BBBA Membership Satisfaction Survey Draw 2023

We would like to thank all of you who took the time to send us your feedback in the BBBA Membership Satisfaction Survey. We are grateful that you have evaluated very positively our work and contribution to your business!

We are also inspired by all the ideas and comments BBBA members have given us in the survey. Please, feel free to share your feedback with us not only in our annual survey, but any time through the year, as many of you do already.

Last but not least, we are happy to announce in the video the winners of the lucky draw who win a bottle of special wines by our members.

Congratulations to Iassen Trendafilov, Kalinka Hristova and Borislav Notovsky!

Due to the current courier workload, you will receive your rewards after the New Year.

Wishing you a happy end of the year and a better 2024!

Dear Friends / Family/ Colleagues

As 2023 comes to a close I, Tony McMurray, wanted to share with you an update on the challenge.

• I am pleased to confirm that during the year we successfully reached our 20th peak towards our ultimate goal to summit all 56 peaks of Bulgaria >2,500m
• We had a further 24 new people join us across the year (both the 56 peaks + the training days), from a diverse cross section of society, abilities and nationalities.
• We are nearing our initial fundraising target of 10,000 BGN so have now increased the target on our website to 20,000 BGN as we push towards completing the remaining 36 peaks.
• All in aid of the ‘FOR OUR CHILDREN FOUNDATION’ here in Bulgaria, supporting disadvantaged children across the country here.
• Special mention goes to the +130,000 people who chose to watch my Ted Talk video centred around the challenge here.
• During the year we had a number of weekend trips into the hills for both the 56 peaks and / or training days.
• August and October were the most notable months for the team given the number of peaks completed  
• October was surprisingly mild above 2,000m given it was late in the year, and we managed a successful weekend camped out under the stars
• Georgi (our resident chef) engineered more than 20kg of chicken, pork and pancake mix to be transported by the team to camp and we enjoyed an evening of gastronomy, insightful discussions, and entertainment courtesy of our best friend on the trip ‘Mr Rakia’ 
• The weekend was also notable for our first ascent involving ropes – belaying 9 people up and down over a 5 hour slog!
• However, this same weekend was also a stark reminder to us all of the need for Safety during the challenge. As we came down the mountain on Sunday night we passed the red suits of the mountain rescue team heading up the mountain. We were saddened to hear the day after that a 29-year-old climber had fallen to his death on the same peak we had reached only hours earlier.
• A sombre moment to reflect and thank our logistics lead Martin for ensuring that Safety is our #1 priority at all times!
• Please find below a selection of the images taken during 2023.
• The last photo was an end of year celebration dinner involving a large cross section of the team, both 56 Peakers and training hike attendees. Many of whom had not met before.
• This end of year gathering allowed us to reflect on the great year we had in the hills together and look ahead to the new adventures that lie ahead in 2024!

As we look ahead to 2024 my ask of you all is as follows:

RESIDENTS OF BULGARIA

• If you live in Bulgaria and are perhaps keen to get fit as a new years resolution, or maybe never reached a peak, please contact me
• You could be joining us in 2024 either on a one day training day hike or perhaps one of the peaks >2,500m

VISITORS TO BULGARIA

• Equally, if you are visiting Bulgaria for pleasure or maybe for works visit we would be happy to have you join us on a days hike over a weekend for you and / or your team (subject to it being a date we are available).
• The past 18 months has repeatedly shown us the great benefits towards team spirit and comradery amongst all those who have joined.  
• Those who need some added incentive to visit Sofia I would highly recommend this video that shows how wonderful the capital city is!
• The film “To Sofia, With Love” was recently created and aims to increase the curiosity of future tourists to the city and is supported by Mastercard as part of the brand’s initiative to digitize the stories of Sofia and its people that have not been told around the world
• https://youtu.be/X7YCXaPBCE8?si=cyAVFOi77gV5cmiK 

We are happy to announce the successful fruition of a collaborative project, financially supported by the TELUS International Bulgaria Community Board Foundation in 2022. In a noteworthy stride toward women’s empowerment and community support against violence and toxicity, the Emprove Foundation has officially launched its groundbreaking chatbot, “Emprove,” now available on Viber. This innovative digital advisor is the first of its kind in Bulgaria, marking the significant engagement and contribution of the Foundation of TELUS International Bulgaria to yet another very meaningful cause.

