Learning is top of the class for Europa – leading global logistics firm appoints first ever learning and development partner

Europa Worldwide Group, one of the fastest growing, privately owned transport and logistics operators, has appointed a Learning and Development Partner to take forward the firm’s ambitions to cultivate talent from within and support its teams to reach their full potential.

Alison Flannery will step into the newly created Learning and Development role, which sits within the HR Function of Europa’s growing business. The firm is on a mission to shape the strategic approach to learning and development within the group as Europa becomes bigger, bolder and better.

Europa is a shining light in today’s logistics sector, and its exponential growth has seen the firm smash its £300m turnover target and set out on the trajectory to achieving £400m in turnover by the end of 2023.

Its future performance and success very much depends on its ability to unlock the capabilities, skills and competencies of everyone to reach their cumulative potential. Central to Europa’s HR approach is the objective to nurture talent from within, which is why one person is promoted every week across the business. As people progress, there is a continuous requirement to upskill others within the teams.

Alison explained:

“At Europa, we want all our people to succeed and to have fulfilling careers with us. Having a dedicated Learning and Development resource in place means we can maximise the training opportunities available and encourage more buy-in.

“We have some fantastic people in the business who are already great managers. What we now need to do is help them get the very best out of their teams. The next step is about creating the right environment for everyone to learn, grow and thrive. It’s a real privilege to have been given this opportunity, and I am genuinely excited about the prospect.”

Learning design and delivery requires a blend of approaches, and one of Alison’s first tasks will be to review Europa’s existing training portfolio and expand it to be rolled out across the business.

Her initial focus will be on upskilling Europa’s management teams using a combination of blended learning, e-learning and traditional methodologies to ensure all managers are reached. Later, this will be rolled out to Europa’s wider teams.

Next, Alison will focus on creating an Academy style of learning that ensures everyone receives training and development from day one across a broad range of skills, knowledge and enhanced capabilities to achieve the Group’s overall growth aims.  Learning at Europa will become a ‘lifelong journey’, one in which employees will help steer their own course.

Elaine Robertson, Head of HR at Europa Worldwide Group, commented:

“We are really excited that Alison is joining the team.  She will be working closely with myself, our team of HRBP’s and key stakeholders to help formulate our future requirements in L&D. 

“With such rapid expansion there is now an increasing need to align the learning and development goals of our four business areas: Worldwide Group, Road, Air & Sea, and Warehouse, through a bespoke programme of activity.

Tom Jenkins, Central Services Director at Europa Worldwide Group – who oversees the HR function within the business – said:

“Our significant growth in recent years means we have also been on a journey to lay our cultural foundations and set out the vision and values which sit at the heart of everything we do.

“Our goal is to give our growing teams a renewed focus and a greater sense of purpose so they too can play their part in helping the business’ ambitions to be met. Learning and development forms a crucial part of this approach.

“We are keen to create an inspiring, good humoured and driven work environment where everyone is encouraged to ask questions and enhance their understanding so high-performing teams can be built.

“The appointment of Alison as Europa’s first ever Learning and Development Partner marks the next phase in that journey. She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in operational roles across the logistics sector throughout her career, and really understands the challenges and opportunities that managers face.”

Europa Worldwide Group, with sites in the UK, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Belgium, has three divisions – Road, Air & Sea and Warehouse. The firm has featured in The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for the third time and employs over 1,300 staff.