Measures touch on environmental aspects, development opportunities, and education. They helped BBVA earn recognition as the most attractive financial sector employer in Spain according to the Randstad Employer Branding Survey. The research was conducted by an independent organization and involved nearly 163,000 participants from more than 7,100 companies across the country. It analyzes the main reasons people choose one company to pursue their professional careers.
Professional development opportunities rank high as a key factor in choosing where to work. The study found that 77% of respondents would stay with their employer if development options were available. This factor is closely linked to the broader educational initiatives promoted by the bank, which were decisive in BBVA being named the most attractive institution in the sector.
BBVA’s commitment to development and growth for its team led to a strategic educational plan. It translated into more than 1,150,000 training hours in Spain in 2022, averaging about 67 hours per employee. In the Valencian Community the figure exceeded the national average, averaging 75 hours per employee.
The Valencian Community also saw 94% of training delivered remotely in 2022, facilitating self-improvement and better work-life balance. This aligns with the value professionals place on flexible learning when selecting an employer.
“BBVA, in effect, enables full autonomy in choosing how to learn. The online training ecosystem empowers our professionals to lead their own development wherever they are,” stated Yolanda Martínez Bajo, Director of Talent and Culture at BBVA Spain, who led the Randstad Award in the financial sector.
Martínez Bajo further noted that this recognition reflects a strategic priority: building a strong, committed team aimed at creating a positive impact on people’s lives and society. According to BBVA’s Director of Talent and Culture in Spain, the organization emphasizes a strong corporate culture, a highly collaborative work environment, and a leadership model that boosts empowerment, entrepreneurship, and team autonomy, enabling many professionals to identify with the company’s business project.
Attracting and retaining talent at BBVA
Among its initiatives, the bank highlights the People Plan launched two years ago. This program fosters daily improvement and is a network created by professionals across the office network, whose value lies in its inclusive participation of employees themselves.
In addition, BBVA’s efforts in variation and inclusion are valued by 54% of survey respondents when choosing a company to work for. This positions BBVA as an industry benchmark for attracting and retaining talent.
In the realm of development, the enterprise has established transparent and consistent growth processes that support a high-performance culture. BBVA was also an early adopter among large organizations in reinforcing flexible working models, even before the health crisis ended. Nearly 12,000 professionals benefited from this hybrid approach, especially those in central services and support roles.
Awards to BBVA
BBVA received the Randstad Award in 2023 for Argentina, recognizing it as the most attractive company to work for in the finance sector for the second consecutive year. The award cited the bank’s healthier financial outlook and superior opportunities for professional development as key drivers.
BBVA’s profile includes appearances on other notable lists and awards last year, such as Time magazine recognition, LinkedIn Best Companies in Spain, Spain’s Best Employer, the Gallup Outstanding Workplace Award, and the Merco Talento Spain report, which highlight the bank’s ongoing commitment to workplace excellence.