Andrea Castrillo Bercianos, president of the CGS of Palencia: “We are a loved and respected profession”

Andrea Castrillo Bercianos has been a collegiate social graduate since 2019, the year in which she completed her studies in Labor Relations and Human Resources at the University of Valladolid, at its Yutera Campus in Palencia.

In private companies, he accumulates extensive experience in the areas of Administration, Human Resources and Talent Management.

Since 2021, she has been General Secretary of the Governing Board of the Palencia school until her election as president last October, replacing Ester Urraca, who headed the board of directors for the last 25 years. She is the youngest president of all the social graduate colleges in Spain.

You are the youngest president of Spain, how did your career at the Illustrious College of Social Graduates of Palencia begin and how did you arrive at this position?

My career at the College began a few days after finishing my degree. I was always very clear that I wanted to become a member, so when I presented my TFG, I went to the Palencia College to become a member of the profession at the service of the company I work for.

However, it was not until two years ago when I became more involved and decided to run for the Governing Board elections, in which I was victorious and have allowed me to occupy the position of General Secretary for two years.

Social graduates are privileged observers of labor relations because you know first-hand the reality of companies and workers. What is the role of the School in these relationships? 

Without a doubt, the role of the College is fundamental. In recent years we have experienced moments of tension and great changes and without a doubt the School and the members have always been there, supporting us and helping us when we needed each other most.

If there is something that characterizes us, it is camaraderie and unity when it is needed most.

Given the evolution of the work and legal environment, what are the most relevant challenges that social graduates currently face and how is the College addressing them?

We have lived through years of great changes, but the next ones will not be left behind. The Government has already announced great developments in labor matters, and the College will be there to accompany each and every one of the members, advise them and give them training in each of the legislative developments that we face, with the sole purpose of accompanying them and facilitating their day-to-day work.

You carry entrepreneurship as your flag, what advice would you give to those entrepreneurs who want to launch their own business?

Without a doubt, I encourage all my professional colleagues to be encouraged to undertake, to create offices and thereby make the profession more visible; And to all those who are not colleagues who wish to undertake business, I encourage you to look for a trusted Social Graduate who will accompany you from the first moment in the establishment of your business.

For me, entrepreneurship is everything. That a person has enthusiasm, initiative and entrepreneurship is what will take them where they want to go. Without at least one of those three things we will achieve nothing.

What is the relationship between social graduates and the public administration? And with the mutuals? And with Fraternidad-Muprespa?

I think that the relationship of the group with the Administration and with the mutual insurance companies could not be better.

We are a loved and respected profession in all the environments in which we operate.

Let's hope that in the coming years we can organize great projects with Fraternidad-Muprespa and that we both support each other at every step.

Finally, what would you ask of the Mutual Fund so that you can improve the service to your clients and members?

From the College we would like the relationship with the mutual insurance companies to return to what it was before 2008 and for us to collaborate again as we did years ago.

In my five years of profession I have had a wonderful relationship with the mutual insurance companies I have worked with, highlighting the humane treatment of their staff.