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Manchester Branch Duo Retire After 29 Years

European road freight firm Europa Road, based in Media Village, Salford Quays, is wishing a happy retirement to husband-and-wife duo, Brian and Sandra Ryder, who are leaving their roles after 29 years’ service.

Reputations for customer service

Brian and Sandra, from Davyhulme in Greater Manchester, have kept Europa’s customers happy for the best part of three decades, directing customer care and support for the company’s Northwest clientele. They have been an integral part of the 27-person team at the Manchester branch of Europa Road, which is the specialist road freight division of the UK’s largest privately-owned logistics provider, Europa Worldwide Group.

Married to the job

The couple, who have been working together since they married 45 years ago, joined Europa in 1994. Sandra, 65, started at the Manchester branch in April as a clerk in accounts, where she oversaw the road freight travel between two Manchester and Birmingham depots.

Brian, 66, followed suit in October of the same year when he was first employed as Import Clerk. After nearly 10 years in this role, he was promoted to Import Supervisor and then International Services Manager, tasked with handling the operations for two of Europa’s largest customers in the automotive and fashion industries.

Stuart McKie, Regional Manager at Europa Road said:

“This is bittersweet for us, because we are losing two Europa legends. That said, we are delighted to be celebrating Brian and Sandra’s extraordinary career and wish them a very happy retirement. They are a real credit to Europa Road, not only within the Manchester region, but to the business too.”

Sandra Ryder commented:

“I can honestly say my time with the company has been fantastic. As cliché as it is to say, no two days were the same but what remains constant is the solid, strong team around us.  Europa Road really values its people and cares about its team and for me that’s special and why I stayed here for so long.

Brian Ryder added this about his career:

“Logistics is an industry I am passionate about. So many other sectors rely on us, and it’s a brilliant feeling to know that your job has a purpose for both our customers and their customers.

“I have felt settled and happy in the work that I have done for these last few decades and for me, that is a privilege. I feel it is the people who make Europa what it is. Even as the company has grown over the last decade, it has never lost its family-like feel.”

Creating teams that give great customer service, wrapped in passion and personality, is one of Europa’s values. Both Brian and Sandra are testament to this value, having garnered excellent reputations for their commitment and dedication to both Team Europa and its clients. They will be acclimatising to retirement with gardening, redecorating, holidaying in Dorset, and spending much-needed time with their eight grandchildren.

Europa overview

Europa Worldwide Group is an ambitious independent logistics operator with three divisions, Europa Road, Europa Air & Sea, and Europa Warehouse, and has been featured in The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for three years. Europa has invested £5 million in its innovative market-leading product, Europa Flow, providing a frictionless flow of goods between the EU and the UK post Brexit. The group employs over 1,400 people with 29 international sites in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Europe, Hong Kong, China and the UAE. The global operator recently reported a record turnover of £302m for the last 12 months, as of August 2022, and remains on track with its ambitious investment programme.

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