DARTFORD, KENT / AGILITYPR.NEWS / May 27, 2025 / When Malcolm Castle walked into Europa Worldwide Group in 1990 wearing jeans and a shirt, little did he know he was beginning a 35-year journey that would see him rise from an operations clerk to General Manager (Transport) at the firm’s multimillion-pound European transit hub in Dartford.

Kent-based logistics operator Europa Worldwide Group employs over 1,300 people with 16 sites across the UK and Ireland, plus teams in Belgium, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, China, India and the UAE. In Europa’s Dartford HQ, more than 350 people are employed.

Malcolm’s career at Europa began unexpectedly. Having been made redundant from a role at an architect’s practice in London, he was tipped off about a possible vacancy and turned up on spec at Europa’s then Erith-based headquarters.

A chance encounter in reception with an HR Officer led to an interview the same day (after he’d gone home and swapped his jeans for more professional attire!) and a new chapter in his professional life began. “I planned to stay for six months,” said Malcolm. “I never imagined I’d still be here 35 years later.”

Starting as an operations clerk for the Scandinavian market – admitting he thought Scandinavia was in Switzerland, Malcolm quickly established himself as a driven and curious member of the team. He rose through the ranks, taking on supervisory roles, handling key accounts, and navigating the complexities of import/export logistics across Europe. His tenacity and eagerness to learn, and ability to succeed within many different operational roles caught the attention of senior leadership.

Malcolm admits. “I always want to know what other departments are doing, how things work, and how they can be improved.” This attitude propelled him into transport operations, where he eventually became part of a team transforming Europa’s approach.

Malcolm was part of a team instrumental in streamlining operations, including the consolidation of Europa’s Birmingham and Northampton regional depots into a centralised “1Hub” in Dartford. Opened in 2015, the 1Hub created the UK’s largest European groupage hub, with a network of regional branches around the UK, trunking directly into the hub. This restructured operation helped enhance daily services to European partner depots, reducing transit times and improving customer choice.

The Dartford 1Hub is at the heart of Europa Road, which is the European road freight division Europa Worldwide Group.  Strategically located close to the Dartford Crossing, the facility has seen a continued increase in the volume of European road freight.

As Europa Road’s operation has evolved – from a fragmented network to a structured, state of the art and technology-driven powerhouse in Dartford – so has Malcolm’s role.

Today, he oversees a team of 55 people, is responsible for compliance as the company’s official Operator Licence holder and leads efforts to achieve Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Earned Recognition status in the not-too-distant future. Earned Recognition is designed for reputable and compliant vehicle operators who can prove they meet high standards in vehicle maintenance and driver management.

Despite the continued evolution of his role and responsibilities, Malcolm’s values remain the same and very much aligned with those of the company. “I’ve always seen our internal teams as customers; we must give them the best experience too. That’s how you build a strong team,” he says.

Reflecting on his career, Malcolm is most proud of proving the doubters wrong, especially one manager who once told him not to aim too high. “I became the CPC holder, took over site operations, and managed contracts for our entire fleet,” he said. “I’ve achieved more than I ever thought possible.”

He now channels his energy into mentoring the next generation of logistics professionals, something which is part of the company’s support of the Generation Logistics initiative. Generation Logistics is a sector-led, government-backed campaign that has brought the industry together to shift perceptions and encourage the next generation of talent to consider logistics as a career of choice.  

Malcolm adds, “I want to give back. I tell my team they should be looking at my job and aiming higher.” His journey is a testament to the transformative power of determination, curiosity, and a company willing to nurture talent and innovation.

Malcolm is the latest in a line of “Europa Legends” which recognises long service across the business. The long service programme was launched in 2023 and recognises the continued importance and value of the Europa team, who are at the heart of its operations. Europa Legends recognises the firm’s loyal and long-serving teams who support customers and are Europa’s living legends.