The Emprove Foundation and Rakuten Viber launched the chatbot that supports not only women but also the general public in a problem that directly or indirectly affects every person – recognizing and dealing with the so-called toxicity and emotional and physical violence in relationships. The chatbot uses a wealth of informative resources from the experience database of the Emprove Foundation’s therapists, mentors, and community – including the true personal stories and advice of the Women Survivors. The main topics on which women and their loved ones can consult with the chatbot range from early signs of abuse to receiving support after leaving a toxic relationship. The Emprove chatbot sheds light on a long-postponed conversation, providing a safe space for people to freely talk about it. 

The digital advisor is a convenient and effective way for users to learn about the topic that affects every third woman in Bulgaria, meaning it inevitably affects us all. Thanks to technological advancement like this one, women will now have the tools to learn what are the right steps to take if they happen to have a friend, relative, or colleague who is quietly struggling with emotional or physical abuse. In addition to Q&As, videos, helpful guides, and true personal stories, the chatbot serves as an invaluable source of inspiration for women to awaken their untapped strengths and potential.

“No one should be left alone to deal with the hardship of getting out of toxic relationships and moving on with their lives for good. So let’s be more informed and be the right support to women who need that. Let’s awaken our potential to initiate change around us – in our personal lives and in the lives of our loved ones.” – said the chatbot creators. 

You can download Emprove Viber Chat from this link Here.

Free Download The Power In You Sticker Pack Here.

For the Emprove Foundation

Emprove’s mission is to raise awareness of the earliest signs of violence in relationships, change public attitudes, and support women and girls who have survived violence. The foundation’s activities include public campaigns for early prevention and awareness, free psychological and legal support for women survivors of violence, coaching, events, trainings, group therapy sessions, art initiatives, as well as building the already mentioned community of #WomenSurvivors, who are now the support group to other women on their way to change and create a new life.

Postbank launched the first academy for sign language for bank employees in Bulgaria, called Beyond Sound. With this initiative, financial experts from the institution’s branch network will be able to provide their services in an even more accessible way and easily serve clients who use sign language as their means of communication. The entire training program will be conducted with the assistance and support of Stray Sheep, a company that aims to popularize sign language in Bulgaria, in collaboration with the Andi and Aya Academy for Deaf Children. As a result, bank employees will be fully prepared to offer a comprehensive experience to clients through entirely non-verbal communication. With this, Postbank once again reaffirms its position as a responsible company and its commitment to being as helpful as possible to its clients by providing easy, fast, modern, and convenient banking.

The launch of the Beyond Sound Academy began with an inspiring event in which representatives of Stray Sheep introduced Postbank experts from across the country to the basics of sign language communication. Later, they embarked on their journey into sign language with the basic gestures used in everyday communication and addressing their initial challenges. The first participants in the sign language academy are expected to complete their training in March 2024, demonstrating their new skills.

“We are extremely proud and happy that the Postbank team supports another important and meaningful cause because we believe that all people in our society should have equal access to quality services and impeccable service. The Beyond Sound Academy is both a unique opportunity for the development of our team members and an entirely new inspiring and meaningful initiative. We are launching our sign language academy for bankers with the aim of contributing to making our country and financial institutions a more pleasant and inclusive place. We believe that with Beyond Sound, we are initiating a beneficial and enriching experience for our employees and clients, bringing high value to the deaf community in Bulgaria, and we hope to attract a wave of those eager to take on this challenge. We have started a different and very meaningful journey to elevate customer service in the financial sector to an even higher level, making banking modern and accessible to all,” commented the Postbank team.

