For Rafael Salmerón, Director of the Procurement Department, the inaugural Supplier of the Year 2026 Awards come at precisely the right moment.
“It is an opportunity to publicly highlight those who are part of what we do every single day,” he explains. It is a statement that effectively captures the essence of awards established with a long-term vision, whose first major milestone is set for February 2027.
The objective extends beyond acknowledging past achievements. It also delivers a clear message: partners are an essential element of our leadership, and recognizing them—in the words of Rafael Salmerón—is ultimately a way to grow together.
Where did the idea of creating these awards originate, and what specific need was it designed to address?
Excellence in our operations is part of the Group’s DNA and is truly what enables us to earn and maintain our clients’ trust. Precisely for this reason, fostering excellence and reinforcing our suppliers’ core values is the best avenue for us to achieve that same standard.
There is no better way to drive this philosophy forward than by honoring deserving partners with formal recognition in areas critical to Eiffage Energía Sistemas.
How long had this initiative been in development before taking concrete shape?
We had been exploring ways to successfully launch these awards for several years. The concept emerged alongside an extensive evolution driven by our Procurement Department, in coordination with other central divisions, through our new supplier qualification process.
This process allows us not only to mitigate procurement risks, but also to gain deeper insight into those who work alongside us—identifying their potential and, fundamentally, understanding their core strengths.
All of this, combined with the ongoing evaluation of their performance and collaboration toward shared project objectives, now enables us to highlight their value through these awards, through which we also publicly acknowledge that our market leadership is made possible thanks to them.
Was this a decision driven by a single department, or did it emerge cross-functionally across the organization?
It is an initiative born out of a coordinated, joint effort. From Executive Management, through the Procurement Department as the primary bridge to our suppliers, to all divisions involved in analyzing our partners and every operational unit working alongside them daily on our projects—and completed by the Communications Department, which is vital for giving the initiative a voice and visibility.
Without question, it is a company-wide initiative, and we are immensely proud to see it come to fruition.
How would you describe the company’s relationship with its suppliers, and what do you consider its key point of differentiation?
I always prefer to use the term “partner” when referring to our suppliers. It is only when we establish a robust bond between them and Eiffage Energía Sistemas that a true virtuous cycle is created—one that allows us to deliver the best solutions to our clients: the most sustainable, within the shortest timeframes, and under maximum safety standards, yielding the best results for our business units.
On a day-to-day basis, we work with many outstanding companies with whom we share a genuine collaborative relationship, embodied in joint agreements and shared strategies, but above all in the key differentiator of mutual trust and a shared client focus.
Why do you think it is important to make this recognition formal and public, rather than keeping it within daily operational relationships?
It serves three core objectives. As noted earlier, the first is to drive excellence, because leadership is unattainable without it. The second is to publicly recognize partners for exceptional performance in their awarded category and for everything they contribute within that specific domain. The third is to encourage them to continuously improve and evolve, which will make them stronger in the future and, in turn, make us a stronger company.
What are the expectations for this first edition, and what reception do you anticipate from the Group’s various suppliers?
Since publicly announcing these awards, we have already received numerous expressions of interest from suppliers eager to participate, so expectations are extremely high.
Eiffage Energía Sistemas is a benchmark company in our industry across all operating markets, representing a stamp of quality and service. Consequently, any public recognition on our part serves as a real vote of confidence and incentive for a company’s corporate brand image, bringing their value to the fore.
What criteria were used to select the six strategic categories?
The criteria are grounded in the core values that guide the company’s daily operations:
- Sustainability and Environment, ensuring our footprint on the planet is always constructive.
- Occupational Health and Safety, an imperative condition across every activity we undertake.
- Digital Transformation and Innovation, a key lever driving the evolution of our business.
- Project Execution and On-Site Services, representing our core business operations.
- Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, fundamental principles within our organization and in our connection with society.
- Overall Supplier Award, honoring the enterprise that excels across all metrics.
Each of these categories represents a clear statement of intent regarding the goals we work toward every day at Eiffage Energía Sistemas.
In a single sentence: what do these awards mean to Eiffage Energía Sistemas?
These awards represent an exceptional opportunity to publicly celebrate our partners, who are fundamental components of our operations. They are a gesture of gratitude for their collaboration and a catalyst for continuous improvement and growth, enabling Eiffage Energía Sistemas to advance along that same path, consistently guided by the core values and principles of our Group.
Conoce las bases de los Premios al Proveedor del Año
