Together they form Board 2030, through which they promote projects with a real impact on the city and generate solutions for key social and environmental challenges
The first joint action focuses on curbing early school leaving, which affects 12.8% of young people between the ages of 16 and 18
In this 2025-2026 academic year, 20 Training and Insertion Program (PFI) classrooms in Barcelona public centers have been sponsored, involving a total of 272 young people
Barcelona, February 20, 2026. Spain has a 25% youth unemployment rate¹, the highest in the European Union, and furthermore, 12.8% of young people between 18 and 24 do not complete compulsory secondary education or continue their training². Early school leaving has significant individual and social consequences, as dropping out of school prematurely leads to higher unemployment rates, less economic security, and a greater risk of social exclusion.
Against this backdrop and coinciding with World Day of Social Justice, some twenty companies from Barcelona and its metropolitan area have joined forces to launch Board 2030, an ecosystem of committed companies aiming to create a fairer, more sustainable, and inclusive city.
The companies and organizations that are part of Board 2030 include: B Lab Spain, CBRE, Consorci Zona Franca, Cushman & Wakefield, EADA, Ferrer, Ship2B Foundation, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, ImpactCO, Medichem, Moritz, Nactiva, Quadpack, R4S, Reig Jofré, TRAM, Uriach, and Volkswagen Group España Distribución, among others.
Board 2030 is a joint initiative of B Lab Spain, EADA Business School, and Ferrer, within the framework of Barcelona+B, whose mission is to project Barcelona as a leading city in the impact economy.
“The organizations that make up Board 2030 firmly believe that true change is born from collaboration and commitment. As Barcelona-based companies, we believe we have the responsibility and the capacity to generate solutions that benefit the city and its citizens,” says Jordi Díaz, Dean and Director General of EADA Business School.
Board 2030 is made up of CEOs and board members of major companies seeking to create a community for change capable of generating solutions to face challenges such as inequality, employability, housing, or sustainability. Over the last three years, the leaders involved have shared lessons, challenges, and progress to accelerate the transformation of their organizations through impact. These meetings have also included strategic city players such as Barcelona Activa, Ship2B Foundation, Turisme de Barcelona, Barcelona Global, and ACCIÓ, to share their initiatives and co-create collective action that responds to a specific need in Barcelona with tangible and measurable solutions.
This year, for the first time, they are making their constitution public and launching their first coordinated collective action.
The first joint action is to curb early school leaving. Through corporate volunteering programs, professionals from these companies mentor vulnerable young people throughout the academic year with the goal of encouraging them to continue their studies, guiding them on the labor market, and explaining their companies and departments.
For this project, Board 2030 is partnering with the Exit Foundation, an organization with over 25 years of experience dedicated to reducing early school leaving among socially vulnerable youth through corporate involvement. This 2025-2026 academic year, the goal is to sponsor 20 Training and Insertion Program (PFI) classrooms ³ in Barcelona public centers, guiding 272 young people and ensuring that all of them continue their studies.
“In a context where the private sector represents up to 80% of global GDP and 90% of global employment, companies have a moral obligation to fight for a fairer and more equitable world. With this initiative, we are joining forces to change the reality for our young people, convinced that supporting them so they continue their studies is an essential pillar for them to build a better future,” states Humberto López Vilalta, CEO of TRAM.
At a time when Barcelona faces social cohesion challenges, Board 2030 asserts the role of companies as key agents in driving solutions that promote equity, quality employment, and opportunities for all.
¹ Eurostat. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-euro-indicators/w/3-30102025-BP#estat-inpage-nav-heading-1
² Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports. https://www.educacionfpydeportes.gob.es/prensa/actualidad/2026/01/20260128-abandonotemprano.html
³ Training and Insertion Programs (PFI) are the first level of qualification within vocational training studies. They are aimed at young people between 16 and 21 years old who have not completed compulsory secondary education. (https://triaeducativa.gencat.cat/ca/fp/pfi/)