Postbank, one of the top employers in the country, continuously invests time, resources, and efforts in the training and development of its employees. The new project is another step by the financial institution in this direction, reaffirming its innovative vision and socially responsible corporate culture based on shared values.

Over the years, Postbank has received numerous awards for its modern solutions in building a successful and motivated team and establishing a strong employer brand. In 2023, the institution received over 10 prestigious awards as an employer, including the recognition as a Top Employer in Bulgaria by the international independent Top Employers Institute, which certifies the best workplaces globally. Postbank also became the sole winner from Bulgaria in the international competition Employer Brand Stars Awards 2023, competing with employers from over 30 countries, and received two awards for the Use of Digital and Candidate Experience. In the Career Show Awards 2023 competition for the best employer in Bulgaria, the company won the most gold awards, totaling four in the categories of Best Employer for Banking and Finance, Use of Technology in HR, and HR Team, as well as a fifth distinction in the overall, highly contested category Best Employer for 2023. Among the awards are Employer of Choice 2023 for Technology in Human Resources Management, as well as Excellence in Teamwork, Employer Branding Innovation, and Creative Thinking from the Employer Branding Awards 2023 (b2b media).

Additional information about Postbank as a leading employer, job opportunities, and career development proposals can be found at www.careers.postbank.bg. 

BTS (British Football School) are pleased to announce the BFS Holiday camps return for another year of fun in the sun, and they invite you to join!

Open to children of all abilities, the training camp aims to combine fun and learning through football. We ensure that the children will have a fantastic experience of playing football, learning new games and skills, meeting new friends and having lots of fun whilst doing so.

BFS have created a specific football education program to provide quality training for children of ages 6 to 13 years. The training sessions incorporate fun games and technical information that will enable our children to practice new skills regardless of their ability. Our trainings are based on our six core beliefs to allow our children to develop their football skills:

• Fun – all of our children are taught in a creative and enjoyable environment.
• Positive – Our trainers will motivate our children and help them progress.
• Inclusive – We welcome ALL players who wish to attend our training sessions, of ANY ability.
• Teamwork – Our training sessions have been designed to develop individual football skills and encourage positive interaction and teamwork within a fun, safe and friendly,
• English-speaking environment.
• Challenge – Our trainers have a large amount of knowledge of the game of football. Our training methods and techniques are constantly reviewed and revised to ensure we consistently challenge the children attending our courses.
• Safe – Our highest priority is the safety of our players.

The camp dates:

• Monday 29.04 to Friday 03.05
• Monday 01.07 to Friday  05.07
• Monday 08.07 to Friday 12.07

The BFS Holiday Camp are a great place to enjoy sports in a British English environment, delivered by UEFA qualified British sports trainers. Our games and activities are focused on building football skills, social skills and team spirit.

AND BOOK BEFORE 30.01 TO RECEIVE A 25% DISCOUNT!

The BFS sports training camps brings together children aged between 6 and 12 from across Sofia to provide learning entirely in English.

• Location: AAS Campus
• Camp Length: 5 days
• Ages:  6-12
• Time:  09:00-15:00 
• Price: 350 euro (includes training, football kit and food), 25% discount if purchased by 31st January
• Possibility to sign up for daily training.

For registration you can contact BFS on:

Tel: +359 877 918 995

Viber/Whatsapp: +40 799 686 835

Telegram: @BritishFootballSchool

Email: contact@britishfootballschool.com

For more information: www.britishfootballschool.com 

Cosmos Thrace is leading the way for Bulgarian companies, as one of the few to apply to and secure a place on the Horizon flexible laser-based manufacturing through precision photon distribution (FLASH) project as a part of a consortium in 2023. The news marks an exciting end to a highly successful year for the company and a great beginning to 2024, with the project launching in January.

