobility business and giving back to communities in need.
“Relocate the Profit was founded with the ambition to create a safe and friendly environment for people in relocation who want to collaborate even though they are not working for the same company,” Jones says. “We noticed that, on occasion, the competition in our industry could be harsh, and even unfriendly at times. We believe that by joining forces, even with our closest competitors, to achieve the same goal, we can take a huge step in fostering closer relationships.”
The organization is made up of 60 members, each representing a different company within talent mobility. For every invoice each company processes, Relocate the Profit (ultimately, its member companies) donates £1 to a select charity. Donations are currently being sent to the Livingstone Tanzania Trust, which focuses on education for young girls and empowers women in the local community.
To date, Relocate the Profit has raised over £25,000 for Livingstone Tanzania Trust and stays in touch with the charity to understand the impact of their donation. “One of the biggest achievements is the building of bunk beds for girls at the schooling facility,” Jones says. “This way the girls don't have to walk to and from school every day and can stay during the week so that they can use their education time fully.”
A Simple Approach Yields Meaningful Results
For an individual mobility organization acting alone, it can be difficult to imagine having such an impact, but members of Relocate the Profit understand there is strength in numbers. “We had the idea that if we chose to donate £1 for every client invoice we raised, and if we could encourage others to do the same, we might collectively have the ability to make a real difference,” says Rob Fletcher, cofounder at Heart Relocation and a founding member of Relocate the Profit.
Beyond its collective power, Relocate the Profit benefits from its simple approach. While there’s a time and place for dedicated, hands-on charitable work, the act of matching donations to invoices processed gives back in a way that’s straightforward. “It is simple, effective, and doesn’t require any of the members to undertake activity which might divert them from their business,” Fletcher says. Relocation professionals can continue to do what they do best, while making a difference to those in need without much additional effort—a win for everyone involved.
“For us, giving back is not just a responsibility; it’s a core value. It’s about using our platform, our connections, and our voice to amplify the impact we can have as an industry,” says Sean Collazos, founder and CEO of Relolink and member of Relocate the Profit.
Collazos’ team saw an opportunity to take Relocate the Profit’s core concept and add a twist, launching a video series called the Relolink Gratitude Challenge. For every video submitted on LinkedIn thanking someone in the talent mobility industry, Relolink donates to Relocate the Profit. “Initiatives like these reflect our commitment to building a community where businesses and individuals come together to uplift and support each other and those in need. Relocate the Profit has been excellent at bringing people together, and we’re honored to stand alongside so many incredible organizations in this effort,” he says.
Core Beliefs That Lead to a Promising Future
Relocate the Profit’s mission taps into one of talent mobility’s core values, duty of care, in a way that goes beyond the individual transferee and extends to society at large. “We believe that everyone involved in our industry fundamentally believes in people, our capabilities, and has a desire to do good,” Fletcher says. “Sometimes who we work for can make good collaboration challenging, but we believe that Relocate the Profit transcends those barriers and unites us in a way that we can leverage our strengths and core beliefs to do good.”
For Jones, there’s much to be optimistic about when it comes to the road ahead for Relocate the Profit. The organization has grown significantly since its inception. In part, he attributes this success to word of mouth, as many members are passionate about the cause and use networks like LinkedIn to raise awareness and encourage others to join in.
“We hope that Relocate the Profit will grow into an industry standard, where instead of it being an exception to be part of [Relocate the Profit], it’s an exception not to,” Jones says. “We hope that we can stand up together to motivate collaboration, healthy competition among service partners, and honesty and transparency between all stakeholders, all while making a positive difference to the world around us.”
Learn more about Relocate the Profit and how to get involved at relocatetheprofit.org.