Projects

For people with learning disabilities, training programmes open the doors to the labour market. Applus+ supports the participation of individuals with intellectual disability in formal training through the Promentor Programme of the Prodis Foundation, which offers them access to higher education.

We teach a theory lesson on business objectives and corporate culture as part of the Business Services master course, which trains students with learning disabilities as technical experts in a university environment to help them to enter the business community. We also contribute to this ultimate goal through an internship programme, offering one of the students the chance to join our workforce.

In 2017, Applus+ in Colombia signed an alliance with the Matamoros Corporation to support work and social inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities caused by injuries in combat and/or in activities related to their work in military or police services. The programme helps integrate these employees into different projects and administrative areas of Applus+ in Colombia.

Our programme encourages this personnel to develop their personal and professional skills, and also generates new life projects away from disability, supporting their social, economic and emotional rehabilitation.

The Without Limits (Sin Límites) project promotes the integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the Applus+ workforce in Spain. The company has an agreement with several foundations in order to create a more inclusive working environment.

Launched in Spain in 2019, Without Limits is part of our existing social inclusion programme, They Are Capable (Son Capaces), which has been running since 2001 in Galicia. In the coming years, the programme is expected to extend to other regions. To this day, we have welcomed 43 people with intellectual disabilities into all divisions of the company.

Without Limits' core activities include personalised onsite support by a job coach or trainer, helping the new employee to familiarise with the tasks involved, as well as raising awareness among the staff, organising meetings and presentations about intellectual disabilities before the new incorporation arrives.

Applus+ offices in Seville, Sada (Galicia), Madrid and Bellaterra (Catalonia) organise charity sales to raise awareness about intellectual disabilities and collect funds for several associations that support people with them.

In Seville, Applus+ supports the Aspanri Down association; in Sada it's the ADCOR foundation; in Madrid,the sale is organised with the Prodis Foundation; in Bellaterra, he partner is the Robingood association. 

All of these activities are part of the Without Limits project.

In 2021, Applus+ Automotive Division launched several ground-breaking training projects using digital tools to keep boosting internal talent and to ensure agile and effective training for new recruits.

The Automotive Talent University training itineraries for vehicle inspectors facilitate the exchange of experience and knowledge worldwide. The 3D training tool simulates a vehicle inspection, and lets users practice inspection methodology, assess possible faults and learn on their own. As a result, teams of people from different departments and countries have been able to work together and share their points of view.

Automotive Talent University’s goal is to develop current and future leaders. Participants are chosen among the workforce for their high potential and they're given a personalised training itinerary based on new technologies to drive digitalisation in the sector. These courses are devised and taught by our own experts, all of whom have a high level of performance, expertise and proven success in the industry.

To this date, over 450 people have now completed the course for vehicle inspectors.

Applus+ employees in the United States are invited to take part in the Volunteer Time Off (VTO) programme to work with different organisations and social projects for 8 hours per year. One of the volunteer activities is in a centre for children with disabilities.

The Applus+ volunteer programme in Costa Rica, running since 2014, is aimed at all employees who wish to promote road safety and environmental protection. The projects are designed and implemented by a volunteer committee led by the Communication and Social Responsibility Department, and each centre has a volunteer leader who advertises the activity among their colleagues.

In 2021, Applus+ in Spain and some of our partner foundations and associations  (Prodis, Aspanri, Aura, Down Syndrome Foundation and Plena Inclusión) held several talks for everyone involved in our selection processes, with a view to favour the hiring of people with disabilities.

In 2021, we met our target: we have 1.11% of people with disabilities within our global workforce. We are firmly committed to continue moving forward to create diverse teams who are a true reflection of society.