Workforce development
France (Seine-Maritime)
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Sponsor's words

Sylvain Picard

sponsor the non-profit organization Émergence in Le Havre

Sylvain Picard, Veolia Transport, France (76)

Like many of us, I am well aware of the obstacles to employment facing young people in difficulty or from so-called "problem" neighborhoods. Our job at Bus Océane is transportation, but I believe we also have a social role to play. We have been working for several years with Emergence, which fosters socio-professional integration through sport in the neighborhoods served by our buses.

I very naturally agreed to sponsor its "Au Top Pour Un Job" module, which runs different workshops to help 18-24 year olds find their feet in the labor market. Some Bus Océane employees, including myself, participate as volunteers in the mock job interviews. We receive the trainees in our offices as if they were "real" candidates and in fact we have even hired some subsequently.

Mobility

In 2006, out of the 81 people participating in the "Au Top Pour Un Job" module, 58 found a job. However, this success gave rise to a mobility problem. A lot of young people don't have personal means of transport to get to their workplace. Thanks to the Veolia Environnement Foundation, we helped finance purchase of a 9-seater vehicle that will be loaned to candidates who need it.

Surprising for a transportation company? Not at all! We continue to promote mass transit, of course, but we have to admit that our buses serve only the Le Havre metropolitan area. Outside that, transportation can be a real problem if you need to get to the big companies located very far from the city center.

Our relationship with Emergence is based on a high degree of trust. We share the same values of respect and high expectations. So, when they send candidates to us, even outside the "Au Top Pour Un Job" sessions, we always agree to see them. Some have even joined our Group.

We try to reflect the image of Le Havre, which is a multi-ethnic and multicultural city. As it happens, the different local companies met up in our premises to sign the Diversity Charter in the presence of Dominique de Villepin, Prime Minister at the time, and Azouz Begag, then Minister in charge of promoting equal opportunity. But for me, our best reward was the fact that it was Emergence that suggested using our offices as the venue for signing the charter.

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