Companies large and small from a variety of sectors recognized for their contribution to society in the 22nd edition of the prominent ESG competition
The Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) announced the winners of the prestigious Annual Responsible Business Awards 2024 at a ceremony on 24 March 2025. Officials from the relevant institutions presented the prestigious awards in the 22nd edition of the national ESG competition held under the motto Lead by Example. Large and small successful companies from various sectors received well-deserved recognition for their effective and inspiring initiatives with purpose in the most prominent national competition for responsibility, sustainability and diversity.
Winners and finalists, ranked second and third, received their prizes from Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nikolay Pavlov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Acad. Nikolay Vitanov, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy Lazar Lazarov, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Nikola Barbutov, British Ambassador Nathaniel Copsey and BBLF President Levon Hampartzoumian. The event was attended by members of the organization's Board of Directors, business leaders, members of the jury, partners from the public and civil sectors, media.
The ceremony was held with the support of silver partners JTI Bulgaria and M3 Communications Group, bronze partners Postbank, Kaufland, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Congress Engineering and Dundee Precious Metals and partners from Coca-Cola HBCB.
At the opening, Levon Hampartzoumian stressed: "BBLF’s consistency in organising this competition for 22 years stems from responsible companies’ readiness to give back to make Bulgaria a good place to work and live in. A growing number of businesses, in addition to their purely economic contribution, are playing an important role in improving the social environment in this country, which is particularly important in turbulent times."
The Annual Responsible Business Awards are a landmark and long-standing project of BBLF, which for 22 years now has provided a prestigious platform for responsible companies and their successful campaigns for the benefit of employees, society and the environment implemented in the previous year. The Forum thus seeks to highlight and encourage private sector’s best practice of making an impact in the community as well as to promote corporate initiatives with purpose.
This year, again, companies from all sectors of the economy from across this country participated in the competition mottoed Lead by Example, regardless of whether they are members of the BFBL or not. Thus, the competition provides a broad picture of the engagement of business with social challenges in areas such as education, social activities, environment, etc. Find out more about this year's entries here (in Bulgarian).
The 100 nominations, submitted by 61 companies that are changing the social environment in our country for good, were evaluated by an objective and independent jury of respected experts from institutions, business, the civil sector, academia and the media.
The official ceremony once again attracted a select audience of more than 200 guests: senior executives from the companies that had entered the competition, from BBLF member companies and partner organisations, representatives of public institutions, foreign diplomats, media.
During the event all the entries were shortly presented, winners in the seven categories received their prizes, and the winner of the Engage Award, a special accolade for employee engagement, was announced.
Quarto Quartet (an ensemble of Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra) opened the ceremony. It was hosted by radio anchor, journalist and social entrepreneur Evelina Pavlova, and ended with a networking cocktail.
The event was widely reported in the media: bTV here and here, Bulgarian News Agency, Bulgarian National Radio, Economy, BGlobal, Manager, Investor, Enterprise, Tvoyat biznes, NGOBG.info, Lider, BG Predpriemach.
Here is a complete list of the winners.
INVESTOR IN THE COMMUNITY
INVESTOR IN KNOWLEDGE
INVESTOR IN HUMAN CAPITAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS
INVESTOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT
CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING
BEST SOCIAL POLICY OF SME
DIVERSITY AT THE WORKPLACE
ENGAGE SPECIAL AWARD
Shell Bulgaria
Companies that entered the 2024 Responsible Business Awards:
ADM Razgrad, Amusnet, Benefit Systems Bulgaria, BTL Industries Bulgaria, bTV Media Group, Cargill, Ciela Norma & Ciela Bookshops, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Bulgaria, Cognyte Bulgaria, Concentrix Bulgaria, Dalecko Shipping/ MAI Spedition, Devin, dm Bulgaria, Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech, DXC Technology, EVN Bulgaria, FANTASTICO GROUP, Galen-N, Generali Insurance, Groupama Insurance, Gugushev and Partners Law Office, Hilton Sofia, HPE Bulgaria, IBM Bulgaria, Intellias, Interlang, Investbank, ITX BULGARIA, JTI, Kaufland Bulgaria, KBC Global Services N.V – Branch Bulgaria, L’Oréal Bulgaria, Lesaffre Bulgaria, Lidl Bulgaria, M – Gas, Merkle, NEK, Orgachim, Paysafe, Paysera Bulgaria, Philip Morris Bulgaria, Pluxee Bulgaria, Pontica Solutions, Prestige 96, Pwrteams, Queisser Pharma Bulgaria, Robert Bosch Bulgaria, Schneider Electric, SCHWARZ IT Bulgaria, Shell Bulgaria, Siemens, Silver Star, SiteGround, Svetlina Private Kindergarten, Telematic Interactive Bulgaria, TELUS Digital, TITAN Zlatna Panega, Vivacom, Yettel Bulgaria, ZITA Jobs