The project will focus on highly customized laser-based production, including new and advanced methods to provide a precise distribution of photons. Cosmos Thrace will leverage its long track record in innovating in technology and manufacturing by developing machine learning algorithms to better predict and recommend the optimal processing regimes across the platform. As well as confirming the Bulgarian company’s expertise in advancing manufacturing through technology, winning a place in the consortium alongside other prominent companies highlights how it is helping to lead innovation in manufacturing. Involvement in the project will also support the company’s goals to grow its data science team. 

With a total value of € 4 131 800.25, the project is expected to last three years. The Horizon Europe program is aimed at streamlining the EU’s position as a world leader in science with the ultimate goal of bringing excellent research results to market which will deliver direct benefits to citizens, such as affordable health care, protection against cybercrime and the transition to a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the project you can check out this article. You can also find more information about Horizon Europe here.

 Responding to the latest inflation figures from the ONS, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: 

“Today’s data showing the CPI rate grew at 3.9% in November, a greater slowdown than expected, is welcome confirmation that the headline rate of inflation is continuing to ease. However, prices are still rising from a very high base, following multiple economic shocks and core CPI remains stubborn at 5.1%. 

“Supply chain issues during the pandemic and the energy price shock from last year, continue to work their way through the system. Our most recent forecast expects the CPI rate to be higher than the Bank’s 2% target until the end of 2025.  

“While producer prices continue to fall, with –2.6% growth this month, global conflicts such as the war in Gaza could lead to further supply chain breakdowns and higher fuel prices in the short term. 

“Persistent inflation and high interest rates are likely to remain a barrier to business growth for some time to come. Coupled with trade barriers with the EU and ongoing worker shortages, it’s not clear how large-scale growth will be unlocked. Businesses are desperate for a clear, long-term plan for growth which sets out a vision for infrastructure, skills, and green innovation.”

• Almost two thirds (60%) of firms trading with the EU say it is now more difficult to do so than it was a year ago.
• Almost half (49%) of exporters disagree the Brexit deal is helping them grow sales.
• Two fifths (41%) of firms exporting under the Brexit deal say they face difficulties adapting to its rules on buying and selling goods.
• The BCC has sent the Government a new report setting out pragmatic solutions to many of the issues. 

A new survey by the BCC’s Insights Unit of 733 businesses (97% SMEs) shows the difficulties facing British firms in using the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) have not eased.

The BCC report also highlights a fresh set of challenges approaching as UK and EU regulations diverge, creating further headaches for traders on both sides of the Channel.

The TCA was agreed on Christmas Eve in 2020 to allow tariff-free trade with the EU once Brexit took effect.  

But a high proportion of businesses say trade with Europe in 2023 is now more difficult than it was a year ago.  

The BCC has sent the Government its report examining the main issues the TCA is causing for firms with possible solutions to many of the problems. 

The survey also found that 35% of firms buying and selling services faced difficulties due to the Brexit deal, while a lack of recognition for professional qualifications was exercising 27% of firms.

And awareness of upcoming changes in trade rules and regulations being made by either the UK or the EU was alarmingly low, with 80% or more of firms knowing no details of the legislation.

This includes knowledge of the Electronic Trade Documents Act, Export Health Certificate requirements, new labelling requirements, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, new checks on food imports, safety and security requirements for EU imports, UKCA and CE marking, and new EU VAT laws. 

 What Businesses Say 

“Selling services to EU is now a bureaucratic nightmare requiring a work permit as a self-employed person. Even worse is the total lack of available advice about what to do as each EU state has its own rules. Therefore, reliant upon EU member states interpretation of TCA.” 

Micro services firm in North East England  

“Each member state has different rules for UK workers, most are unclear of their requirements and the costs related to finding out, and the disruption if we get it wrong, is significant.” 

