At Banco Santander we are firmly committed to progress and inclusive sustainable growth, and we have had a long-standing commitment to higher education over the last 27 years, which sets us apart from the world's other financial institutions.
Our unique and pioneering commitment to supporting education, employability and entrepreneurship involves contributing to the progress of individuals and companies by helping them to improve employability and career prospects. Over the years, we have received multiple awards from international institutions such as the Varkey Foundation and the Global Compact Network Spain.
In 2023 we have been recognised as one of the companies that has made the biggest contribution to changing the world for the better, according to the magazine Fortune ‘Change the World’ 2023, which publishes an annual list of 50 companies helping to solve some of the biggest social challenges. We are the first bank in the ranking and we made the list thanks to our support for education, employability and entrepreneurship.
We help adults prosper through hundreds of free scholarships and training programs. We do so not only during their university years but also at later stages, as lifelong learning is fundamental amid of a job market in constant change. We also support companies to create opportunities, consolidate and grow with training and resources.
In 2023 alone we invested 105 million euros and supported more than 498,000 people and companies. In addition, we plan to invest a further 400 million euro between 2023 and 2026.
supporting education, employability and entrepreneurship
euros invested in 27 years
people and companies helped in 27 years
institutions and organisations from 26 countries
supporting education, employability and entrepreneurship
euros invested in 27 years
people and companies helped in 27 years
institutions and organisations from 26 countries
“When society invests in education, it grows sustainably, is more open and diverse, creates opportunity for everyone, and can tackle the conflicts and challenges of the future.”.
“We focus support on three pillars: education, employability, and entrepreneurship, which are essential for the growth of our communities and lay the foundations of a prosperous, and equitable future”.
At the bank we support education, employability and entrepreneurship through different initiatives:
Education
We support universities through the transformation processes they undergo to adapt to the needs of the present and the future, particularly with the digitization.
Employability
We support access to Life-long learning, which enables the development and improvement of professional skills and access to the labour market.
Entrepreneurship
We help business owners and small to medium-sized enterprises to create opportunities, become stronger and grow.