77 projects of 55 companies vie in the business contest’s 6 categories
The 12th edition of BBLF’s Annual Responsible Business Awards – the Forum’s most eagerly anticipated event, attracted scores of participants! It is our pleasure to announce that a total of 77 projects implemented by 55 companies in 2014 entered this country’s most prominent and influential corporate social responsibility (CSR) contest. Winners are to be announced at an official ceremony on 25 February 2015 at Sofia Hotel Balkan.
BBLF’s Annual Responsible Business Awards traditionally reward the socially responsible projects of companies by recognizing their efforts and raising awareness but also by providing them with an opportunity to share their CSR experience, concepts and best practice. This year’s competition has seen 77 entries, or 10% up from last year. The increase of contestants indicates businesses are willing to give back to the community despite the struggling times. It also points to a credibility of BBLF’s aspiration to promote CSR values and encourage companies to develop social policies. The contest saw companies of all sizes and fields enter, and only half of contestants are BBLF members.
This year, again, the Investor in Community and Investor in Knowledge categories are the top ones with 17 entries each. 10 entries vie for the Investor in Human Capital and Labour Conditions prize and 9 projects compete for the Investor in Environment title. Cause-Related Marketing attracted 15 nominations, or twice as many as last year. The Overall CSR Policy of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise category has also seen a two-fold increase as compared to the previous year with 9 entries. One of all nominees will grab the special Engage prize that honours employee participation in a CSR project. The company with the biggest number of entries is Mobiltel with 7 projects followed closely by Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech with 6 nominations.
For short summaries of the nominated projects please go here.
The respected jury of the awards comprises distinguished figures from the business, government and NGO, academic and media fields. Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandakova is jury chairperson for the sixth consecutive year. Jury member invitees are Damyan Damyanov, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Deputy Chairman; Veselina Kavrakova, WWF Bulgaria Programme Director; Evgeniy Ivanov, Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency Director; Elitsa Barakova, Bulgarian Charity Aid Foundation Executive Director; Desislava Taliokova, America for Bulgaria Foundation Executive Director; Ivaylo Kalfin, Vice PM and Minister of Labour and Social Policy; Maxim Mayer, Manager Magazine CEO and Editorial Director; Krassimira Velichkova, Bulgarian Donor's Forum Director; Sarah Riley, Chargé d'affaires, British Embassy Sofia; Tanja Radocaj, UNICEF Representative in Bulgaria; and Tsvetan Simeonov, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman. Key project evaluation criteria include benefits for the community, partnership with other organisations, employee involvement, innovation, public recognition.
Winners will be announced at a formal award-giving ceremony on Wednesday, 25 February 2015, at 6.30 pm at Sofia Hotel Balkan’s Royal Hall. The high-profile event attracts officials from the private, public and non-government sector and the media. To register, please go here.
Confirmed guests include President Rosen Plevneliev, Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds and Economic Policy Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Policy and Labour Minister Ivaylo Kalfin, CEOs of top Bulgarian and international companies.
To consider being a proud supporter of the award ceremony please refer to the sponsorship opportunities.
This year’s contestants: AbbVie, Adhoc, Actavis, Anglo-American School of Sofia, AstraZeneca Bulgaria, Aurubis Bulgaria, Balmed, BILLA Bulgaria, Bra Clinic, Vesta, GlaxoSmithKline Export, Danone Serdica, Deloitte Bulgaria, Petar Duchev Dental Clinic, J Point Group, Generali Bulgaria, DHL Express Bulgaria, National Railway Infrastructure Company, Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech, Eurobet, Eurofootball, AVON Cosmetics Bulgaria, EKO Bulgaria, ESRI Bulgaria, Integrated Micro-Electronics Bulgaria, Interimage, Carat Bulgaria, Cargill Bulgaria, Karoll, Coca Cola Bulgaria, ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3, L’Oreal Bulgaria, Luboslovie BG, Microsoft Bulgaria, Metroreklama, Mobiltel, Musala Soft, Nestle Bulgaria, Nova Broadcasting Group, Oriflame Bulgaria, Pernod Ricard Bulgaria, Postbank, Publicis Group Bulgaria, Radisson BLU Grand Hotel, Saatchi&Saatchi, CIBANK, Smart Energy Group, Solarity BG, Speedy, TELUS International Europe, Health Media, Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria, CEZ Bulgaria, CEZ Distribution Bulgaria and Schneider Electric Bulgaria.
Media partners of the 2014 Responsible Business Awards are Bulgarian National TV, Bulgarian National Radio, Bulgaria on Air Media Group, Manager magazine, Focus Information Agency and Radio Chain, Net Info, Dir.bg, Mediapool, Investor.bg, Economy.bg, Zhivotat dnes daily, TB magazine, BG Predpriemach, b2b Media, Enterprise magazine.