Small construction, engineering, or trades firm in Glasgow 

“Continued difficulties serving our long-standing EU customers – 50% of our turnover – has been reducing our profitability and will likely lose us business. The current EU-UK agreement does not make for ‘free’ trade. The government’s stated efforts for further away trade deals does not help, but distracts attention from unresolved problems. Supply chain bottlenecks and cost increases also continue to affect us.” 

Medium-sized manufacturer in Cambridgeshire 

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:   

“If we want to put more money into people’s pockets and get businesses growing then we need to boost our exports, and the EU is our number one market.

“That’s a reality that should not be ignored by our political parties, but I also recognise that improving our trading relationship with the EU must be realistic.

“Any changes we make must work for both sides and respect the agreed framework we operate in.

“There are lots of things we can do to make our current trading arrangements better, but a growing worry is how we handle further changes coming down the track.

“EU businesses have been largely able to carry on importing goods into the UK as they did before Brexit, but that will change next year, and could lead to significant new disruption.

“The rules and regulations governing trade aren’t static. Both the UK and EU will be making significant changes in the next few years that could have big repercussions.

“We need to take a smart but flexible approach to how we handle these alterations to keep their impact to a minimum. It is in no-one’s interests to damage our trading relationship further.”  

The BCC’s TCA Three Years On report sets out 26 recommendations to improve UK-EU trade. 

Its top five proposals for quick action are: 

1. Create a supplementary deal with the EU which either eliminates or reduces the complexity of exporting food for SMEs.  
2. Work with the EU to develop simpler guidance on the Brexit deal so that it is applied consistently across all member countries.
3. Develop new arrangements on changes to regulations to minimise disruption to businesses and raise awareness of any fresh impacts. 
4. Establish a supplementary deal, like Norway’s, that exempts smaller firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative for VAT in the EU 
5. Make side deals with the EU, and member states, to allow UK firms to travel for longer and work in Europe, and provide mutual recognition of professional qualifications. 

Find the whole report in the file below.

The new edition of PwC’s Academy Mini MBA Programme starts on 28 March 2024 and the Early bird registration is open until 18 February 2024. This 4-month long programme is suitable for managers at all levels in all lines of business, owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, and those who are considering starting their own business. 

The Mini MBA Programme consists of 9 modules that are focused on diverse topics such as people management & leadership, business strategy, finance and accounting, marketing, innovation, and others. It is led by international experts with significant practical experience. The programme allows you to put what you have learned into practice right away. In addition, it is a great opportunity to build up and extend your network, exchange ideas and share knowledge with other business professionals.

Learn more about the Mini MBA Programme here.

Register now here.

Six companies were honored at the closing Demo Day event, part of Endeavor Bulgaria’s growth program – Dare to Scale, which took place on December 12, 2023.

The company Barin Sports received the jury’s award, presented by Mrs. Milena Stoycheva, Minister of Innovation and Growth. The jury evaluated the participants based on three criteria: the potential for global growth of the company, how clearly the company’s strategic goals are defined, and the entrepreneur’s presentation skills. The jury included established business leaders from various fields: Asen Yagodin (Postbank), Kalin Radev (Software Group), Boyko Takov (SME Agency), Miroslav Stoyanov (EBRD), Sabina Gjosheva (BY FAR). The event was hosted by Konstantin Vulkov, Program Director of Darik Radio.

Five companies were awarded in four categories for their overall performance in the program:

• MyCFO with the Dynamics and Progress Award

Awarded for being the most active company during the program, initiating discussions, actively participating in all events and sessions, and extracting maximum value from meetings with members of the Endeavor Bulgaria network.

• Price International with the Targeted Steps Award

Awarded to the company that purposefully went through the program, opened up to new contacts in the Endeavor Bulgaria network and beyond, and quickly and clearly took into account feedback from its mentors.

• Barin Sports and Augment with the Collaborative Spirit Award

Awarded to two companies that proactively and successfully leverage the opportunities from the scaling program by forming partnerships between them. 

