APC 2011 Annual Report Download - page 90

REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2011 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC88
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, A RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZEN
•every year, APC by Schneider Electric implements a program
called Community Impact which gathers employees from
the head offi ce and others to support local associations with
community service (donating or recycling computer equipment,
assisting handicapped people, etc.).
These initiatives are consolidated at the level of the Schneider
Electric Foundation and are taken into account in the different
reports and indicators.
Wherever it operates, Schneider Electric makes a strong
commitment to community partners and civil society through
positioning itself in a way that is indispensable for a global enterprise
that wants to keep in touch with the labour markets local to its
industrial facilities. 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 for
business creation with Schneider Initiatives
Emploi (SIE)
Approach and action plans
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.
Specifi c support is offered for energy-related projects, which can
benefi t in particular from the support of the Sales and Marketing
Department. These accounted for more than 20% of all supported
projects in 2011. The support of the Sales Department is also
provided to electrical designers from EDF.
The SIE structure 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.
More than 1,000 project sponsors were supported, including
electrician, baker, consultant, graphic designer, asset manager,
fl orist, etc.
Examples
On 16 November 2011 at the fourth Schneider Electric “Vivez
l’aventure !” (Live the Adventure) competition, four young heads
of companies received an award to recognise and highlight their
initiative. An award of the 1,000th project was celebrated during
this competition.
Didier Doucet, the 1,000th project designer, said: “My business
plan, produced with helpful advice from SIE, was judged to be
very relevant by other bodies including banks and Management
Boutiques”.
•85%: the success rate after three years for the projects SIE
supports;
•2,200 jobs created: each business created or taken over
generates two jobs on average.
Economic development of territories
Many actions are undertaken to contribute to local economic
development, for example:
•specifi c missions within the fabric of the local SMEs (small and
medium enterprises) carried out by Schneider Electric senior
experts;
•support for organisations that open the way to creation of
activities and companies;
•fi nancial aid for learning within the energy sector.
Other organisations such as ADIE (Association for the Right to
Economic Initiative) are also fi nancially supported through guarantee
funds, loans, or particular subsidies for electrical project creators.
The electrical project creators can also access support for expansion
from the Schneider Electric Sales Department.
Revitalisation of local labour markets in France
The pilot SIE structure was used to implement the revitalisation
actions put into place during restructuring of certain industrial areas.
The involvement of the teams in local economic networks optimises
the allocation of resources where they are needed most under these
agreements defi ned in the GPEC, the employment safeguarding
plans (PSE) or the future industrial restructuring plans.
Nine local labour markets were involved in 2011. These actions
result in support for employment, implementation of the Group’s
involvement policy, SME development aid, support for the energy
sector, learning and other actions desired by the local economic
and political authorities.
5.3 Territorial positioning and impact on economic and social development