DEI projects by ITX Bulgaria and Latecoere Bulgaria were also recognized in this year’s competition
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 “Workplace Diversity” Award!
Fantastico Group, ITX Bulgaria, and Latecoere Bulgaria received their awards during the official prize-giving ceremony of the 2025 Annual Responsible Business Awards held on 16 March 2026 in Sofia. The prestigious national award, which recognizes companies’ efforts to ensure an inclusive professional environment, is part of the Annual Responsible Business Awards, a well-established national competition for corporate social responsibility and sustainability organised by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF). The Awards’ most recent category , “Diversity at Work”, was introduced by the Bulgarian Diversity Charter five years ago specifically to promote best practice in building diverse teams and inclusive workplaces.
The jury, which includes relevant institutions and members of the Charter’s Advisory Council, evaluated all nominations and selected the three best DEI initiatives:
1st place – FANTASTICO and their strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion that builds an environment where every employee, partner, and customer feels respected, accepted, and motivated to contribute to the company’s success, regardless of differences.
2nd place – ITX Bulgaria and the Zara retail chain for their Different Opportunities, Real Skills programme in partnership with “Maria’s World” Foundation. The project provides practical opportunities for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through work experience in a real-world work environment, leading to the development of skills, confidence, and sustainable employment.
3rd place – Latecoere Bulgaria with the Factory Stories project that fosters an inclusive culture and leadership through sharing personal stories and the provision of trainings which results in building a stronger team.
Congratulations to the people at the companies behind the winning DEI projects!
The grand prize winner receives a bonus—an invitation to the official opening of the EU Diversity Month on 21 April in Brussels. The high-level event is part of the EU Diversity Charters Platform’s programme and offers an excellent opportunity for networking and discussions at the international level.
The Sofia ceremony announcing the finalists and winners of the DEI award also included a presentation of all nominations in the category. Coincidentally or not, there were five nominations this year, all from companies that have signed the Bulgarian Diversity Charter (entries).
The awards were presented by Maxim Behar, a member of the BBLF Board and CEO of M3 Communications Group, one of the founding companies of the Bulgarian Diversity Charter in 2020. In his speech to the audience, he highlighted the significant contribution of Kamelia Slaveykova, a member of the BBLF Board and Chair of Shell’s Board of Directors, to the idea of establishing the Bulgarian Diversity Charter and its implementation.
*Annual Responsible Business Awards
BBLF launched the Annual Responsible Business Awards back in 2003 to recognize companies investing in corporate social responsibility and sustainability and making an impact as well as to encourage their peers to develop active social policies. For details please visit www.bblf.bg and social media #bblfawards2025.
