BBVA - Press Room

• The BBVA INTEGRA award will grant EUR 200,000 to the entity with the most innovative benchmark scheme with proven results in Spain. Other integration schemes will also be recognized and awarded up to EUR 50,000 each
• The BBVA INTEGRA Scheme is aimed at integrating people with disabilities into society and the workplace
• Leading organizations such as COCEMFE, FEACEM, FEAPS and Fundación ONCE recently signed a framework agreement with BBVA to develop this scheme
  

BBVA has created the "BBVA INTEGRA award" which recognizes innovative proposals that generate value for hiring people with disabilities. This award is part of BBVA's Integra Scheme, which promotes the integration in society and the workplace of people with disabilities and considers that work is key to improving the quality of life of this group and in fostering equal opportunities.

The BBVA INTEGRA award will both recognize a consolidated scheme with high potential in transferring knowledge and skills, and support new projects that create jobs for the disabled.

All initiatives launched by NPO associations or organizations working with the disabled, as well as those undertaken by self-employed entrepreneurs with some degree of disability, will be eligible.

This new program from BBVA is part of its Corporate Responsibility policy, which can be summed up as "Working for a better future."  For BBVA, Corporate Responsibility is a real commitment based on providing the maximum and balanced value possible to its stakeholders 'shareholders, customers, employees and suppliers- and the societies where the bank operates.

Preferences and selection criteria

The projects submitted shall be assessed in the following fields:

• Innovation in creating employment for people with disabilities
• Promotion of universal accessibility, equal opportunities and non discrimination to help for people with disabilities obtain jobs
• Making people with disabilities, especially those with greater difficulty in obtaining a quality job, more employable
• Excellence in people management and developing skills at Special Employment Centers
• Schemes for generating work at Special Employment Centers that contribute to sustainable development and environmental protection
• Involvement and cooperation with companies to hire people with disabilities under equal opportunities and quality conditions
• R&D&I in applying advanced technology in promoting personal autonomy and employment for the disabled
• Dissemination, awareness and training programs to encourage a culture of quality employment for disabled workers
• Other areas which constitute an advance in creating quality jobs for the disabled and furthering equal opportunities and quality of life
  

Schemes shall be assessed bearing in mind their coherence with the established objective.  They must meet the innovation, value creation and quality criteria for creating jobs for the disabled.

The award panel will comprise people appointed by BBVA, the ONCE Foundation, la Confederación Española de Personas con Discapacidad Física y Orgánica (COCEMFE or Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities), the Confederación Española de Organizaciones a favor de las Personas con Discapacidad Intelectual (FEAPS or Spanish Confederation of Organization in favour of Intellectual Disability), and the Federación Empresarial Española de Asociaciones de Centros Especiales de Empleo (FEACEM or Spanish Business Federation of Associations of Special Centres for Employment of the Disabled). There will also be a Technical Advisory Committee comprising renowned individuals in the area of disabilities and employment.

The deadline for nominations is December 3. The panel's verdict, which cannot be appealed, will be announced by the end of January 2009. For more information, go to http://rrc.bbva.com

BBVA INTEGRA Scheme

This Scheme promotes social and workplace integration for people with disabilities, as well as equal opportunities, non-discrimination and access for all in Spain.

Another objective of the BBVA INTEGRA Scheme is to encourage full financial integration and accessibility of the disabled. As well as raising awareness of the needs and potential of this group, the initiative aims to promote full workplace integration by applying and rolling out innovative policies.
 
The Scheme will be managed internally across the Human Resources, Purchasing, Buildings and Services; Business and Image and Communication units.