In 2023, Shell Bulgaria, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Global Delivery Center Bulgaria, and Lidl Bulgaria in partnership with the Bulgarian Diversity Charter launched the Building Bridges initiative for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This initiative was inspired by the belief of the three leading companies that their wealth of experience and knowledge in managing diversity in the workplace should be shared with other organizations interested in this area. Shell Bulgaria EAD, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Bulgaria, and Lidl Bulgaria are among the most active members of the Diversity Charter in Bulgaria and recipients of the “Diversity in the Workplace” award, a national prize launched by the Bulgarian Diversity Charter in 2021 to recognize best practice in building diverse teams and inclusive workplaces. The Building Bridges initiative is an expression of the three companies’ deep commitment to the values of DEI both in the workplace and in society. Recognizing the tangible benefits that such policies bring—including improved business results, increased competitiveness, and the creation of a supportive environment for all employees—they have undertaken this joint initiative to share their experience with small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria.

This initiative was born out of the observation that knowledge about diversity and inclusion management is concentrated mainly in large and multinational companies. Given the changing demographic landscape and the increasingly diverse workforce, skills in this area are becoming key to business survival and prosperity. As a result, more and more companies are taking an interest in the topic of workplace diversity.