In a context of national reindustrialisation and growing difficulties in retaining talent outside major urban areas, Grup Boix has consolidated its position as one of the main drivers of industrial employment in the Berguedà region. With more than 120 direct jobs, the family-owned company generates stable, skilled employment and makes a significant contribution to the region’s industrial gross value added, based on a model focused on forest transformation and value creation rooted in the territory.
Historically anchored in the Berguedà, Boix has evolved over more than fifty years from an activity linked to the primary sector into an industrial group that integrates forest management, wood processing and the production of solutions for industry, packaging and construction. This industrialisation process has made it possible to increase the economic value of local raw materials without increasing pressure on forest resources, while at the same time strengthening the Berguedà’s productive fabric through stable, locally rooted industrial activity.
From forestry activity to value-added industry
Traditionally, the forestry sector has been associated with low value-added activities. Boix’s model breaks with this dynamic by investing in mechanisation, the digitalisation of production processes and the comprehensive transformation of wood.
“The goal is not only to grow, but to create real value from a local resource, with quality employment and an industrial future for the region,” says Carles Martí, CEO of Grup Boix. “This is what allows us to speak in terms of gross value added, not just production volume.”
Skilled employment and talent attraction in rural areas
Grup Boix currently employs more than 120 people, with profiles ranging from specialised operators to forestry engineers and industrial technicians. This diversity reflects the transformation of the sector and its capacity to generate skilled employment outside the Barcelona metropolitan area.
The company maintains that modern forestry-based industry can offer an attractive professional pathway for young people trained in vocational education and technical studies, helping to retain an active workforce and qualified talent in the territory. In this regard, Boix combines its industrial activity with a clear commitment to training, job stability and the professionalisation of the sector.
This commitment to young talent is also reflected in the company’s social engagement. Grup Boix holds the Fundación Impulsa seal as an organisation committed to creating opportunities for young people, participating in a mentoring network that facilitates access to vocational training and contributes to improving employability in areas with fewer educational opportunities.
An industrial model with territorial impact
Based in Puig-reig, Grup Boix argues that the future of Catalan industry also lies in regions such as the Berguedà, where economic activity, sustainability and quality employment can be successfully combined. Its model demonstrates that the forestry industry can act as a powerful driver of territorial development, generating added value, job stability and opportunities for future generations.
