Special Announcement From Banco Santander to Thousands of Spaniards: It Ends in April

Banco Santander's customers are in luck. The bank opened the call for the ninth edition of the SME of the Year Award in Lérida a few days ago. It is a recognition of small and medium-sized enterprises that generate employment and contribute to the economic development of the region.

This contest, organized in collaboration with the newspaper Segre, seeks to reward those SMEs that stand out in various strategic areas. Interested companies can submit their application until April 2, the date on which the registration period will close.

Banco Santander and the Award That Values SMEs' Efforts

Small and medium-sized enterprises are an essential pillar of the Spanish economy, and Banco Santander wants to recognize their role with this award. To be eligible for the award, companies must have fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than 50 million by the end of the 2024 fiscal year. They must also be registered in the province of Lérida in Catalonia.

The jury will choose the company that best represents the values of growth, innovation and sustainability. Thus, it will award the title of SME of the Year 2025 in Lérida.

But not only will a single winner be awarded. Meanwhile, four runners-up will also be granted in different categories. They are Internationalization, Innovation and Digitalization, Training and Employment, and Sustainable SME.

In addition to receiving this recognition at the provincial level, the winning SME will go on to compete in the National SME of the Year Award 2025. It is a prestigious contest that will be solved during the first quarter of 2026. The companies awarded the runners-up will also have the opportunity to aspire to victory in their respective categories at the national level.

How to Participate in the Call Before April

To be part of this edition of the SME of the Year Award, companies must complete a registration form available on the website of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. Registration can be done quickly and easily. But it is important to meet the deadlines, as the process will close on April 2 at 8:00 PM.

The jury will be composed of representatives from Banco Santander, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the newspaper Segre and other institutions. In their evaluation, they will consider key aspects such as job creation, with an emphasis on permanent contracts or training actions aimed at workers. They will also consider the company's international expansion, digitalization and innovation projects and the impact of each company's sustainability initiatives.

This award, which has become a benchmark in the field, has had the participation of more than 10,800 SMEs throughout Spain in previous editions. Without a doubt, a reflection of the interest and importance of this recognition within the country's economic fabric.