People and Communities
Aiming for Shared Value
Our Social Sustainability strategy and activities are inspired by Creating Shared Value (CSV) principles, focusing on education, mobility, volunteering and employee involvement, well-being, and diversity. We actively participate in both national and local initiatives and support the local community through the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to sustainable business practices and community engagement.
Empowering through education
At Škoda Auto, our commitment to education is reflected in our long tradition of establishing educational institutions, beginning with the Škoda Auto Vocational School in 1927. The founding of the Škoda University in 2000 and the Škoda Academy in 2013 further underline our mission to support and strengthen education. We work closely with schools, universities and teachers to promote education in technical and digital fields through a wide range of initiatives. These include the Škoda EDU.Lab mobile laboratory (in operation since 2021 and expected to reach 35,000 pupils between 2023 and 2025), our Technology Literacy programme, and the Technology Olympiad. Internally, we support our employees in developing their professional skills and gaining new ones – for example, through the Škoda Academy’s extensive training programmes and the digital platform Degreed.
Barrier-free and safe mobility for everyone
Our goal is to ensure accessible and safe mobility for all. We contribute to improving road safety through educational initiatives aimed at the most vulnerable road users. Resources such as the Bezpečné cesty (Safe Journeys) portal and the Start Driving project are specifically designed for students, young drivers and driving instructors. A key initiative is the L17 Mentor training course, which provides participants with essential guidance on how best to support young learner drivers under the L17 scheme. In collaboration with the Czech Association of Driving Schools and Digiteq Automotive, we have also developed the Movitren mobile virtual simulator. This modern training tool allows both experienced and learner drivers to safely experience and practise responding to critical driving situations. Our Škoda Handy programme supports people with disabilities by offering tailored financing, insurance and vehicle modifications. We also collaborate with organisations such as Cesta za snem, the Czech Paraplegic Association and Centrum Paraple to further assist people with disabilities. In addition, we have run individual grant programmes to help people obtain their driving licence and support para-athletes with the purchase of specialist bicycles.
Barrier-free and safe mobility for everyone
Our goal is to ensure accessible and safe mobility for all. We contribute to improving road safety through educational initiatives aimed at the most vulnerable road users. Resources such as the Bezpečné cesty (Safe Journeys) portal and the Start Driving project are specifically designed for students, young drivers and driving instructors. A key initiative is the L17 Mentor training course, which provides participants with essential guidance on how best to support young learner drivers under the L17 scheme. In collaboration with the Czech Association of Driving Schools and Digiteq Automotive, we have also developed the Movitren mobile virtual simulator. This modern training tool allows both experienced and learner drivers to safely experience and practise responding to critical driving situations. Our Škoda Handy programme supports people with disabilities by offering tailored financing, insurance and vehicle modifications. We also collaborate with organisations such as Cesta za snem, the Czech Paraplegic Association and Centrum Paraple to further assist people with disabilities. In addition, we have run individual grant programmes to help people obtain their driving licence and support para-athletes with the purchase of specialist bicycles.
Supporting holistic employee wellbeing
At Škoda Auto, we see people as our most valuable asset. That’s why, as part of our Social Sustainability strategy, we focus on supporting their overall well-being – emphasising life satisfaction as well as physical and mental health. Our Soul Matters campaign and mental health courses are growing in popularity, and we’re also expanding our ergonomics and physiotherapy programmes. In 2023, we launched a new website called Škoda stresu (Mastering Stress with Škoda), designed to help users better understand stress and how to manage it. This was followed by the Na zdraví záleží (Health Matters) campaign, which focuses on preventing lifestyle-related conditions and the most common illnesses. Beyond the workplace, we also support the well-being of disadvantaged children – our longest-running partnership in this area is with the Clown Doctors organisation. Under the umbrella of our Health Days, we also run a wide range of community-focused events.
Encouraging volunteering and employee engagement
Volunteering has deep roots in Škoda Auto’s history. Through employee groups and our wide-reaching community of volunteers, we help create a more pleasant and supportive environment in the places we live and work. One of our key goals is to actively involve employees in social sustainability and environmental initiatives. These activities not only contribute to the development of local regions and communities but also support our employees’ own well-being. Our approach centres on high-impact volunteering events and both individual and team-based activities, all coordinated through our dedicated volunteering platform Škoda Volunteers. We also run employee fundraising campaigns, encouraging staff to make financial donations – these are matched by the company and distributed to ten selected non-profit organisations. Škoda Auto is also a long-standing partner of the nationwide Let’s Clean Up Czechia campaign, and since 2007 we have operated the Škoda Trees grant programme to support biodiversity.
