The Espriu Foundation, recognised as one of the leading business groups in the social economy of Spain

The Espriu Foundation, the second largest network of health cooperatives in the world, has been included among the eight leading business groups in the Social Economy of Spain, according to the 2018 ‘Relevant Enterprises of the Social Economy’ ranking, published by the Assembly of the Spanish Social Economy Employers’ Confederation (CEPES).

More specifically, The Espriu Foundation, made up of the health cooperatives Assistència Sanitaria, SCIAS, Lavinia and Asisa, and which operates at state level, has been placed third in a ranking of leading business groups in the Social Economy of Spain, taking into account its turnover (1.74 billion euros).

The report, which aims to raise awareness of this business model, its plurality of legal formulae, and its socio-economic presence in Spain, also ranks The Espriu Foundation first within the branch of health activities and social services.

The ‘Relevant Enterprises of the Social Economy’ ranking analysed 908 companies using data from CEPES partners, and includes data relating to turnover, employment, field of activity and geographic scope.

Socio-economic model

The report, published for the twelfth consecutive year, aims to show the socio-economic weight of the companies of Spain’s Social Economy, in which business efficiency is combined with solidarity, responsibility and social cohesion.

In this business model, the backbone of an economic model, people take precedence over capital, profits are redistributed among the people collectively or for the fulfilment of their social purpose, or they are reinvested in order to continue growing and creating employment.

“The DNA of this socio-economic model enables quality health care that puts people at the centre of its activity and respects the rights of patients and doctors,” says Carlos Zarco, managing director of The Espriu Foundation. “All this, together with successful market competition, makes the social economy a sustainable economic model based on the principles of responsibility, democracy, equity and solidarity,” he concludes.

As the report indicates, the Social Economy in Spain is made up of 42,140 companies and entities, which represent 10% of the state's GDP and generate 2,192,400 direct and indirect jobs.