BBLF announced winners of the prominent 2019 Responsible Business Awards at an official ceremony yesterday. A total of 108 corporate social good projects carried out by 78 companies competed in this country’s most established and prestigious CSR and sustainability contest.
More than 250 guests attended the event at Hotel Balkan: senior executives of BBLF member companies, companies that had entered this year’s competition, jury members, NGOs, diplomats and the media.
The awards were handed out by Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Doncho Barbalov, Sofia Deputy Mayor, Milena Georgieva, Deputy Executive Director of the Bulgarian Employment Agency, Tim Buisseret, Commercial Attaché of the British Embassy and Maxim Behar, BBLF Board member.
BBLF would like to thank silver sponsors Philip Morris Bulgaria, Zlatarna Celje and M3 Communications Group as well as bronze sponsors Alaric, Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech, Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium, CEZ, Shell, Park Lane Developments, Katarzyna Estate, Pernod Ricard, Zagorka.
The Annual Responsible Business Awards, organised by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum for the 17th time aim to encourage and promote the private sector’s best practice in support of education, the environment, talent growth, regional development and the community at large. The Awards seek to recognize the most successful and impactful CSR projects providing a representative overview of local companies’ responsibility and sustainability excellence.
Attendees were able to see short resumes of all nominations in the six categories and were the first ones to find out which of them were ranked first, second and third. Finalists were determined by an independent jury of renowned members of the business community, the government and non-government sector, academia and the media.
“Increased interest in the 2019 Responsible Business Awards indicates companies are generally aware they need to not only provide high quality products and services but also make a difference to everything that surrounds us. Today’s selection of leading examples of corporate social investment proves that businesses in Bulgaria have assumed a leading role as a sector that can provide competent solutions to various social challenges”, BBLF Chairman Levon Hampartzoumian said in his opening remarks.
“The Bulgarian state encourages and supports transparent businesses that achieve their goals by investing in human capital, implementing highly effective management methods and build on their competitiveness”, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said in his speech. He added this country’s success in the future will depend to an even greater extent on responsible leaders, choosing education, science and innovation as a national priority and building a strong economy with a sustainable growth rate.
The President awarded finalists in the Investor in the Community category that had gathered the largest number of entries, 38. The title went for the third consecutive year to Raiffeisenbank and their Choose to Help campaign, a fundraiser for social good projects. LIDL Bulgaria ranked second with You and LIDL for a Better Life, a programme that supports civic organisations. HPE took the prestigious third place with their project The Cause, a local volunteering team that supports the resolution of key social problems in Bulgaria.
President Radev also handed out the awards in the Investor in Knowledge category that saw 24 entries. The big winner is Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria with Youth Empowered, a career development programme. PwC Bulgaria was ranked second with The Most Important Lesson, a contest in support of young Bulgarian teachers. Two companies ranked third: L'Oreal Bulgaria with their fellowships for young female scientists For Women in Science 2019 and Nestle Bulgaria with their initative that stimulates the employment of youngsters Nestle Needs YOUth.
Deputy Mayor of Sofia Doncho Barbalov awarded the finalists in the Cause-Related Marketing category. Fantastico won the first prize with Мy Mother is a Super Hero project that supports Bulgarian social enterprises by offering their products to customers and fund-raising campaigns. A1 ranked second with their free of charge application Watch Commercials With a Cause Via A1 SmartAD. Avon Cosmetics Bulgaria took the third place for the Avon Mission Against Breast Cancer.
The Best Social Policy of SME title went to EsseTerre Bulgaria for their overall CSR programme that includes mentorship and employment of orphans. Eurofootball’s long-term Sports Talents programme ranked second. Astellas Pharma and their Men`s Health project that aims to raise awareness about PCa ranked third. The three companies were awarded by Sofia Deputy Mayor Doncho Barbalov.
The winner of the Investor in Human Capital and Working Conditions prize is Citibank Europe plc, Bulgaria Branch with Rinker Youth Challenge – an initiative that develops business skills and mindset among youth. VIVACOM’s Summer Internship programme ranked second. Telenor took the prestigious third place with the programme for professional development of people with disabilities Open Mind Bulgaria. Finalists in the category received their prizes from Milena Georgieva, Deputy Executive Director of Bulgarian Employment Agency.
Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria won another prize, Investor in the Environment, with My Green City, a project that strives to prove a world without waste is possible. Turtles at Ada Tepe Mine: Mission Possible, a campaign of Dundee Precious Metals Krumovgrad took the second prize. Third is Kaufland Bulgaria for their contribution to Bulgarian nature ranging from energy efficient technologies and buildings to a reduced use of plastics. The prizes were handed out by Maxim Behar, a Board member of BBLF. The three companies are also entitled to run for the European Business Awards for the Environment that BBLF coordinates in Bulgaria.
EsseTerre Bulgaria also won the special Engage Award for employee commitment to a social good project. The winner got the statuette from Tim Buisseret, Commercial Attaché of the British Embassy.
The event was hosted by Radinela Buserska, an anchor of Bulgaria on AIR TV. Quarto Quartet members provided a musical intro the event while artist Nikola Enev is the artist behind the hand-made statuettes.
The ceremony received substantial media attention by the likes of bTV, economy.bg, BNR, Bulgaria on Air, your Business, Manager, Economist, Darik news, Focus news agency, DevStyleR, NGOBG.info
A full list of winners is available here.
Media partners: BNT, BNR, BTA, Еconomy.bg, Manager News, your Business, Ikonomist, Investor Media Group, NGOBG.info, BAPRA, BICA, BCCI, DevStyleR
