The winners within logistics are those who combine excellence in operations supported by a talented team.
Leading Dartford-based logistics provider, Europa Worldwide Group, is fostering an environment where top talent can thrive- regardless of gender- a commitment it recently celebrated on International Women’s Day.
According to industry body Logistics UK the sector is ‘very male-dominated’ and ‘has had challenges attracting a variety of talent’. But, attracted by its merit-based culture, Europa’s team now consists of 43.5 percent women – beating the industry average which is just 15 per cent.
Europa’s UK headquarters opened in 2015 on Albion Road, home to a team of over 360. Across its entire operation, the firm employs over 1,300 globally, with 16 sites in the UK and Ireland, along with teams in Belgium, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, China, India, the UAE and South Africa.
In 2023, across the Group, 40 per cent of Europa’s workforce was female. Guided by its core values, Europa strives to bring out the best in every individual while fostering a culture free from discrimination. By establishing a merit-based environment, the company prioritises internal training, career progression, and the motivation of new team members.
As part of its commitment to encouraging the team, for International Women’s Day Europa held an internal competition – with everyone being given the chance to nominate a female with Europa who is taking bold steps towards advancing gender equality and empowering women in logistics. From almost 50 different nominations across the business two team members based in Dartford won the coveted top spot as well as a close runner-up.
Donna Cardy, Customer Service Supervisor from Europa Road had the most votes and Keira Madden, Business Development Manager from the Europa Air & Sea was runner up alongside Ashleigh Westwood, Customer Service Supervisor from Europa Road in Manchester.
Some of Donna’s colleagues commented “She is the best supervisor! She is never afraid to stand up for what is right and supports the whole team – she pushes us to be the best that we can. She creates an amazing atmosphere and makes you want to be at work. Donna is a truly inspirational person. She has a thriving mindset, outstanding ethics, and a wholesome personality.”
Tom Jenkins, Central Services Director at Europa Worldwide Group added: “Congratulations to our winner and runners-up. Your dedication, hard work, and positive impact are truly inspiring. This competition is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the remarkable women within Europa who make a difference every day.
“We will continue to build the best team, regardless of gender, ethnicity and background, and to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and that performance is recognised and rewarded.”
Kirsty Dean, Marketing & Communications Director, is one of two females on Europa’s Board of Directors. She explains how the culture has helped her: “The performance of our business depends entirely on the motivation of our people. Logistics is still largely male-dominated and that can be intimidating for young females. By fostering respect for each other and creating teams which value character and personality, we can create a diverse, compassionate and inclusive environment where people feel at ease. It is these values that play such a critical role in the DNA of our business.”
Kirsty sits on the board alongside Dionne Redpath, Group Chief Operating Officer and Head of Europa Warehouse and is a role model within the industry.
