Contributing to local dynamism by offering a new range of tourist attractions
Raphaëlle RAMEY
Founder of Trip Tribu
Converted vans rental for nature breaks
Don’t underestimate the value of a good network. With support and advice, anything is possible.
Vieu-d’Izenave (Ain)
Converted vans rental
A unique travel concept in the Ain region
Ready for an adventure? Trip Tribu offers you the chance to get behind the wheel of a converted van and discover, for example, the natural park of Haut Jura, the highest point in the Bugey region (the Grand Colombier) or Lake Genin in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region. Raphaëlle Ramey, the company’s founder, offers fully-equipped 5-seater vans (sleeping 4) for hire, so you can enjoy the great outdoors on your own.
Everything on board is included to make life easier for travellers: insurance, bed linen, end-of-stay cleaning and much more! Customers can choose additional options, such as bike racks, electric bikes, and even road books suggesting routes and must-see sites in the region.
Why Trip Tribu?
Raphaelle imagined Trip Tribu to offer holidaymakers a tailor-made experience, where every detail is thought out to meet the specific needs of each traveller. “We want our customers to experience a hassle-free adventure in the heart of nature, with the comfort of a hotel but the freedom of a road trip. I attach great importance to having them on line to draw up a quote that matches their expectations. Every trip is different, and we make it a point of honour to tailor our services to our customers’ needs”.
A successful launch
After working in communications and gaining experience in commerce, Raphaëlle embarked on this family adventure at the beginning of 2024. With the support of France Active, which enabled her to obtain a bank guarantee and a loan, she was able to finance her first vehicles and start her business with peace of mind. “The guarantee had two major benefits: it meant I didn’t need a personal guarantee, which would have put me at greater risk, and it reassured the bank, which, with the backing of France Active, was confident about my project. My adviser worked with me to put all the tools in place so that I could manage the financial side of my business as well as possible. I’ve also had the support of people close to me who have experience of entrepreneurship.
Tailor-made support with France Active
“Thanks to the workshops and training offered by France Active and the Fabrique des Possibles, Raphaëlle has been able to refine her entrepreneurial approach and benefit from invaluable tools in financial management and marketing. She fits perfectly with the profile of people who have more difficulty accessing bank credit: a young woman, an entrepreneur in a rural area… that’s one of the reasons why France Active was at her side when she set up her business,” explains Franklin Witham, the France Active Ain adviser who supported her.
She shares her story with enthusiasm and encourages other entrepreneurs to take the plunge: “Don’t underestimate the value of a good network. With support and advice, anything is possible,” she says.
A local service with a human touch
Trip Tribu attracts local customers, as well as travellers from other regions or abroad, looking for an immersive and comfortable experience. Whether customers book via the website or contact Raphaëlle by phone, every booking is a moment of sharing. “We don’t want to lose the human touch. I take the time to understand each customer’s expectations to optimise their stay.”
The values of a caring company
As well as offering an environmentally-friendly tourism option, Trip Tribu contributes to the local economy. Raphaëlle has taken on an employee to maintain the vehicles, creating a job in the region. In addition, she is committed to facilitating tourism in the Ain, a region of varied landscapes and natural riches, from its mountains to its lakes.
Today, Trip Tribu continues to grow and plans to extend its range with other leisure vehicles. The future is bright, and Raphaëlle is ready to take on new challenges to make Trip Tribu a benchmark for tourism in her region.
Has benefited from the Creation Offer
from a guarantee of
€50,000
Was supported by
France Active Ain
In 2024
It’s here !
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A table of solidarity, open to all
Camille ROSA
Head chef at Miam Collectif
Solidarity-based bar and canteen
Our project is to rebuild social links in the heart of a “peripheral” town that is experiencing commercial desertification, impoverishment and a high level of social and cultural insecurity.
Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales)
Solidarity-based bar and canteen
On the edge of the Saint-Mathieu district in downtown Perpignan, if you open the doors of Miam Collectif, you’ll find yourself in a very special kind of restaurant. It’s a solidarity-based bar and canteen, “in other words, open to all, with an annual membership of 5 euros and free prices”, explains co-founder Camille Rosa. https://vimeo.com/1092746332
A place for encounters and opportunities
The project came into being in 2018, set up by a group of five people “sharing this same desire to create places for encounters, places for opportunities”, says Camille Rosa.
The collective therefore began by organizing culinary, cultural and solidarity events, before moving into its first rented premises in the center of Perpignan. “It’s not by chance that we’ve put down roots here. It’s at the origin of our project to createsocial bonds in the heart of a ‘peripheralized’ city that’s experiencing commercial desertification and great economic insecurity.”
