Vocento recognizes the leadership of companies in facing economic challenges

Vocento held this Wednesday the VI Edition of the Business Awards with which the Group recognizes 14 prestigious companies that stand out in different facets of their activity, in a year marked by high economic uncertainty derived from the war in Ukraine and the crisis energetic.

The event, sponsored by Banco Sabadell, began with the intervention of Pilar Sainz, General Director of Communication and Relations of Vocento, who highlighted the role of companies as "the economic engine of our country, as great generators of employment and a fundamental part of well-being in our society".

Sainz highlighted that "in the face of adversity, citizens demand answers and commitment and the key to facing the challenges in the difficult times that we have had to live cannot be other than to bet on the productive economy and promote business and social behaviors that strengthen sustainable development, placing people at the center of their activity”.

For his part, Daniel Fernández Herráiz, Director of the Business Network of Banco Sabadell's Central Territorial Department, emphasized that "the companies that will receive the Vocento Awards today are an example of how to manage the changes and challenges that are presented to them as opportunities. His vision, his responsibility and his courage serve as a guide for us to know how to face and overcome difficulties; and that is a great strength in these times ».

The bank manager, who has supported the Vocento Business Awards since its first edition, highlighted that "it is the companies like the ones that the Vocento Group awards year after year that with their work contribute to giving prestige to the entrepreneurial capacity of our country and positioning ourselves among the countries that stand out and are exemplary in the world for the quality of their companies and entrepreneurs. And this is a reality that fills us all with pride.

The winners

The Vocento Business Award for Brand Positioning was awarded to RTVE after a year in which the entity recovered an unprecedented audience with the retransmission of the last edition of Eurovision, with a screen share of 71.6%, with 8,853,000 views, at the time of voting. The festival went beyond the Eurofan bubble, with strong repercussions in the general media. "Both the Eurovision brand and the Spain Brand are reinforced by the work of TVE," the organizers indicated.

The award for International Expansion went to El Pozo, present in 80 countries and with the firm commitment to continue exporting as a pioneer company in healthy eating, both in fresh meats and in processed and cured products.

The recognition for Equality, Diversification and Inclusion went to Cepsa, for its commitment to promote diversity in its own organization and in its network of partners and suppliers. The company has an extensive Diversity and Inclusion Program dedicated to promoting gender diversity, LGBTI+ and the inclusion of people with different abilities and carries out multiple training actions to achieve these objectives. In addition, Cepsa recently joined the Principles of Conduct for Companies promoted by the United Nations to promote diversity and labor equality in companies.

For its part, WallBox was recognized as a Revelation Company for its success in the design, development and manufacture of intelligent charging solutions for electric and hybrid vehicles. With only seven years of life, this Spanish 'start-up' has managed to surpass a 1,000 million dollar valuation and be the first Spanish company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Civitatis received the Digitization award for its Hospitality Experience Tool platform, which offers a technological solution to hotel chains, property managers and all types of independent accommodation that can access a specific panel to make reservations for activities and excursions from their own reception and Obtain graphic material that boosts sales in the establishments themselves.

Meanwhile, the recognition for Innovation went to Ferrovial, for the development of the Smart Formwork project, an intelligent formwork system that allows real-time control and monitoring of pressure and temperature, facilitating the optimization of cycles work and achieving greater safety in concreting processes.

In a difficult macroeconomic environment in which entrepreneurship is increasingly complex, the Entrepreneurial Award for Start-up of the Year went to Playtomic. Only five years old, this Spanish tennis and padel booking platform is already present in 34 countries and has bought several smaller companies in the US, Sweden, the UK, Belgium, Italy and Portugal.

For its part, Grupo Osborne was the company awarded the Family Business award, "a sector that has become the backbone of the Spanish business fabric and very important generators of wealth and employment", according to the organizers. In its 250-year history, the Group has achieved a broad international presence in more than 7 countries, with two subsidiaries in China and Brazil, 6 production plants in Spain and a portfolio of more than 30 own brands.

Communication and sponsorship

At a time when corporate communication and institutional relations have become key to transmitting business objectives, the External Communication award was given to the CEU, promoter of projects with which it seeks academic and professional excellence such as 'Making you Questions', 'CEU Talks, the Value of Values' and the Podcasts. Tools all of them with which he manages to maintain the relationship with his students, alumni and target audience.

For its part, the recognition for Internal Communication went to the Elecnor Group, thanks to its firm commitment to the development of communication tools with its employees based on gamification such as quizzes, games and apps, always very effective in communicating the pillars of a sustainability strategy or other issues connected with ESG, thus generating new listening dynamics and accompanying new ways of working.

Telefónica wins the Sponsorship Award thanks to eSports. The operator chaired by José María Álvarez-Pallete has entered this year as a partner in the capital of Team Randomk eSports, the parent company of Movistar Riders, one of the most important clubs in Spain, with whom it has also renewed its sponsorship for the next three years.

Sustainability and results

Sustainability is already a strategic pillar of many companies that seek not to lose pace in the green transformation process that the Spanish economy is undergoing. Thus, Vocento wanted to recognize the work of Heineken with the award for Environmental Sustainability. The brewery company leads projects such as 'Last Mile', with the sustainable distribution of beers through zero-emission electric vehicles. It is estimated that this will prevent the emission of more than 51,000 kilos of CO2 into the atmosphere per year.

On the other hand, the Social Sustainability award went to Inditex, for its commitment to the communities where the textile giant has a presence. The group dedicated 63.5 million euros to social initiatives in 2021, while its employees dedicated more than 206,000 hours of their working hours to social initiatives.

In such complex years for the generation of profits due to the impact of the pandemic, Acciona received the award for Results, given for having managed to maintain strong growth in all items, with a positive operational evolution of the different activities and a reduction significant financial leverage. The company's turnover grew by 25% in 2021 compared to the previous year, to 8,104 million euros and Ebitda did so by 30.9%, to 1,483 million euros.