Pioneering logistics firm Europa Worldwide Group, is supporting a national sector recruitment campaign for a second year.
The logistics sector is expected to have worker shortages of 400,000 by 2026, so the campaign, called Generation Logistics aims to change perceptions of the industry as well as providing a jobs portal.
Launched last year, Generation Logistics is an industry-led, government-backed initiative to ensure the resilience of the UK’s supply chains by attracting new talent. Over the last year, it has delivered an innovative, comprehensive awareness campaign, championing individuals and “best in class” organisations to highlight the varied and stimulating careers that exist.
Managed by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK)) and Logistics UK, the campaign has generated 3.7 million engagements across social media and 789,000 visitors to its hub: www.generationlogistics.org. The campaign has also created an ambassador programme, including two staff from Europa, and now has a network of over 300 individuals who work in the industry and champion the profession at schools and careers days.
For many years, logistics has been the “invisible secret”, but the Covid-19 pandemic shone a light on how fundamental logistics is to us all. Combine that with the continued growth in ecommerce, it’s clear why logistics is so critical to the country’s economy.
The next phase of the Europa backed campaign will focus on raising awareness of logistics as a career option to 13–24-year-olds, as well to schools and colleges. Generation Logistics is also producing a careers guide to logistics for every school and college in the UK.
Roads Minister Richard Holden said, “We want the freight and logistics sector to retain and attract diverse talent from across the whole country. It is fantastic to see Generation Logistics kickstart its second year of campaigning with a renewed focus on education, as we continue to future-proof the industry by making logistics and freight an attractive career choice for the next generation.”
By shining a spotlight on the skilled, innovative, and varied opportunities of the logistics industry the campaign aims to attract a new generation.
Tom Jenkins, Central Services Director at Europa Worldwide Group Comments “It’s a time of continued challenges across our sector, so it’s important that we innovate and work to change perceptions about the supply chain and how vital logistics is. It is particular significant for us as we mark a ‘Decade of Growth’, 10 years since the firm’s acquisition by transport entrepreneur, Andrew Baxter.
“Andrew acquired Europa in 2013, when we employed just 400 people across nine UK branches and one international site in Hong Kong. Today, the business employs more than 1,400 people across 30 sites globally. We are very pleased to be supporting this initiative with other industry leaders to support Generation Logistics and encourage the next generation to be as passionate about logistics as we are, and to future proof our sector.”
Europa Worldwide Group is an ambitious independent logistics operator with three divisions, Europa Road, Europa Air & Sea, and Europa Warehouse. The group has sites in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Europe, Hong Kong, China and the UAE. The global operator reported a record turnover of £302m for the last 12 months, as of August 2022, and remains on track with its ambitious investment programme.