This first solidarity-based canteen is being launched at a very special time: early 2020, at the very start of the Covid crisis. “As an association, we were able to remain open despite the pandemic. This gave full meaning to our inclusive project, where we set up solidarity meals for people in difficulty. At the same time, it intensified the dynamic of our collective, which is still going strong today. For both employees and volunteers, it made us want to get involved even more.
A place open to the neighbourhood
In September 2023, Miam Collectif began a new chapter, moving to another location close to the first. “We wanted to become owners of our premises. It was a very important lever to anchor us more firmly in the area and strenghten our project.”
As a result, the team opened a café in addition to the solidarity-based canteen, and launched various free activities for local residents (culinary workshops, production of a gazette, organization of a feminist festival, creation of a play by the Théâtre de l’Opprimé…). And always with two watchwords in mind: solidarity and inclusiveness. Meals are freely priced, with a minimum contribution of 2 euros for the most disadvantaged, a recommanded price estimated at 12 euros, and a support price of 15 euros or more. “Everyone has the choice of positioning themselves according to their current situation. Today, out of our 2,500 members, a third of meals are priced at 2 euros and 50 to 60% at less than 12 euros. This illustrates the financial difficulties we face. And we can also count on local companies and associations who come to eat with us and can pay a little more.
To maintain this balance of solidarity, Miam Collectif collects fruit and vegetables ready to be thrown away from partner wholesalers, organic stores and local producers. The association also receives financial support from the region, the local authority and various national funds (for association development, for national cohesion and for family benefits),
A driving force in local community life
Along the way, Miam Collectif met with France Active back in 2018. ” We found a lot of help and advice in drawing up our business plan. They were also very supportive in all the steps involved in acquiring the premises. When you’re an association, the confidence that investors give you is key. France Active was there to give us that confidence and to convince the other financiers. It wasn’t easy, but they were on our side”, Camille Rosa recalls.
Today, the Miam Collectif is going from strength to strength. And what about the future? “Among other things, we’re looking into the possibility of obtaining the “social living space” accreditation from the family benefits fund (CAF) to secure our funding. This would enable us to step up our activities and welcome other associations or groups to our space, thereby driving a real local solidarity dynamic”, concludes Camille Rosa.
Benefited from the development offer
With a guarantee of
18 000€
a grant of
5 000€
an investment of
20 000€
Support by
France Active Airdie-Occitanie
In 2021
It’s here !
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Accès +: the enhanced support programme for the most fragile entrepreneurs
Since 2021, France Active has continued its support for the most fragile entrepreneurs, via its dedicated Accès+ programme.
Supported by the Ministry of Labour through the Inclusion through Self-Employment call for projects, Accès+ has helped to support more than 6,800 entrepreneurs since the programme was launched in 2021.
Half of the beneficiaries are women and the average age of the entrepreneurs is 33.
The programme includes webinars, workshops and games on four main themes:
- financial education,
- digital awareness,
- protecting entrepreneurs and securing their business,
- impact awareness
To amplify this support, France Active also relies on strengthened partnerships with banks, in conjunction with the French Banking Federation and Accès+ operators, in particular La Ruche.
France Active has also enhanced its support offer with a webinar designed to provide the keys to starting up a business with peace of mind and to understand the various procedures in partnership with URSSAF.
This programme could continue over time, thanks to renewed support from the Ministry of Labour.
She benefited from it
Léa Caron – Creator of “Le Clos fleuri”
After some experience in retail, Léa Caron became passionate about the profession of florist. At the age of 22, she decided to take over a shop in the heart of a small town in the Ain department: Nantua (a town that benefits from the ‘Small town of tomorrow’ regeneration programme run by the French Agency for Territorial Cohesion).
He supported her
Franklin Witham – Advisor at France Active Ain, head of the Haut-Bugey branch
“Léa Caron was referred to us by her chartered accountant, her lawyer and her banker. She was in great need of support and funding. She’s very young and had very little professional experience before taking the plunge. We helped her through the Accès + programme, and she received the Accès + grant as well as a FAPE EDF grant and, of course, a guarantee. The bank would not have taken her on without our support.
For the beneficiaries of this programme, we offer enhanced support with a meeting at 3 months and a meeting 6 months after the start-up. And the ‘Managing your cash flow’ workshop made all the difference in terms of monitoring her business. We’ve also set up a mentoring system for her with one of our volunteers, a former director of an employment cooperative.”
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The place of Social Economy in Europe
Faced with the current challenges of ecological transition, inclusion and social cohesion, the European Union is making Social Economy a lever of its strategy, through an action plan and dedicated funding.