• ViaBank with the Endeavor Values in Action Award

Awarded to the company that embodies Endeavor’s values of sharing experiences, donating time and resources, and supporting the community.

Dare to Scale is a four-month growth program of the international entrepreneurial network Endeavor, targeting entrepreneurs and businesses that have already passed the early stages of development and are at the beginning of a more significant expansion of their activities. It took place for the fifth consecutive year, running from September to December. In this year’s cohort, 23 entrepreneurs from 12 companies were selected. The current edition featured the most opportunities for participants to date, including 9 workshops, 4 networking events, and the right to up to 10 individual mentorship sessions with consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and business leaders from the Endeavor network.

The training sessions were tailored to address the most common challenges such as organizational management, marketing, sales, business planning, and fundraising. Over fifty of Bulgaria’s top business leaders were involved in the fifth edition, generously contributing their time during the program. Among them were Svetozar Georgiev and Kalin Radev, who participated as lecturers for the fifth consecutive year, as well as Bozhidar Neychev as a leader from PwC, assisting in facilitating mentorship meetings between entrepreneurs and the company.

The application process for the sixth edition of Dare to Scale is expected to open in the spring of 2024.

The program is realized with the primary partnership of Postbank and is supported by Software Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME Agency) and America for Bulgaria Foundation. 

Once again, partners and directors from PwC Bulgaria worked individually with all companies in the program to support them through their experience and expertise in overcoming challenges and developing opportunities in their businesses.

The program also included a capital partner, Seedblink, contributing to additional opportunities for access to financing and mentorship for the participants.

The Demo Day event partners were Bessa Valley Winery, seewines, and Cohones Brewery, who were also participants in the cohort.

Momchil Vasilev, Executive Director of Endeavor Bulgaria:

„Endeavor is an organization whose mission is driven by the belief that entrepreneurs with significant development potential are at the core of transforming economies in emerging markets. To encourage these entrepreneurs in the stage of expanding their businesses, Endeavor created the Dare to Scale program five years ago, and we can already clearly see the results from it. Companies entering and going through the program are increasingly aware of seeking resources, bold in their aspirations to enter foreign markets, and at the same time, increasingly ready to support the ecosystem through their own knowledge. We increasingly see collaboration among companies in Dare to Scale, further confirming the thesis that sharing leads to greater development of the ecosystem. We are pleased that in this year’s cohort, we had the pleasure to work with interesting and innovative companies with great growth potential. Thanks also to the consultants from PwC and the mentors from the Endeavor network who help them continue to build on their knowledge and reach new heights.“

Asen Yagodin, CEO and Member of the Management Board of Postbank:

„For another year, we had the privilege to be in sync with the enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs unfolding their potential thanks to Dare to Scale. The success of this program is based on the unique combination between the ambition of the young companies and the experience of big business. Dare to Scale for us at Postbank is a good opportunity not only to invest in the growth of program participants but also in the development of the ecosystem as a whole. This, in turn, creates the potential to catalyze positive processes in the Bulgarian economy. Our participation in Dare to Scale is directly related to our commitment to be a driving force for these positive changes and to discover more like-minded individuals with whom to work for the future of our country.”

About Endeavor:

Endeavor is an international non-governmental organization with offices in 40 locations, supporting entrepreneurs with significant ideas and businesses to expand rapidly on an international scale. Entrepreneurs, part of Endeavor, have the potential to change their countries and the world – they can be a key factor for long-term economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Endeavor provides selected entrepreneurs with access to markets, capital, and talent in its network of over 4,000 mentors and investors worldwide. In Bulgaria, Endeavor started its operations in July 2015 with the aim of expanding the organization’s presence in Europe. To date, the Bulgarian office has supported 100+ entrepreneurs from 50+ companies in three programs – Endeavor Global Program, Regional Support Program, and Dare to Scale. These entrepreneurs have created over 2,300 jobs and generated revenues of BGN 320 million in the past year. www.endeavor.bg