APC 2014 Annual Report Download - page 101

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, AN ECO-CITIZEN COMPANY
Territorial positioning and impact on economic and social development 5.3
Wherever it operates, Schneider Electric makes a strong support for organizations that open the way to the creation of
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commitment to community partners and civil society through activities and companies (Réseau Entreprendre, France Initiative,
positioning itself in a way that is indispensable for a global etc.).
enterprise that wants to keep in touch with the labor markets of its Other organizations such as ADIE (Association for the Right to
industrial locations. Numerous projects under way and on the Economic Initiative) are also financially supported through
drawing board demonstrate Schneider Electric’s desire to be guarantee funds, loans or particular subsidies for electrical project
engaged, notably in the area of employment, and to contribute fully creators.
to local economic development.
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Support for associations or NGOs that are
Business creation in France partners with the Access to Energy program
(Pass Associations/NGO mechanism)
Approach and action plans
SIE supports employees who want a career path external to the
For more than 20years, Schneider Electric in France has Group within the framework of a Pass Associations/NGO
supported employee projects to create businesses or business mechanism. This mechanism allows employees to be positioned
takeovers through Schneider Initiatives Entrepreneurs (SIE), on structured projects in partner associations or NGOs, primarily
through a dedicated structure demonstrating the Group’s under French law: in the same framework as the support for
commitment to its local labor markets: promoting actions to SMIs/SMEs, the SIE teams, together with the Foundation and the
support local economic development, proposing and supporting teams of the Access to Energy program supports the posting of
volunteer employees in reliable career paths that are external to the employees for several months on missions to associations or
Group. NGOs. All types of trades may be involved.
SIE provides support for Schneider Electric employees at all stages
Revitalization of local employment pools
of business creation, as well as afterwards, with a follow-up period
of three years.
inFrance
SIE’s dedicated team of seasoned managers is responsible for
reviewing the financial, legal, technical and commercial aspects of The pilot SIE structure was used to implement the revitalization
business creation or company purchase projects to ensure they actions put in place during the industrial development of certain
are viable and sustainable. local labor markets.
More than 1,000project sponsors have been supported, including The involvement of teams in local economic networks optimizes
electricians, bakers, consultants, graphic designers, asset the allocation of resources where they are most needed under
managers, florists, etc., creating more than 3,000jobs. these agreements defined in the GPEC, the employment
safeguarding plans (PSE) or the future industrial restructuring
Specific support is offered for energy-related projects, which can plans.
benefit in particular from the support of the Sales and Marketing
Department. These accounted for almost 20% of all supported Nine local labor markets have been involved since 2011. These
projects in2014. The support of the Sales Department is also actions result in support for employment, implementation of the
provided to electrical designers from EDF and ADIE. Group’s involvement policy, SME development aid, support for the
energy sector, assistance for learning and other actions desired by
The SIE structure is represented directly or indirectly in local the local economic and political authorities.
business networks and enhances the quality of services offered
through partnerships with associations such as the EGEE, ECTI, Within this framework, the SIE action also enabled the promotion
Management Boutiques, local Entreprendre networks and other and support of the recovery of the sites at Merpins, St Pryvé, St
local associations. Mesmin, and Barentin, to guarantee the industrial sustainability of
these sites.
SIE is very active in the promotion of expansion, by chairing the
DIESE Network, an association formed by major groups that
Access to Energy Entrepreneurs
support their employees in project creation or takeovers.
Economic development of territories
The attachment of the SIE teams to the Sustainable Development
Department enables it to promote its ambitions in the Access to
Energy program and attract and support the creation of utilities in
The SIE teams manage many actions to contribute to local this context. The directions taken to date are already helping
economic development, for example: students in the Access to Energy training program (training for
specific missions within the fabric of the local SMEs (small and
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careers in energy for disadvantaged populations around the world)
medium industries/enterprises) carried out by Schneider Electric to prepare for the establishment of an independent business in
senior experts or missions in the framework of skills-based electricity. So far five countries are classified as priority and the
sponsorship (Alizé system); programs are being rolled out.
membership in and promotion of the Pass Compétences tool,
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By the same logic, the SIE teams provide help and support to
which allows the posting of experienced managers to long-term entrepreneurs from partner associations such as Unicités.
missions with SMEs in the Île-de-France or in the Grenoble labor This results in the development of teaching modules and the
market. These experts are invested in structured and strategic deployment and operations of these training modules.
development projects for SMEs;
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2014 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC