Barcelona, March 17th, 2026 – Spain has a 25% youth unemployment rate1, the highest in the European Union, and 12.8% of young people aged 18 to 24 do not complete compulsory secondary education nor continue their training2. Early school leaving has significant individual and social consequences, as quitting education prematurely leads to higher unemployment rates, lower financial security, and greater risks of social exclusion.
In response to this scenario, and coinciding with World Social Justice Day, around twenty companies from Barcelona and its metropolitan area, including Medichem, have come together to launch Board 2030, an ecosystem of committed companies aiming to make the city more just, sustainable, and inclusive.
According to Elisabeth Stampa, CEO at Medichem, “We are proud to join Board 2030 and stand alongside other committed organizations to support our city’s young people. Education is a powerful driver of opportunity and equity, and through this collective initiative we hope to inspire meaningful change and help ensure that every young person has the support they need to continue their studies and pursue a brighter future”.
The companies and organizations that are part of Board 2030, alongside us, include B Lab Spain, CBRE, Consorci Zona Franca, Cushman & Wakefield, EADA, Ferrer, Fundación Ship2B, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, ImpactCO, Moritz, Nactiva, Quadpack, R4S, Reig Jofré, TRAM, Uriach, and Volkswagen Group España Distribución, among others.
Board 2030 is a joint initiative by B Lab Spain, EADA Business School, and Ferrer, within the framework of Barcelona+B, whose mission is to position Barcelona as a leading city in the impact economy.
“The organizations that make up Board 2030 firmly believe that real change comes from collaboration and commitment. As companies based in Barcelona, we consider it our responsibility and capacity to generate solutions that benefit the city and its citizens,” says Jordi Díaz, Dean and CEO of EADA Business School.
Board 2030 brings together CEOs and board members from large companies seeking to create a community of change capable of generating solutions to challenges such as inequality, employability, housing, and sustainability. Over the past three years, its leaders have shared learning, challenges, and progress to accelerate the transformation of their organizations from an impact-driven perspective. Strategic city actors such as Barcelona Activa, Fundación Ship2B, Turisme de Barcelona, Barcelona Global, and ACCIÓ have also participated in these meetings to share initiatives and co-create collective action with tangible and measurable solutions addressing Barcelona’s specific needs.
This year, for the first time, Board 2030 publicly announces its formation and launches its first coordinated collective action.
First Collective Initiative: Reducing Early School Leaving
The first joint action focuses on reducing early school leaving. Through corporate volunteer programs, professionals from these companies mentor vulnerable young people throughout the school year, encouraging them to continue their studies, guiding them on the labor market, and introducing them to their companies and departments.
For this project, Board 2030 partners with Fundación Exit, an organization with over 25 years of experience dedicated to reducing early school leaving among socially vulnerable youth through corporate involvement. In the 2025–2026 school year, the goal is to sponsor 20 classrooms of Training and Insertion Programs (in Spanish, PFI)3 in public schools in Barcelona, mentor 272 young people, and ensure that all of them continue their education.
Business Leadership Serving Social Justice
At a time when Barcelona faces social cohesion challenges, Board 2030 emphasizes the role of companies as key agents in driving solutions that promote equity, quality employment, and opportunities for all.
About Barcelona+B
Barcelona+B is an initiative led by B Lab Spain, EADA Business School, and Ferrer that connects companies, educational institutions, public administrations, and social organizations to build a more sustainable and inclusive Barcelona. Since 2022, 167 organizations have joined the project, over 600 companies have participated in its activities, and 2,900 people have attended its events.
The goal of Barcelona+B is to position Barcelona as a reference city in the impact economy, where companies actively contribute to the well-being of their stakeholders, reduce negative impacts, and advance toward models based on just work, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI), while respecting planetary boundaries. The initiative is part of the global B Corp movement.
References:
- Eurostat. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-euro-indicators/w/3-30102025-BP#estat-inpage-nav-heading-1
- Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports of Spain https://www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es/prensa/actualidad/2026/01/20260128-abandonotemprano.html
- Training and Insertion Programs (PFI) are the first level of qualification within vocational education studies. They are aimed at young people aged 16 to 21 who have not completed compulsory secondary education.”
Learn more at: https://triaeducativa.gencat.cat/ca/fp/pfi/
