Social economy growth pact: a place for France Active
Pierre-René Lemas, President of France Active welcomed the measures in the SSE growth pact, announced on Thursday 29 November by Christophe Itier, France’s High Commissioner for Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation. He praised the willingness to place this economy at the heart of the European and international agenda : SSE is a powerful driver for social cohesion and consciousness which must extend beyond our borders.
Among the measures announced to promote social entrepreneurship, France Active welcomed :
- The development of start-up funds, and support through advice and financing, which France Active has prioritised for years in order to support SSE companies in the start-up or early creation phases.
With this initiative, the French government is giving us the means to carry out activities in even more favourable conditions. - Simplification of the accreditation for “social business” (entreprise solidaire d’utilité sociale) status, a measure that will stimulate efforts to create businesses that are more beneficial to society, more democratic in their governance and more balanced in their pay structures.
From a wider perspective, France Active wants to participate fully in preliminary collaboration led by the High Commissioner and will help to implement the SSE growth pact.
As Pierre-René Lemas explained, “For 30 years, France Active has been supporting a growing number of entrepreneurs who want to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable and inclusive economy. Our results speak for themselves: we have supported more than 200,000 entrepreneurs who have maintained or created more than 500,000 jobs.
Our positive impact on employment, wealth creation and regional development is measured in concrete terms: I look forward to the publication, on 12 December, of a major survey on the impact of France Active; a study covering 5771 entrepreneurs supported by us in 2014 and monitored over three years.”
Press release
SSE growth pact: a place for France Active
04 Déc 2018
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1st meeting of the European Commission’s Expert Group on the Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship
Today, France Active chairperson Pierre-René Lemas is attending the first meeting of the European Commission’s Expert Group on the Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship. Initial exchanges will take place concerning the Investment Plan for Europe (InvestEU) for the period 2021-2027 and on the working priorities of this group of experts. The European Commission has also announced that it intends to set up sub-working groups within this group of experts, one of which will focus on social investments and skills.
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France Active President Pierre-René Lemas is a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on the Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship
The European Commission has just created a new group of experts on the social economy and social entrepreneurship, and the chairperson of France Active, Pierre-René Lemas will be a member for the period 2018-2024. The first meeting will take place in Brussels on 23 October. The role of this group is to provide advice to the European Commission on the development and implementation of policies to strengthen the social economy in member states and at a European level. It also aims to promote the exchange of experiences between stakeholders from different member states.
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How about we live together?
Alexandre SCHMITT and Christine ODINOT
Co-founders of the Maison des Sages
Participatory housing
Since its inception in 2014, La Maison des Sages has offered an innovative alternative to shared housing for people with Alzheimer’s disease, in the form of small-scale co-habiting arrangements.
Sartrouville – Yvelines – France
Participatory housing
Alexandre Schmitt knows first-hand the impact Alzheimer’s disease can have. He experienced this terrible illness, which affects 900,000 people in France, within his family. Moreover, as a clinical psychologist, he created and spent 12 years running a training organisation dedicated to the disease. “When Alzheimer’s develops, the sufferer loses independence and family caregivers become exhausted. Everyone would prefer to remain in their own home, but the cost of 24-hour home help can reach €10,000 per month. Nursing homes are still often the only solution,” says Alexandre Schmitt.
An innovative system
Since 2014, Alexandre and his business partner, Christine Odinot, have been working on the Maison des Sages project to provide an alternative.
“We offer a co-habitation solution for eight people in a house in the centre of town where everyone pays their rent and has their own room. Staff costs are shared and housemates benefit from much more personalised support than they would in a nursing home. Plus they can spend time together in the house’s communal rooms,” explains Schmitt.
This innovative system is already widely implemented in Germany, as well as in the Morbihan department of Brittany : “I visited a house in Brittany. At mealtimes all the housemates ate with their care-givers and children in a warm, family atmosphere. Everyone helped serve the food, just like a family. This forward-thinking concept does not exist in Île-de-France, which has 150,000 people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease” adds Odinot
A partnership approach
This is why Alexandre and his partner created an ESUS limited liability company and an endowment fund for the establishment of the first ten home-shares in the Île-de-France region.
The project also brings on board several partner organisations. “Property company Caritas Habitat, which buys housing to rent to solidarity organisations, is about to acquire a town-centre home in Buc, in Les Yvelines. The Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation is co-financing project leader salaries and a feasibility study alongside France Active, which is taking part under the auspices of the Fonds de Confiance programme“, explains Alexandre Schmitt.
In this context, an endowment of €20,000 covers Christine Odinot’s salary during the study period.
