World Manager’s Day demonstrates need for better management training

Despite a recent report emphasising how lack of management training is costing British business, Europa Worldwide Group is bucking the trend by arming its managers with the skills vital to drive success.

The issue of poor management training is being is being highlighted today on World Manager’s Day, a day which celebrates recognises the significant role that managers play in organisations worldwide.

A recent report highlights that many managers lack the skills to lead successfully and are costing the UK and their respective employs dearly. The Chartered Management Institute survey of 4,500 UK workers, reported that 82 per cent of those in management positions were described as ‘accidental managers’, with little training or qualifications.

Europa Worldwide Group, an ambitious independent logistics operator headquartered in the UK is determined to challenge those statistics head on. The company has its own formal 12-month Management Training Programme, upskilling leaders across the business. The Europa Management Training Programme introduces managers to new concepts and practices, offering new tactics to allow them to keep pace with the dynamic environment and is the latest innovation from Europa to ensure quality and consistency throughout the organisation

Tom Jenkins, Central Services Director, Europa Worldwide Group comments “Enabling our team with effective management skills is vital. This is a significant investment in our people, it’s important we give our managers all the tools they need to grow, support their own teams and ultimately provide the best service available to our customers.”

Europa now employs over 1,400 staff globally, and has dedicated divisions in European road freight, Air & Sea freight and 3PL warehousing. Over the past 10-years the firm has trebled its workforce and increased its international footprint, bringing with it a greater need for training and development.

Robust management training equips managers with the skills to provide better internal and customer communication, improve colleague engagement and motivation and deliver enhanced services and a more effective operation.

Already 70 senior managers from its 16 UK sites have successfully achieved the bespoke Europa Management Training certification and a cohort of 60 is currently taking part in the 11-module programme.

Recognising the vast and diverse training needs across the business, Europa’s Learning & Development team has increased threefold over the past two years, as well as using the latest platforms and technologies to support innovative learning pathways.

Europa believes that the development of its people is a fundamental part of sustaining success. The first cohort on the Management Training Programme includes several Sales and Customer Service Branch Managers from its road freight operation Europa Road.

Ben Geddis, Sales Branch Manager at one of Europa’s most established branches in Bristol adds; “The training has been invaluable to me and my team. I would say it is a massive factor in the success of what we are achieving. Not only do I understand my team more, but they also feel more valued which in turn increases their performance.”

It is widely recognised that good, formally trained managers can support higher levels of innovation and better workplace cultures, driving standards of excellence. Europa’s Learning & Development Manager Alison Flannery concludes “Our Management Training is delivered through a creative mix of classroom, remote and eLearning packages and this dynamic, bespoke approach is already delivering success across the business, helping grow and nurture our talented team to become even stronger.”