Applications are open for the V edition of the “Women Value Company 2021” award, born from the collaboration between the banking group led by Carlo Messina and the Marisa Bellisario Foundation. The recognition is dedicated to SMEs that have distinguished themselves in the management of the gender gap through innovative and inclusive development policies, promotion of female careers and effective corporate welfare solutions. The deadline for submitting applications is April 27.
The health and economic crisis caused by Covid-19 has put the world of women's work in crisis above all. After six years of steady growth, theObservatory on female entrepreneurship by Unioncamere and InfoCamere recorded a drop of 2020% in 0,29, equal to almost 4.000 fewer businesses than the previous year. This is because the sectors in which women are more present (such as tourism, commerce, textiles) are also the ones most affected by the pandemic. This has brought to light a structural weakness of female entrepreneurship. This award, therefore, is essential for relaunching the role of women in companies.
Businesses will be able to apply by 27 April 2021by completing the online form published on the Intesa Sanpaolo and Foundation websites. Furthermore, the Banking Group will select a panel of SMEs from among its corporate clients and non-clients, inviting them to participate.
Over 2 thousand participating companies distributed throughout the national territory, 12 meetings with the 400 finalist companies and 8 companies awarded for the policies implemented in favor of gender equality. An opportunity to give visibility to virtuous corporate practices and become ambassadors of an important message: greater female participation in the world of work can represent a strategic factor for development and economic and social growth for the country.
The two winning companies (one small and one medium-sized) will be announced in June during the award ceremony of the XXXIII edition of the Maria Bellisario Award "Women at high altitude", during which they will receive the special "Mela d'Oro-Women Value Company Intesa Sanpaolo”. All companies that have passed the selection will be awarded another recognition during an event to be held in the spring.
Intesa Sanpaolo's commitment to promoting gender equality is also strengthened in other initiatives aimed at enhancing female entrepreneurship: Business Gem, the medium and long-term loan dedicated to women's businesses and self-employed women to reconcile work with private life; mom@work which instead responds to the need for financing of working mothers (even self-employed) in the management of younger children; there Women Skills Academy an advanced training course focused on female leadership and, specifically, on companies led by women, to support them in the path of structural strengthening and direct them towards innovative sectors.
And again, a line dedicated to S-Loan financing (Sustainability Loan)dedicated to achieving ESG objectives (environmental, social and governance sustainability). The new line provides a rate discount for companies that make green investments with particular attention to initiatives aimed at gender equality, in particular: promotion and activation of initiatives, programs and good practices dedicated to facilitating and improving female participation in the community , activation of initiatives aimed at promoting the female employment rate in the community, activation of initiatives aimed at promoting female employment in the company, definition and implementation of internal policies aimed at guaranteeing gender equality in the company context and, lastly, introduction of corporate welfare programs for female employees.
“Gender equality is a strategic and transversal axis of Next Generation Italy, the plan to design the future of the country – he commented Anna Roscio, Intesa Sanpaolo Business Sales & Marketing Department Manager -. For our Group, this initiative is a fundamental part of the program of loans and initiatives with which Intesa Sanpaolo intends to rekindle the engines of Italian SMEs: we have allocated a total of 50 billion euro and implemented extraordinary measures to help them overcome the difficulties caused by the pandemic crisis and relaunch themselves through new development and growth projects".
"Today more than ever the Women Value Company Award takes on a crucial meaning for women's employment and female entrepreneurship - she added Lella Golfo, President of the Marisa Bellisario Foundation – For five years we have been enhancing a corporate culture based on inclusion, equality and employee well-being and the pandemic has confirmed how fundamental this model is for the survival of our economic and social system. Women are paying the highest price and the Recovery Fund represents a decisive opportunity to set up new development strategies that have their contribution at the centre. Investing in welfare and in the presence of women at the top is today the only effective strategy for overcoming the crisis and returning to growth”.
