The first territorial club in France
“With the support of Medef 35 (formerly Union des Entreprises 35), the Club Ille et Vilaine was created in April 2019 with the aim of promoting labor market inclusion in our area. We were almost the first club created in France to support structures that want to invent a more sustainable business model,” summarizes Éric Challan-Belval, group leader of La Feuille d’Érable, an inclusive company dedicated to the recycling and exploitation industry stands together in Rennes.
Eric Challan-Belval, President of the CEI35.
At the request of local companies, he agreed to take over the chair, in particular to give more visibility to the measures already implemented and to encourage more SMEs to engage in an inclusive human resources policy. Today, two people from Medef 35 have full-time responsibility for the development of the club and the animation of its community. In particular through events such as the “Ille-et-Vilaine Inclusive Business Trophies”, created in 2019 to highlight the most innovative companies in this field and whose 2023 edition will take place on Thursday 23 March. 125 companies are currently involved in the club.
“No one is unemployed”
How do you manage to organize living together in a company in order to advance it better? At a time when things are changing on the side of public opinion, a majority of business leaders have understood that there is an inseparable link between economic and social performance. If inclusion is undoubtedly an issue for the company’s image, it has also become a factor in improving its performance. “We must consider the company as an ecosystem whose fair balance depends on the well-being of its employees,” emphasizes Éric Challan-Belval.
A declaration of commitment
Whether large groups like Groupama or EDF, SMEs or small craft structures, companies register for the club free of charge to exchange best practices and create a common dynamic. 125 companies and structures from Brittany are committed to the community to take concrete initiatives for the inclusion and professional integration of all those who are far from employment. Recruitment, retention of the job or reflection on the whole human resources policy… The club is very flexible and offers them the opportunity to choose different types of actions: recruitment of political refugees, meetings with students in neighborhoods difficult to promote, hiring of disabled people, welcome young school dropouts for internships etc.
Multiple Partners
“Under the banner “Les entreprises s’engage”, the club is a player in the French community of “businesses committed to an inclusive society and a sustainable world”, created in 2018 by the President of the Republic with full autonomy. Supported by government services and the Ille-et-Vilaine Prefecture, the club works closely with many local institutional partners such as Pôle Emploi and local missions. “We are fortunate to live in an experimental field that is passionate about social and cultural innovation,” says Éric Challan-Belval.
facilitate integration paths
Sharing, collaborating and networking… Each company in the club undertakes to create local imitators by sharing its best practices and learning from those of others, especially during the themed days. “These moments of inspiring exchanges help companies to improve their welcome quality, benefiting from very concrete advice to boost their ability to integrate people with atypical profiles,” analyzes Éric Challan-Belval. Companies can turn to the club for information and advice on a daily basis.
On the way to a new model
At the instigation of legislators, inclusion is increasingly the subject of collective bargaining, leading to numerous agreements at both industry and company level.” Barring limitations, with sometimes counterproductive effects, it is preferable that business leaders voluntarily commit to a more inclusive model that will have a very positive impact on their employer brand. At a time like today, when companies are particularly struggling to attract young people, it is in their interest to modernize their image. The Club helps and supports them in this new, more virtuous model, which increases employee motivation, strengthens social ties and can even increase productivity in the company,” concludes Éric Challan-Belval.
What is inclusion?
Inclusion is aimed at all measures taken by a company that aim to prevent situations of discrimination based in particular on disability, age, social background or culture, gender, sexual orientation, physical appearance or social status.
(comments collected by Olivier Sauvy)