Moeve ranked top for gender equality initiatives
Moeve, the rebranded former Cepsa, has been ranked first in the 2026 Women Approved index, a national assessment of companies promoting gender equality in the workplace. The ranking, produced by Instituto Más Mujeres, evaluates 102 firms across Spain using 34 indicators in five areas: female talent recruitment, women's leadership, bias-free internal policies, gender-inclusive corporate culture, and positive external communication. The company earns top marks for integrating gender equality into broader business strategies, including responsible artificial intelligence, internal employee networks, and women's health initiatives such as support for menstruation and menopause. Moeve also sponsors Liga F, Spain’s top-tier women’s football league, and has joined global initiatives like HeForShe and the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles.
Inetum and Schneider Electric complete the podium
Inetum, the French tech firm with major operations in Barcelona’s 22@ district, ranks second. It is recognised for its PhilosophIA initiative and Observatory on AI, which examine gender bias in artificial intelligence systems. The company also runs mentorship programmes, leadership training such as She Sparks, and supports STEM outreach for girls through projects like Technovation Girls and Inspira STEAM. Inetum reports a gender pay gap between 0% and 5% and maintains a dedicated diversity, equity and inclusion team. Schneider Electric, with its Spanish headquarters in Barcelona and facilities in Sant Boi de Llobregat and Capellades, takes third place. The company has set public 2030 targets under its '50-40-30' model: 50% female hires, 40% mid-level management roles held by women, and 30% of leadership positions filled by women. These goals are reviewed quarterly. The firm also operates a Career Hub powered by AI to support employee development and hosts inclusion groups for women and other underrepresented communities.
Capgemini and NTT Data recognised for comprehensive policies
Capgemini, fourth in the ranking, stands out for the scale of its equality measures. It implements 114 work-life balance initiatives certified under the EFR (Family-Responsible Employer) scheme and maintains an extensive Equality Plan with nearly 100 actions, including protocols on maternity, breastfeeding, gender transition, and gender-based violence. The company also financially incentivises recruiters who bring in more female candidates through its 'Recruiter Más Diverso' programme. NTT Data, ranked fifth, applies gender perspective across all business functions, not only in hiring but also in procurement, product design, advertising, and financing. The Japanese multinational, with significant presence in Barcelona, uses its 'Uniqueness Committee' and 'Uniqueness Makers' network to embed diversity into each business unit. It also hosts employee resource groups for women and LGBTQ+ staff.
Broader recognition across tech and public sectors
The remainder of the top 10 includes Spanish tech firm Indra (6th), French firm Sopra Steria (7th), SAP España (8th), Swiss company ABB (9th), and Catalan technology centre Eurecat (10th). Eurecat is the only Catalan-origin institution in the top tier, noted for integrating gender perspective into both innovation and internal governance. Beyond the top 10, 18 other organisations receive recognition, including Decathlon España, KPMG, Volkswagen Financial Services Spain, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP). Correos, Spain’s public postal service, receives a special mention as the highest-scoring public-sector entity. Laia Arcones, founder of Instituto Más Mujeres, stressed that the initiative has compiled over 200 best practices from participating companies. She said:
“It’s no longer enough to ask how many policies or programmes a company has. We must ask how many women they reach, what changes they bring, and whether they lead to more promotions, representation and decision-making power.”
Gender pay gap persists despite progress
Despite these efforts, gender inequality remains entrenched in Spain’s labour market. 2023 data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) shows a 16.75% gender pay gap in Catalonia, where men earn an average of €32,721.58 annually compared to €27,240.93 for women. CCOO estimates women’s earnings would need to rise by 20.1% to match men’s. A 2026 report by EADA and ICSA places the executive pay gap at 13%, while the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) reported in 2025 that women held only 37.4% of board seats in listed companies.
Reported by viaempresa.cat.