Encouraging volunteering and employee engagement
Volunteering has deep roots in Škoda Auto’s history. Through employee groups and our wide-reaching community of volunteers, we help create a more pleasant and supportive environment in the places we live and work. One of our key goals is to actively involve employees in social sustainability and environmental initiatives. These activities not only contribute to the development of local regions and communities but also support our employees’ own well-being. Our approach centres on high-impact volunteering events and both individual and team-based activities, all coordinated through our dedicated volunteering platform Škoda Volunteers. We also run employee fundraising campaigns, encouraging staff to make financial donations – these are matched by the company and distributed to ten selected non-profit organisations. Škoda Auto is also a long-standing partner of the nationwide Let’s Clean Up Czechia campaign, and since 2007 we have operated the Škoda Trees grant programme to support biodiversity.
Local development and social responsibility
At Škoda Auto, we take our social responsibility seriously and actively support sustainable development – particularly in the areas of Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí, where our production plants are located. Working closely with local partners, we focus on improving mobility for social and healthcare providers, supporting cultural projects, education, road safety, nature conservation and the promotion of zero-emission mobility. To support regional development in line with the transformation of the automotive industry, the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund was established in 2018. It is built on four pillars: strategic projects aimed at revitalising public spaces, grant programmes supporting non-profit organisations and active citizens, systematic education, and philanthropic activities with long-term impact. In the six years since its founding, the Endowment Fund has supported over 1,000 specific projects. Find out more at www.nfsa.cz/en.
Local development and social responsibility
At Škoda Auto, we take our social responsibility seriously and actively support sustainable development – particularly in the areas of Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí, where our production plants are located. Working closely with local partners, we focus on improving mobility for social and healthcare providers, supporting cultural projects, education, road safety, nature conservation and the promotion of zero-emission mobility. To support regional development in line with the transformation of the automotive industry, the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund was established in 2018. It is built on four pillars: strategic projects aimed at revitalising public spaces, grant programmes supporting non-profit organisations and active citizens, systematic education, and philanthropic activities with long-term impact. In the six years since its founding, the Endowment Fund has supported over 1,000 specific projects. Find out more at www.nfsa.cz/en.
Humanitarian aid
Compassion and a commitment to helping others – wherever we can – are among Škoda Auto’s core values. For example, following the devastating tornado in South Moravia, we supported the region with CZK 7.3 million in aid and provided vehicles and bicycles for immediate relief efforts. In response to the war in Ukraine, we delivered over CZK 20 million in direct financial and material assistance, along with logistical support. We also helped Ukrainian refugees integrate in the Czech Republic through financial aid, educational initiatives, and mental health support. After the 2023 earthquake in southern and central Turkey, we worked with Volkswagen Passenger Cars to supply container homes to house employees of local Group partners and their families. Following the severe floods in 2024, we donated CZK 6.5 million – raised with support from our employees – to help restore affected areas in North Moravia, and provided vehicles to non-profit organisations to support emergency response efforts. Many of these humanitarian initiatives were carried out in partnership with the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, and in some cases, with KOVO Trade Union support.
Humanitarian aid
Compassion and a commitment to helping others – wherever we can – are among Škoda Auto’s core values. For example, following the devastating tornado in South Moravia, we supported the region with CZK 7.3 million in aid and provided vehicles and bicycles for immediate relief efforts. In response to the war in Ukraine, we delivered over CZK 20 million in direct financial and material assistance, along with logistical support. We also helped Ukrainian refugees integrate in the Czech Republic through financial aid, educational initiatives, and mental health support. After the 2023 earthquake in southern and central Turkey, we worked with Volkswagen Passenger Cars to supply container homes to house employees of local Group partners and their families. Following the severe floods in 2024, we donated CZK 6.5 million – raised with support from our employees – to help restore affected areas in North Moravia, and provided vehicles to non-profit organisations to support emergency response efforts. Many of these humanitarian initiatives were carried out in partnership with the Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, and in some cases, with KOVO Trade Union support.