It is in this context that France is benefiting from increased European support, mobilising funds such as the ESF+, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and guarantees from the European Investment Fund to support, finance and secure the careers of committed entrepreneurs.
France Active, a key player in solidarity finance, provides a concrete illustration of this dynamic by facilitating access to finance and support for the most vulnerable entrepreneurs and the most committed structures.
Social Economy is playing an increasingly important role in Europe’s economic and social landscape. It brings together a variety of structures – cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations, social enterprises – which place social utility, solidarity and democratic governance at the heart of their economic model.
Although there are 4.3 million Social Economy structures throughout the EU, there is considerable heterogeneity in terms of the place it occupies in the economy of each Member State. The countries with the most active and recognised legislative frameworks in this area are France, followed by Spain and Italy.
Europe is gradually integrating Social Economy into its strategies and public policies:
- The action plan within the framework of the European Social Rights Framework: this action plan aims to make Europe a global model of social justice, shared prosperity and resilience in the face of crises. It represents a strong political commitment to ensuring that economic growth is accompanied by social progress, while respecting the fundamental rights of all European citizens.
- European Action Plan for Social Economy: presented in December 2021, it recognises the social economy as one of the 14 key industrial ecosystems for Europe’s recovery and resilience. It aims to facilitate access to finance, raise the sector’s profile and encourage social innovation.
- EU Council Recommendation (November 2023): calls on Member States to put in place favourable policies and regulatory frameworks, improve access to finance and public procurement, and strengthen the recognition of Social Economy
- European funds: the European Social Fund + (ESF+) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) actively support SSE initiatives, particularly for employment, social cohesion and innovation.
There are two main challenges facing the development of Social Economy in Europe:
- Its legal and institutional recognition: despite some progress, Social Econmy still suffers from a lack of harmonisation and institutional recognition in many European countries.
- Its funding: the specific funding needs of the SSE are estimated at €6.7 billion for the period 2021-2027 (source : publication by ESS France), underlining the importance of easier access to tailored funding.
To meet these challenges, the European Commission has drawn up an action plan for 2021-2030. It includes 38 concrete actions, with a common understanding of the social economy in Europe and the ambition to mobilise €2.5 billion from the European budget for investment in the social economy. This amount will be supplemented by resources mobilised through the #NextGenEU European Recovery Plan, managed by the Member States, as well as by contributions from other levels of government (local, regional and national).
France, a European driving force for Social Economy
The framework law passed in France in 2014 (the Hamon law) sets an example for the institutional recognition of the Social Economy in Europe. The innovative schemes that France has been developing for years, such as the Société coopérative d’intérêt collectif status, the PTCEs (territorial clusters of economic cooperation) or the solidarity savings mechanisms (the 90/10 funds) are sources of inspiration for many other European countries.
How does Europe support the development of the Social Economy in France?
Europe supports the development of the Social and Solidarity Economy in France through a number of schemes from which France Active benefits, as do the committed entrepreneurs it supports.
Securing bank loans for the most fragile entrepreneurs and the most committed structures
France Active mobilises European funds to finance entrepreneurial projects.
For example, Europe, via the European Investment Fund (EIF – a subsidiary of the European Investment Bank Group), intervenes as a bank ‘counter-guarantee’ to cover the risk that France Active takes on when it guarantees the most fragile entrepreneurs, so that they do not have to take out a personal guarantee when launching their business. It is aimed particularly at priority groups (people in very precarious situations, young people or women seeking work or in precarious employment) and priority areas (priority urban policy districts, rural regeneration areas).
The EIF also provides guarantees for France Active investments, enabling entrepreneurs to go further in their support for priority groups, the most vulnerable areas and innovative projects by companies with a strong social impact, while keeping risk-taking under control.
Promoting support for entrepreneurs
ESF+ is a very important source of funding for the France Active network and for its work in supporting and financing entrepreneurs and Social Economy structures. It enables to support, connect and finance an increased number of entrepreneurs who are far from the banking system (jobseekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, young people under the age of 26, women, etc.) and Social Economy structures1.
The France Active association mobilises the ESF+ for its actions to professionalize its network with the national employment agency (DGEFP)2. Territorial associations mobilise the ESF+ (or the ERDF where applicable) from the Regions for their actions to support entrepreneurial projects, in line with the regional operational programmes (ROP).
The DLA is France’s leading support organisation for the social economy, providing free support to socially useful organisations to help them develop their jobs and projects. To help Social Economy entrepreneurs with their projects, France Active, as the DLA Funding Resource Centre3, produces guides, training courses, thematic studies, educational sheets and articles, thanks to European funding.
