New logistics service seeks to ease Brexit blockage and smooth Irish trade
Transport and logistics business Europa Road has launched a new service that can process documents and clearances to smooth trade with Ireland.
The business will operate the “Europa Flow” services from its Manchester and Liverpool depots and help exporters navigate their way through red tape brought about because of Brexit.
Andrew Baxter, Chief Executive Officer of Europa Worldwide Group, said: “With Ireland being Britain’s fourth largest export market, the increased complexity associated with the customs border, is preventing the seamless transportation of goods for British businesses.
“This is impacting transit times, increasing the amount of customs paperwork required, and could have costly and time-critical implications.
“These customs complexities pose a significant extra burden to all businesses – and particularly those SMEs who may be less likely to have the necessary resources and expertise to handle the additional paperwork.
“This is why we launched Europa Flow – to serve companies moving goods between Britain and Europe, providing a seamless transportation of goods between the two regions. Having initially launched Europa Flow in 2021 for mainland EU countries, the service – the first of its kind in Ireland – is now being launched to GB-Ireland trade.”
He said the business has invested £1m into Europa Flow to a team of 34 in Manchester and eight in Liverpool will support exporters across the North West, providing faster transit times, lower costs, and no administrative headaches through Europa Flow.
The Department for Business and Trade estimates that exports to Ireland from the North West accounted for £2.4bn in 2023.
Europa Road is a part of Britain’s largest independent international road freight provider Europa Worldwide Group and has two branches in the North West – one in Manchester and one in Liverpool. Europa Road’s Manchester branch is based in Media Village, Salford Quays and its Liverpool branch is based in Edward Pavilion and is one of the newest additions to its’ network, opening in May 2022.
