For the first time in its history, France’s
National Neighbourhood Association Liaison Committee
(CNLRQ), which represents more than 130 neighbourhood
associations working to provide social integration
and employment opportunities for people living in
disadvantaged areas, has signed a partnership with
a private company. The agreement with ETDE, Bouygues
Construction’s electrical contracting and maintenance
subsidiary, supplements ETDE’s existing outreach
recruitment programme in these areas, and forms part
of the company’s wider sustainable development
and corporate citizenship initiative based on recruitment
and integration. The company plans to recruit 1,300
new employees in 2008.
ETDE and the CNLRQ: a springboard to employment
ETDE works in close cooperation with local authority
customers to provide installation and maintenance
services. Under the partnership agreement, ETDE undertakes
to subcontract certain activities, such as site signage,
provision of information to residents, earthmoving
work and monitoring of street lighting networks, to
neighbourhood associations. Local people who have
previously been excluded from secure employment opportunities
will be recruited and trained by neighbourhood associations
to carry out the work. The individuals concerned will
work within ETDE’s teams for two years, enabling
them to receive training in the company’s specialist
trades. On completion of this initial integration
period, they will then have the opportunity to be
recruited by the company at site worker level. The
agreement provides a concrete framework for a number
of existing collaborations and relationships between
ETDE and neighbourhood associations, for example at
Deuil la Barre, Sarcelles and Aubervilliers in the
Paris suburbs, as well as in Paris, Bordeaux, Nevers
and Rouen. It also enables ETDE to forge stronger
links with local authority customers by supporting
local employment policies.
ETDE and neighbourhood associations: sustainable
links at local level
The partnership agreement between ETDE and the CNLRQ
will enable local entities of both organisations
to establish sustainable links with communities,
allowing them to identify specific needs and conduct
joint integration initiatives. Neighbourhood associations
in deprived urban areas throughout France can now
enjoy the support of almost 200 local branches of
ETDE, offering opportunities for integration and
training within work teams.
Local people previously excluded from secure employment
opportunities who are recruited under the partnership
will receive support from neighbourhood associations,
based on an understanding of their social, medical,
emotional, educational, cultural and financial problems,
while also benefiting from the employment opportunities,
technical skills and know-how offered by ETDE, a
leading company in its sector.
About neighbourhood associations:
Created in 1988, the French National Neighbourhood
Association Liaison Committee (CNLRQ) is a network
organisation which acts on a cooperative basis to
exchange information, and share skills, practices
and know-how. The member associations of the CNLRQ
(a non-profit organisation in accordance with the
law of 1901) are represented on its various bodies
by their respective chairpersons and directors. Neighbourhood
associations provide a forum for local authorities,
social landlords and local residents to develop and
implement urban management initiatives in respect
of the locality concerned.
One of the key tasks of a neighbourhood association
is to support disadvantaged local residents in finding
genuinely secure employment. Associations are committed
to ensuring that recruits are given ample time to
adapt to their new post, allowing them to receive
appropriate training (or re-training), and enabling
effective social and psychological re-integration.
Recruitment opportunities are assessed on the basis
of their re-integration potential, and their connection
with the local area. Recruits are monitored on an
individual basis by the association’s director,
socio-professional supervisor and technical supervisor,
and receive training and assessment as part of a programme
designed to ensure that they ultimately become autonomous
members of the workforce.
About ETDE:
A subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, ETDE is
a turnkey provider and integrator of technical and
services solutions for public- and private-sector
customers in the energy, industry, service, transport,
environment and telecommunications sectors. The company’s
operations are based around three clearly structured,
customer-oriented business areas: utility networks;
electrical, mechanical & HVAC engineering; and
facilities management. ETDE offers comprehensive capabilities
that encompass engineering, installation, maintenance
and operation for both French and international customers.
It leverages the expertise, commitment and responsiveness
of its 13,000 employees to deliver innovative solutions
with high technological added value. Backed by a network
of 200 locations across France, and with a presence
in 28 countries worldwide, ETDE posted sales of €1.7
billion in 2007, predicted to rise to €1.9 billion
in 2008.
