Treballem+B (We Work Better): Connecting companies and social entities for an inclusive city

By project PICOBELLO

Published on 04 December 2024

Spain

Cataluña

Barcelona

About this good practice

The issue addressed is the lack of inclusive employment opportunities in Barcelona, limiting the potential of the city's diverse talent. Treballem+B aims to solve this by fostering collaboration between private sector companies and social entities working with vulnerable groups. Through in-person gatherings and a structured methodology, the initiative encourages reflection, knowledge sharing, and, most importantly, collaboration to develop practical, actionable solutions.

The initiative began by establishing a collaboration lab with key city stakeholders to diagnose local challenges, resulting in a manifesto defining what it means to be an “inclusive organization” in Barcelona. Through a robust communications campaign, over 135 organizations have signed this manifesto and joined the gatherings.

These events encourage reflection, collaboration, and the development of actionable solutions. Treballem+B also promotes continuous improvement and long-term commitment to the goal of enhancing inclusive employment in the city. Key stakeholders include social organizations, public employment entities, and private companies from various sectors. The direct beneficiaries are people at risk of exclusion, who gain employment opportunities and a better quality of life, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable Barcelona.

Expert opinion

Treballem+B is a public-private initiative that addresses the lack of inclusive employment by fostering collaboration between businesses and social organisations supporting vulnerable groups in Barcelona. It organises in-person gatherings where stakeholders reflect, share knowledge, and co-create actionable solutions. The project began with a collaboration lab and a jointly developed manifesto on inclusive organisations, now signed by over 135 entities. With modest resources (€15,730 for events, €72,900 for staff), the initiative is 70% privately funded. It has led to 60% of participants forming inclusion-focused collaborations and 66% achieving progress on their inclusion goals. Treballem+B bridges the gap between social and corporate sectors and offers a transferable model to promote employment equity by aligning social missions with private sector values rooted in JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion). This good practice is especially relevant for regions with a strong private sector and an active network of social entities aiming to generate place-based social impact.

Arnault Morisson

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

Average annual resources needed:
• Gatherings&events: €15,730
• Human Resources: Team of 1.5 people (€72,900)
• Strategic partners and collaborations to have access to spaces for events as well as support with PR and comms campaigns

Income source: 30% public - 70% private

Evidence of success

• 135 organisations have joined the initiative since the beginning of the main campaign, one year ago.
• 9/10 is the overall satisfaction score given by the participants to this initiative.
• 60% of participants in the gatherings have established collaborations which are helping them drive inclusion within their organisations.
• 66% of the participants have made progress on the inclusion goals set by their organisation at the start of this initiative.

Potential for learning or transfer

Several tools and methodologies have been developed to bridge the gap between 2 worlds that are often far apart.
Social entities often struggle to connect with businesses, making it difficult to secure employment opportunities for the people they serve. Even language and narratives used by social entities differ from those in the corporate world, creating a divide that is challenging to overcome.
At the same time, private sector is being urged to promote JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) in the workplace, driven by both regulatory frameworks and market trends. However, many companies are uncertain about how to improve their practices and are seeking guidance
By creating a space where these two worlds can meet and collaborate toward a shared goal, we have facilitated meaningful partnerships and empowered social entities to navigate the business world more effectively. This can be replicated anywhere by identifying and joining local networks of companies and social entities