The Kanchi Blog

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30th October 2012

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At a formal event in Telefónica’s Madrid headquarters, in the presence of more than
400 guests. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN PRESIDED OVER THE CEREMONY OF THE SECOND
TELEFONICA ABILITY AWARDS

Today, 30 October 2012, Madrid.- Her Majesty the Queen presided over the
formal ceremony of the presentation of the Telefónica Ability Awards, organised by
Telefónica to recognise and award those companies and organisations who best
integrate disability into their business model. Seated at the presidential table with
Queen Sofía were: Cesar Alierta, the President of Telefónica, Ana Mato, the Minister for
Health, Social Politics and Equality, Ignacio Gonzalez, Secretary of State for
Telecommunications, Víctor Calvo-Sotelo, the secretary of state for
Telecommunications, Luis Abril, the technical Presidential secretary general of
Telefónica and the secretary of the awards and Caroline Casey, the founder of Kanchi
and of the Ability Awards.

he event, which took place in Telefonica’s Madrid headquarters, Distrito
Telefónica, was attended by more than 400 guests, including representatives from
central and regional Governments, representatives of the trade unions, leading figures
from the business and disability sectors as well as a large number of media. The
ceremony was presented by Bertín Osborne and the Paralympic fencing medalist,
Gemma Hassen-Bey

The winners of this second cycle of Ability Awards in Spain, who were presented
with a sculpture made by Irish artist Shane Holland by Her Royal Highness the Queen,
were selected by the Final Judging Panel, made up of the awards patrons – presided
over by César Alierta and made up of almost 30 key personalities and representatives Telefónica, S.A. Dirección de Comunicación Corporativa
Ronda de la Comunicación, s/n
28050 Madrid from ministries, universities, unions, associations relating to the disability, social and
business sectors – as well as the three winners from the 2010 edition of the awards,
Repsol, as Best Large Organisation, Hotel Plaza Entremares, as Best SME and Aena as
Best Public Organisation.

Notable members of the awards patrons included the Ministers for Industry,
Tourusim and Commerce, José Manuel Soria and of Health, Social Politics and Equality,
Ana Mato and representatives from institutions such CERMI, ONCE and Fundación
ONCE. Pwc Spain, in its role as independent verifier and collaborating partner, provided
support throughout the process, which was launched on the 27th October 2011.

The Telefónica Ability Awards awarded the following organisations and entities,
In the three Overall Categories, the winners are Línea Directa Aseguradora, as best
large private company, Pelayo Servicios Auxiliares de Seguros, as best SME and the
University of Valencia as best organisation from the public sector

In the Main Categories six initiatives are awarded:

Leadership, which recognises the organisation that has shown the best inclusion
of people with disabilities in their strategy , which was won by Indra;

Recruitment and Selection, to the organisation that most actively seeks to
attract and recruit people with disabilities, awarded to Alcampo;

Accessibility, to the organisation that provides the safest, most comfortable and
accessible built environment, the winner of which is Málaga City Council;

Customer Service, awarded to the organization that most excels in the
development of products and services for people with disabilities, awarded to Radio y
Televisión de Andalucía (Andalusian local television channel);

Professional development and training, which recognises the organisation that
best guarantees its employees with equal training and promotional opportunities, which
goes to Capgemini España;

Retention & Well Being, to the organisation that best puts in place means to
prevent disability and ensure the best retention of employees who acquire a permanent
disability, which is won by Accenture.

Before the event, the Top 50 organizations, known as the “2012 Ability
Companies” received their certificate and a brief report on their participation in the
2012 Telefónica Ability Awards process. Additionally these organizations, along with the
category winners, will form part of the “Club Ability”, a network of common interest
that meets to exchange best practice and share knowledge.

Telefónica, S.A.

Dirección de Comunicación Corporativa
Ronda de la Comunicación, s/n
28050 Madrid

The role of Telefónica as facilitator and project manager, supporting the work
of the Ability Patrons, who are the real motor to achieve the main objectives of the
programme: to change attitudes towards disability.

In the words of Telefonica president César Alierta, “the success of the Telefónica
Ability Awards is thanks to the support of the disability community and associations as
well as the mulitlatoral network of business, academic, unions and public sector – and
also thanks to the conviction of Spanish organisations as an example of innovation to
achieve the integration of people with disability within their business. We have seen
how these candidates have contributed to improve the quality of products and services,
improve the work environment at the same time as they increase productivity and
increase their market share”.

Speaking prior to the awards Caroline Casey said; “ “There are 1.1 billion people
in the world affected by disability – the market size of China – to date this significant
market has remained invisible , despite the fact that it represents an enormous
opportunity and value both to society and business. The Ability Awards is a vehicle to
fundamentally change how business values people with disability and therefore how
society engages with people with disabilities. We are hugely encouraged and proud of
this year’s Telefonica Ability Award winners, bringing the total number of Ability Award
companies between Ireland and Spain to just over 230. Together with The Ability
Awards winners, Telefonica and their unprecedented commitment, we are building a
global business movement around the disability business case”

Telefónica will launch the third Ability Awards programme in Spain next autumn.
The Awards, which were developed in Ireland have had a great impact on business and
society. Developed by Kanchi, a not for profit organisation that was set up to improve
the relations between people with disabilities and society.