“The social benefits of this project are undeniable. It is being run by a highly competent team which, with our support, have every chance of success. With the creation of the equivalent of seven full-time positions per household, the potential for regional and national development is very promising,” explains Jean-Noël Reverchon, Project Manager, France Active Yvelines.
Families first
” Our concept is based on a partnership that combines philanthropy, solidarity investment, social entrepreneurship and individual responsibility” , confirms Alexandre Schmitt. He adds: ” The role of families is crucial, as is that of volunteers providing recreational activities for patients” . If the Buc property purchase goes through, the first Maison des Sages should open and welcome housemates in June 2019.
Have benefited
from a grant of
20 000€
Were supported by
France Active Yvelines
With the support of
Fondation Bettencourt-Schueller
By 2017
It’s here
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Meeting with Ulla Engelmann from the European Commission (DG GROW)
During his first visit to the European Commission in Brussels on 11 July, France Active chairperson Pierre-René Lemas met with Ulla Engelmann, Unit Head for Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship (DG GROW). This first meeting allowed them to discuss the role of France Active in the development of the social and solidarity economy in France as well as its desire to work as a driver for societal transformation at a European level. It was also an opportunity to discuss best practices and cooperation between France Active and the European Investment Fund.
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It all started with a balcony…
Jules and Antonin STRAUMANN
Creators of Au Pré des Frères
Organic farm
The Straumann brothers produce and sell organic and diversified vegetables, promoting little-known varieties in particular.
Turckheim – Alsace – France
Organic farm
From apprentice gardeners to organic farmers…
Jules and Antonin added gardening courses to their respective studies in economics and horticulture to prepare them for their project: starting an organic farm.
It is a "place where we can live and work with the greatest respect for nature and man" and where Jules and Antonin grow vegetables and fruit, and raise chickens and bees in a natural environment.
The brothers’ grandparents granted them the use of a one-hectare meadow, which has obtained the organic label and where they will practice agro-ecology. Au Pré des Frères’ organic products are sold at local markets and used by restaurateurs keen to include lesser-known high-quality vegetables on their menus.
Life project and professional project!
Agro-ecology is based on the synergy between plants and animals: the black Alsace hens eat insects, the bees pollinate the fruit trees. Vegetables interact to protect each other and grow in symbiosis. Aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme, basil, lavender and tarragon grow side by side with medicinal plants such as chamomile, lemon balm and valerian.
In this ecosystem, the brothers grow tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, radishes, beans and turnips, opting for older varieties that many have forgotten. Manure and compost enrich the soil naturally. The soil-damaging plough has been banished in favour of the chisel plough, a tool that loosens and aerates the earth.
Creative and socially-committed entrepreneurs
The Banque Populaire, intrigued by their project, suggested the brothers talk to France Active. Sonia Rapin, Head of Very Small Business in Alsace Active, who supported the project, says: "Jules and Antonin were very keen to be supported by France Active as they are activists within the Social economy." For Jules, “the CAP’JEUNES grant came at just the right time to round out our cash flow”.
And the future?
” We plan to start planting fruit trees soon. We are also completing the installation of ten new bee hives and beginning construction of a greenhouse high tunnel.” These tunnels allows producers to get a head start on the start of a new season and gain a month of growth.
Any advice for young entrepreneurs?
“Prepare your project well and analyse every aspects: feasibility, competition, opportunities, legal issues, choice of suppliers… Also, train yourself and communicate. But above all, be passionate about the profession you have chosen.”
For the Straumann brothers, these things are at the heart of making your idea a reality.
Have benefited
from a guarantee of
25 000€
from a sum of
2 000€
Were supported by
France Active Alsace
By 2015
It’s here
Stories
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Agreement signed with the EIF (Cosme)
The EIF has renewed its support for France Active by counter-guaranteeing the guarantees granted by France Active Garantie under the Cosme programme. Its goal is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of European companies. A new agreement has just been signed for the period 2018/2020 in order to support socially-committed entrepreneurs in France.
This operation is supported by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) under the Cosme programme, which is the central element of the investment plan for Europe (the Juncker Plan).
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The best waste is no waste.
Stephan MARTINEZ
Creator of Moulinot
Waste recovery
Created in 2013, this Paris-based company specialising in the recovery of organic waste from restaurants was the winner of the 2017 Grand Prix de la finance solidaire in the Societal Innovation category.
Paris – France
Waste recovery
Noting a lack of food waste separation in restaurants, Stephan Martinez decided to create Moulinot, a socially conscious company for processing bio-waste.
In 2007, he took a master composter training course in Belgium. Now, he knows all about bacteria, earthworms and organic waste. He can also tell you how much nitrogen and carbon each plant and soil type requires.
