Projects and initiatives towards diversity, equality and inclusion of 14 companies were awarded in the National Awards of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria in 2024.

The total number of entries this year exceeded 40 and demonstrated the commitment of businesses in this direction.

Sofia – 21 November 2024 – In the elegant atmosphere of the NV Tower and in the presence of leading representatives of business, NGOs and institutions, took place the ceremony of the National Awards of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria (CWBB) for inspiring achievements in diversity, equality and inclusion.

The event, held for the third consecutive year in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB), rewarded bold projects and companies changing the working environment and Bulgarian society.

Tsvetanka Mincheva, Chairman of the Board of the WLBB and CEO of UniCredit Bulbank, opened the ceremony by stressing the importance of good practices for a sustainable future: “In our recent survey, member companies told us that they need to see more examples and good practices in the field of inclusion and equality. Tonight we are doing just that – seeing concrete results from the efforts of visionaries who are not just talking about inclusion, but putting it into practice. Diversity is not just a value, but a strategic advantage that makes companies more competitive and society stronger. We thank all participants for their inspiring examples and leadership.”

In his video address to the guests at the ceremony, Kyriakos Kakouris, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, said: “At the EIB, we believe in the EU values of diversity, equality and inclusion. We support and work for an environment where we can all enjoy our rights and have the same chances in life as everyone else. To make progress on these principles, we need change at all levels and we need to work on different but interlinked fronts. In this regard, we are happy to collaborate with the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria. We are proud to see that the awards attract so many participants and engender close collaboration between different stakeholders strongly committed to advancing equality, respect for human dignity and intolerance of discrimination in all its forms.”

The four categories presented projects of companies and NGOs that impressed the jury with innovation, scale and sustainability. The winners include:

Category 1: Inspiring initiative for diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace

Awards for companies that promote a culture of acceptance, build awareness of prejudice and create a level playing field.

I place:
Yettel Bulgaria | Training programme on “Unconscious prejudices”
Unconscious bias awareness programme reaching 91% of people managers and with ambition to reach all employees by end 2024.

II place:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) | Diversity, Inclusion and Equality Programme
An ongoing program that promotes unconditional inclusion through culture, employee development and objective evaluation.

III place:
Paysafe | Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Programme
Networking for social inclusion and investing over $55,000 in diversity initiatives in Bulgaria.

NGO Award:
Rent-A-Baba Foundation | Project: Rent-а-Баба
Connects Bulgarian mothers with pensioners for mutual support and integration, covering over 500 participants.

Category 2: An inspiring initiative to overcome stereotypes and include minority groups and people with disabilities

Projects that increase access to services, raise awareness and provide real opportunities for integration.

I place:
Allianz Bulgaria | Project: Listen to yourself
Initiative for equal access to financial services for deaf people through sign language interpretation and changing public attitudes.

II place:
Mastercard and UniCredit Bulbank | Project: Touch
Touch Card™ makes it easy for blind users to identify the correct card just by touching it. A donation campaign to benefit guide dog training was also implemented.

III place:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) | Diversity and Inclusion Programme
A long-term program supporting the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities and social groups through programs such as the Allyship Program, HPE Beyond Abilities and Sunny Smiles.

Category 3: An inspiring initiative to integrate young people and realise their potential in Bulgaria

Initiatives that prepare young people for the future, motivate them to stay in the country and give them a career start.

I place:
Lidl Bulgaria | Project: Lidl Talents – Youth Programmes
Career development programmes for young people, including training and internships, with a focus on talent retention in Bulgaria.

II place:
A1 Bulgaria | Project: support for young talents in technology
Initiatives such as STEMFem Junior and A1 Tech Talents support young people in the technology sector through hands-on training and mentoring.

III place (two awards were presented):

• Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria | Project: #YouthEmpowered
  29,715 young people trained since 2017, focusing on career and personal development.
  
• Yettel Bulgaria | Programme „Second shift“
  Students aged between 17 and 19 work on projects to gain valuable practical experience.
  

NGO Award:
Business Foundation for Education | Profesii.info
A career guidance platform with innovative tools and over 5,000 users per month.

Category 4: Inspiring initiative to empower the next generation of female talent in business

Programmes that inspire and prepare the next generation of leaders and build inclusive work environments.

I place:
А1 Bulgaria | Project: A1FemCircle – A1 Ladies Community
A circle of women in A1 that builds on their skills and creates a supportive community for personal and professional development.

II place:
Prestige-96 | Project: “Prestige – The way forward”
An initiative to support women in leadership roles through training, safe working environments and flexible policies.

III place:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) | Mentoring Program “Incredible Us – Successful Together”
The mentoring program promotes the personal and professional growth of women in business through mentoring and specially designed training.

The Grand Prize – Distinguished Badge of the CWBB went to Marsh Ltd. with the project “Equality and transparency of remuneration: what will the Bulgarian legislation look like?”.

Congratulations to all participants, finalists and award winners and to their inspiring projects that help to promote the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion.

Special thanks also to all the sponsors, supporters and volunteers who supported the event.

General partner: the European Investment Bank

Sponsors: KCM 2000 Holding, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Progress

Creative partners: The Smarts Group

Thanks to NetInfo for media coverage

Our hosts from NV Tower and especially to Ms. Rumyana Valkanov

Thank you to Coca Cola HBC for providing Martini Prosecco Rose, water and soft drinks.