As Teresa Fernández Fortún, Ibercaja’s director of Corporate Banking, explained, “more than 150 applications were received for this edition from 112 SMEs across Spain (each company could apply in more than one category). Participation doubled compared with last year, which inspires us and suggests that these awards are on track to becoming an unmissable event for small and medium-sized businesses in our country.”
Serma helps companies in Aragon’s industrial sector become more competitive through comprehensive intralogistics solutions. It offers one of the broadest ranges of forklifts on the market from Linde Material Handling, as well as Nilfisk cleaning equipment. As its general manager, Miguel Ángel Casbas, noted, “we continue trying to preserve the essence and values handed down to us by the company’s founders, while keeping the new generation in mind so that we can continue to improve.”
ARPA designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, deploys and maintains mobile and modular infrastructure for demanding environments and critical missions. Its activities include life-support camps, hospitals and healthcare infrastructure, and water treatment and generation systems… It has developed projects in more than 60 countries and works for the United Nations, NSPA/NATO, defense ministries, public bodies, NGOs and technology companies. Its CEO, Clara Arpa, noted that one of the secrets to competing with large groups is precisely to “think big. But I must also acknowledge that we have had some very good partners along the way.”
Meanwhile, Seville-based Éxxita was named Spain’s Best SME of the Year. The remaining awards went to Granada-based MBAKids (Microenterprise), Madrid-based Anda Conmigo (Social Impact) and Sepiia (Innovation), and Guadalajara-based El Mercado de Martínez (Centenary SME).
"SME PRIDE DAY"
The event highlighted the importance of SMEs in Spain’s business and social fabric. As Teresa Fernández Fortún, Ibercaja’s director general of Corporate Banking, said, “you SMEs are the ones who drive not only the economy, but society as well. Through your daily determination to grow, you create a ripple effect that also moves everyone who accompanies you on your journey. In our case, at Ibercaja, by advising you and supporting your projects. That is why these awards could have no other name: SMEs That Move Us.”
Alejandro Vesga, CEO and director of Emprendedores magazine, also endorsed this idea: “Those of us who have called ourselves ‘entrepreneurs’ since before the word became so widely used are delighted to be part of these awards, because we are convinced that SMEs are, by far, the engine of economic development. That is why, for us, today is ‘SME Pride Day.’”
Víctor Gonzalo, founding partner and creative director general of Óptica PRO, also spoke at the event, delivering a presentation entitled “Keys for SMEs to Think Big.” The jury for this second edition comprised María Benjumea (CEO of South Summit), Aquilino Peña (CEO and co-founder of Kibo Ventures), Vicente Pascual (co-founder of Cabify), Clemente Cebrián (co-founder of El Ganso and Tintoremus), Antonio González (CEO of Impact Hub), Juan Pablo Nebrera (CEO and founder of Brooklin Fitboxing Group, winner of the Best SME award in the previous edition), Alejandro Vesga and Toño Ruiz.