Much of the waste recovered by the company is processed to produce bio-gas for electricity and heating. The rest is treated with vermicomposting, using earthworms, to provide quality fertiliser. This “luxury” compost is redistributed to vegetable producers around the capital and amateur gardeners in the form of small bags of bespoke fertiliser.
A whole fleet of gas vehicles
With 22 employees and an innovative organisation perfectly suited to dense urban contexts, the company operates throughout Paris and its surrounding regions. Small vehicles collect waste seven days a week from 400 collection points and deposit them in conveniently located containers. Large trucks then take them to processing sites throughout the Île-de-France.
The organisation owes its effectiveness to several factors. Firstly, it operates sorting at source. Bins are made available to restaurant staff to promote selective sorting. Secondly, an on-board weighing system allows waste to be paid for on a per-kilo basis rather than with a flat rate. Lastly the organisation benefits from Stephan Martinez’s dedication as an ambassador for the benefits of sorting as a solution to waste.
Nearly 4,000 tonnes of bio-waste were collected in 2017 from local authorities and over a hundred catering professionals. That is double the 2016 amount. Collections are carried out in around a hundred school canteens to raise awareness of bio-waste recycling amongst staff and pupils.
A greener future
In December 2015, Moulinot landed a contract for waste collection from COP21 in Paris. Twenty tonnes of waste were collected and 100% repurposed. The company followed this up with a contract with the European Football Championship in 2016. Two major success stories.
But this socially-committed company is not stopping there. It has just opened Ile-de-France’s first composting plant for the recovery of food waste from restaurants.
Have benefited
from an investment of
400 000€
A été accompagné par
France Active, PIE
By 2017
It’s here
Stories
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Eric LAUR
Founding CEO of AfB France
In 2012, Eric Laur, a truly social entrepreneur, created AfB France, inspired by a German concept that aims to limit the environmental impact of obsol…
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Frédéric BARDEAU
President and co-founder of Simplon.co
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Stephan MARTINEZ
Creator of Moulinot
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Vanessa BRANCHEREAU and Amélie PIETRI
Creators of API LsF (Professional Agency for Sign Language Interpreters)
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Jules and Antonin STRAUMANN
Creators of Au Pré des Frères
The Straumann brothers produce and sell organic and diversified vegetables, promoting little-known varieties in particular.
All the stories >
Alexandre SCHMITT and Christine ODINOT
Co-founders of the Maison des Sages
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Bernadette PAUL-CORNU and Jean RUCH
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Putting digital to work fighting for inclusion and employment
Frédéric BARDEAU
President and co-founder of Simplon.co
Teaching, training
Simplon.co is a computer coding school with a solidarity mission that identifies, trains and facilitates the integration of school-leavers in disadvantaged areas.
Montreuil – Seine-Saint-Denis – France
Teaching, training
The start-up Simplon.co has set itself the ambitious objective of identifying needs within the digital market to find opportunities to train and integrate school leavers in disadvantaged areas.
Certified as French Tech, Simplon.co has been providing training in digital professions since 2013. Free and open to all, its courses last from six to 12 months and are based primarily on practice and mutual support. It targets “jobseekers and school-leavers in working-class neighbourhoods, rural areas and French overseas territories, and aims to recruit equal numbers of men and women” says Frederic Bardeau, co-founder of the company.
Their method works! This socially minded computer coding school trained nearly 800 people in the four years following its creation. Of these, 78% found work less than six months after completing their training. The Montreuil-based web school is now being contacted by partner companies and local authorities. To respond to their requests, Simplon has created a network of 34 such initiatives throughout France. “We want to roll our model out across France, Europe, Africa and the Middle East” says Frédéric Bardeau.
France Active has supported the development of the company’s activity. After an initial equity loan of €75,000 in 2015, France Active Investissement led Simplon.co’s first round of fundraising in 2016. The project enjoyed a capital investment of €750,000 from France Active Investissement and key support from a pool of seven investors, including the Caisse des Dépôts, to the tune of €4.75 million.
Have benefited
from an investment of
1 000 000€
from a solidarity loan of
75 000€
Were supported by
France Active
By 2015
By 2016
It’s here
Stories
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Eric LAUR
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Jules and Antonin STRAUMANN
Creators of Au Pré des Frères
The Straumann brothers produce and sell organic and diversified vegetables, promoting little-known varieties in particular.
All the stories >
Alexandre SCHMITT and Christine ODINOT
Co-founders of the Maison des Sages
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Bernadette PAUL-CORNU and Jean RUCH
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