APC 2010 Annual Report Download - page 89

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, ARESPONSIBLE CORPORATECITIZEN
3 Impact on regional development and civil society relations
Wherever it operates, the Group makes a strong commitment to
community partners. This is indispensable for a global entreprise
that wants to keep in touch with real-life conditions in its local
markets. Numerous projects under way and on the drawing board
demonstrate Schneider Electric’s desire to be engaged, notably in
the area of employment, and to contribute fully to local economic
development.
Business creation in France – support to create
businesses with Schneider Initiatives Emploi
(SIE)
Approach
For more than 15years, Schneider Electric has supported employee
projects in France to create businesses or buy going concerns
through Schneider Initiatives Emploi (SIE), a dedicated structure
demonstrating the Group’s commitment to its mobility, employment
and regional economic development responsibilities.
SIE also illustrates Schneider Electric’s efforts to encourage the
development of entrepreneurial values within its units.
The association provides confi dential support for Schneider Electric
employees during all stages of business creation, as well as
afterwards, with a follow-up period of three years.
SIE’s dedicated team of seasoned managers is responsible for
reviewing the fi nancial, legal, technical and commercial aspects of
business creation projects to ensure they are viable and sustainable.
SIE is represented directly or indirectly in local business networks.
To enhance the quality of services offered, it has teamed up with
various local associations involved in job and business creation such
as the EGEE, ECTI, Management Boutiques, ALIZE, local Undertake
networks and other local associations.
Objectives and results in 2010
More than 900 project sponsors (100 in 2010) were supported
across a rich and varied range of professions, including electrician,
baker, consultant, graphic designer, asset manager, fl orist, etc.
Specific support is offered for energy-related projects. which
accounted for in excess of 20% of all projects in 2010:
•85%: after three years, SIE boasts a success rate of 85% for the
projects it supports.
•1,850 jobs were created: as each business created or taken over
generates two jobs on average.
Main achievements in 2010
For the past two years, SIE has organised a national competition
among project sponsors. In 2010, the judges panel chaired by
Emmanuel Babeau, Executive Vice-President Finance and member
of the Board of Schneider Electric, awarded eight prizes of EUR500
to EUR6,000.
In 2010, Schneider Electric was selected at the head of the job
creation network of French businesses “DIESE” (the association for
the development of initiative and entrepreneurship among company
employees).
The Group is also an active member of the APCE (Agence pour la
création d’entreprises).
Economic development in the overseas
territories
Support for the Association pour le Droit à l’Initiative Economique
(ADIE – Association for the Right to Economic Initiative) (see the
access to energy program, page 82).
Revitalisation of local labor markets in France
Entrepreneurial teams in France are directly involved in local economic
development actions by leading and structuring revitalisation
initiatives undertaken in the framework of the forward-looking jobs
and skills agreement (GAEMC) or revitalisation agreements under the
Plan de sauvegarde de l’emploi (PSE –Plan to save jobs).
The Schneider staff’s involvement in local economic communities
works to optimise the allocation of resources under these agreements
where they are needed most.
Seven local labor markets were involved in 2010. Our actions
included managing local agreements to generate employment
and to contribute to the development of SMEs (small and medium
enterprises).
Job creation for youths in difficulties in France
Approach
In each host country, the Group looks for the most effective way
to make a difference, from apprenticeships and partnerships with
schools and associations to fi nancial support for young students and
participation in technical or general training courses (see page 84).
In France, the annual “100 opportunities - 100 jobs” campaign
targets low-skilled residents of depressed neighborhood, aged 18
to 30, who are motivated to take part in a job opportunity program.
The objective is to open the door to long-term employment within
a period of 36 months by offering personalised skills-qualifi cation
paths with the help of 30 companies brought together and led by
SchneiderElectric.
A positive outcome target of 60% has been set, meaning that
participants obtain a fi xed-term contract of more than six months,
an open-ended contract or a skills-qualifi cation training contract.
The French government launched the fi rst “100 opportunities - 100
jobs” campaign in January2005 in ChalonsurSaône.
Main achievements in 2010
More than 400participants had obtained a fi xed-term contract of
more than six months, an open-ended contract or a skills-qualifi cation
training contract, i.e. 57% of participants. 200 other youths are
supported by the program.
The “100 opportunities - 100 jobs” campaign targeted cities of
Aubervilliers, SaintDenis, ChalonsurSaône, Grenoble, Chambéry,
Dieppe, Lyon, Nice and Rouen.
2010 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC 87
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