We promote equality and inclusion as pillars of sustainable competitiveness in Bizkaia

We have shared a fundamental day marked by social commitment and strategic development within the framework of BBK ESG Hub Cámarabilbao. This meeting, which brought together various organizations at Cámarabilbao, served to delve deeper into how equality and inclusion are essential factors within the Social (S) component of ESG criteria, establishing themselves as key elements to increase the competitiveness of both companies and our own territory.

The event began with a welcome speech by the President of the Sustainability Commission of the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce, Mikel Huizi, who highlighted that a cohesive society is always wealthier and more resilient. Subsequently, Leire San-Jose, Professor of Finance at the University of the Basque Country and researcher at the ECRI group, addressed the role of sustainability in business management, underlining the importance of making the social value generated visible beyond financial results.

A Firm Commitment Through Inclusive Employment

Our colleague Oihane Aldaiturriaga, Head of Employment and Entrepreneurship at BBK, took part in the talk titled “Diversity in your company, an opportunity to grow” to explain how we actively help organizations take concrete steps toward social transformation through Inclusive Employment.

Through this project, we act as a bridge toward a more equitable labor market, normalizing the hiring of people with disabilities and migrants in Bizkaia companies. This is a comprehensive proposal where we bring real value to companies that decide to join the change through a process guided by specialized social entities.

This initiative accompanies human resources teams in all their phases:

• Analyzing job needs and selecting candidates.

• Providing training and raising awareness among workforces to ensure optimal adaptation.

In addition to this specialized advice, the program incentives hiring with financial aid of up to €6,000 for organizations incorporating professionals from these groups for the first time. This facilitates compliance with legal regulations while boosting tax benefits, corporate reputation, and alignment with the 2030 Agenda.

The meeting continued with a panel discussion where real experiences and guidelines from companies in our region were shared. The debate featured insights from Iraia Zornoza (Lantegi Batuak), Yolanda Madariaga (Biolan), Cristina Aldamiz-Echevarria (Alkora País Vasco), Almudena Quintanilla (Zurtek), and María Seisdedos (Cafés Baqué). They all agreed on the need to transform good intentions into strategic decisions within organizations.

Alliances to Connect Talent with Real Opportunities

The closing of the event was led by Oihane Aldaiturriaga herself, who reminded attendees that there is no better social policy than quality employment as a guarantee of progress and well-being for citizens. In her conclusions, she pointed out the importance of having allied companies that connect talent with real opportunities, and highlighted the role of BBK ESG Hub Cámarabilbao as the ideal space to drive competitiveness based on diversity and social cohesion.

About BBK ESG Hub Cámarabilbao

This pioneering project, led by BBK in alliance with the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce and in collaboration with Petronor, was born with the purpose of accompanying Bizkaia’s business fabric toward a sustainable management model. Through this plural and practical forum, we offer personalized diagnostics, training, and tailored tools so that organizations can successfully face the challenges posed by current and future regulations, achieving a positive social impact in our territory.