Tom Jenkins, Europa Worldwide Group

Dartford headquartered logistics operator Europa Worldwide Group has launched the first phase of a substantial Human Resources (HR) transformation programme, the first in the industry.

With its headquarters at Albion Road, the firm has doubled in size in the past nine years and now employs over 1,100 staff with another 14 sites across the UK and is still growing.

Europa is creating dedicated HR hubs across the business, so that staff locally have access to HR support. This will be combination of physical workstation at Europa’s largest sites (Dartford, Corby and Birmingham) and includes the appointment of eight new Human Resources Business Partners (HRPBs).

The new HR Team in Dartford are Emma Jackson, Sherelle White and Aimee Stokes, as well as Debi Rogers will split her time helping Europa’s Birmingham and Dartford sites.

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All report to Dartford based Head of Human Resources, Elaine Robertson, who spearheaded the design and delivery of this HR transformation programme in line with the overarching global people and culture strategy.

The new approach exemplifies the unwavering ambition of Europa Worldwide Group to lead the sector at a time of immense change. Transport and logistics remain in the international spotlight, and there has never been greater recognition of the vital role it plays in keeping global economies and supply chains moving.

Tom Jenkins, newly appointed Central Services Director at Europa Worldwide Group comments: “Providing the right HR support for a growing business is crucial. Our ambition is to harness the talents of all employees so they can reach their potential and enable Europa Worldwide Group to achieve its commercial expectations.

“Our forecasts predict an upward workforce recruitment trajectory, as we strive to achieve a bold £400m turnover target. It is imperative we have the right HR structure in place to achieve this so we can secure our place as the leading logistics firm in the market.”

“Europa is the only firm operating in the sector to have introduced such an innovative HR approach. We want to lead by example and showcase the very best employment practices in the response to concerns raised that the transport and logistics sector is lagging in its HR capabilities.”

Europa Worldwide Group has featured in The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for three years running and in The Sunday Times Profit Track 100 Covid-19 edition. Recent figures show exponential growth, with record turnover of £210m for 2020, with target projections of £260m for 2021 and £300m this year. £10m profit are also expected for 2021, £6.4m up on 2020 levels.

Elaine Robertson, Head of HR at Europa Worldwide Group adds “Would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new team who join Europa at a pivotal time. The Group prides itself on providing career opportunities for all. By putting a new structure in place to support this, the expanded HR team will be able to deliver day to day activities more efficiently whilst nurturing future talent.”

Underpinning this investment is a brand new, state of the art HR system which is set for implementation in 2022, where all staff, be they office, road, warehouse or virtually based, will be able to access a ‘one-stop HR shop’ using the latest cloud technology.

The goal is to organise all HR services – including payroll, benefits, workforce, and talent management – in a single application. By allowing employees to access their personal HR information through the HR Hubs, processes will be pared back. This means the HRBPs will be able to focus on the strategic work that will boost productivity and commercial outputs.

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