In September 2024, the Diversity Charter launched a pilot training and mentorship programme on inclusive communication for companies in Bulgaria in the framework of the NICE project. We would like to thank all participants from Charter signatory companies and partners who were active during the sessions and contributed to a lively debate thus highlighting the significance and relevance of the topic.
The purpose of the training programme is to enhance organisational culture by building knowledge on diversity, improving inclusive communication skills and sharing best practices among companies from the five European countries participating in the project.
Members and partners of the Bulgarian Diversity Charter had the exclusive opportunity to join the pilot training. The three sessions on 18-20 September – two online and one held live thanks to our kind hosts from HPE Bulgaria, were attended by over 30 participants from over 25 companies from various economic sectors. They represented different business functions sharing a deep interest in diversity and inclusive communication: HR and communications professionals, CSR and sustainability specialists, diversity managers and experts, as well as senior level executives.
Official guests included Levon Hampartzoumian, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF), Dimitar Markov, Director of the Law Programme of the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), Mario Garbeshkov, CEO of HPE Bulgaria, Kamelia Slaveykova, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Shell Bulgaria, who moderated the discussions, and George Ruitchev, Executive Director of the BBLF.
Trainers included Kamelia Slaveykova as well as Gabriela Marinova, BBLF / Bulgaria Diversity Charter, Maria Stoyanova, CSD/ Bulgaria Diversity Charter, Ani Ivanova, BBLF / Bulgaria Diversity Charter, and Bozhidara Tsvetilova, CSD/ Bulgaria Diversity Charter.
The NICE Training
The Charter team launched the NICE training materials: the framework on inclusive communication with criteria and indicators to help companies improve existing inclusive communication practices in different areas; six modules on inclusive and neutral language; activities to test knowledge; and videos and communication scenarios to improve employees’ communication skills.
The training is based on the needs and gaps in the field of inclusive communication identified following extensive research work (Comparative Report and Bulgaria Report), and offers an innovative format and practical methods to enhance the skills of company staff members, as well as some inspiration from partner organisations.
The training materials were developed by the NICE team after extensive consultations with companies and experts in the five countries (see here, here and here).
The NICE training continues with a mentoring programme, which will take place in Bulgaria between October and November 2024, and ends with a certificate for the participating companies.
Find more what we have achieved under the NICE initiative in the section dedicated to Inclusive Communication.
The NICE project is co-funded by the European Commission. Partners in Bulgaria are HPE and Lidl.