Ambroise FAYOLLE
Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Group
As a long-standing partner of France Active, the EIB Group has renewed its confidence in 2024 by extending the term of its contracts by three years and increasing the guarantee envelope for France Active Investissement and the counter-guarantee envelope for France Active Garantie.
Through the activities of our European Investment Fund subsidiary dedicated to financing SMEs and very small businesses and as part of the InvestEU European guarantee programme, the EIB Group is mobilising to provide an additional boost to sustainable investment, innovation, social inclusion and job creation in Europe. For us, this is a way of taking concrete action to promote a just transition by meeting the social and environmental challenges to which social entrepreneurship responds.
1 – ESF+ operation ‘Impact +’ 2023-2026 2023-2026 – Retour
2 – ESF+ operation ‘Nouvel Horizon: Structuration et professionnalisation du réseau France Active pour accompagner l’évolution des besoins des entrepreneurs’ 2022-2024 (pending extension for the period 2025-2027) – Retour
3 – ESF+ operation ‘DLA Financement Resource Centre’ 2024-2026, via a call for projects from Avise. – Retour
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A place to live, work and visit to combat the digital divide
Aurélie CHARBONNIER
Co-founder of l’Attribut
A third place to promote digital inclusion
We were struck by the scale of the digital divide. It affects every region and every population.
Châteauneuf-Val-de-Bargis (Burgundy-France-Comté)
A third place to promote digital inclusion
Aurélie Charbonnier and David Achache launched the L’Attribut association in 2019 in the heart of the Nivernais region. Their project: to promote digital inclusion in this rural area. To achieve this, the co-founders are combining their skills: Aurélie in cultural project management, David in digital and new technologies.
The theme of digital inclusion was obvious to them at the time of the study of the area: ‘we had already been struck by the extent of the digital divide when David was working in Suresnes, in the Paris suburbs. The phenomenon affects all areas and all populations. And when we arrived in Nièvre and started talking to local players, this was a need that emerged very strongly. So we decided to focus our association on this theme.
https://vimeo.com/1084561230?share=copy#t=0
A range of on-site and off-site services
To refine their project, Aurélie and David joined the T incubator, run by France Active Bourgogne and dedicated to committed entrepreneurs. ‘Our project was already well advanced, but the incubator encouraged synergies thanks to the exchanges we had with the other entrepreneurs. This incubation enabled us to challenge the project, test it and push it a little further.
The couple then set up their business in the former presbytery in Châteauneuf-Val-de-Bargis, which they renovated. This is what will become ‘L’Attrium’, the third place open in 2021 to host many of the services designed by L’Attribut: refurbishment of personal computers, workshops for children, adults and seniors, introduction to robotics or drone programming, independent access to the fab lab with 3D machine or digital embroidery machine…
At the same time, ‘off-site’ events are organised in schools, leisure centres and through a partnership with the social centre.
A few months after its launch, l’Attribut was also awarded the France Services label, which aims to help all citizens with their day-to-day administrative tasks. ‘By helping local residents with their administrative needs that require the use of digital technology, we were able to offer them further support so that they could become more independent. It was an important way of getting to know us and reaching out to our target groups. As a result, our project has been able to expand’, says Aurélie. With this accreditation, Laura, a France Services agent, joins L’Attribut. And when a local association approached L’Attribut with a request for bespoke training in graphic design software, the team set about obtaining Qualiopi certification, authorising it to deliver professional training courses.
A place to live and work in the area
The launch, France Services accreditation and Qualiopi certification required a major investment of time from the teams. To secure working capital during this structuring period, L’Attribut was able to count on the support of France Active. ‘It was a real help in securing our business model. That’s what’s enabling us to consolidate our business today, with the aim of turning it into a genuine third-centre serving users. L’Attrium opens its doors to various local associations, craftspeople, photo and drawing exhibitions, and so on. Today, more than ever, we want to develop a place where people can live, work and play. A place that everyone can make their own and bring to life in their own way,’ concludes Aurélie.
Benefited from
several investments of up-to
5 000€
Was supported by
France Active Bourgogne
In 2021 and in 2022
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A channel for reconditioning medical technical aids
Philippe ROBIN
Managing Director of Envie Autonomie
A channel for reconditioning medical technical aids
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Paris – All of France
A channel for reconditioning medical technical aids
It all began in 2015. At the time, Philippe Robin was running a social integration company in the Envie network in Maine-et-Loire, specialising in the reconditioning of household appliances. ‘At the time, associations were alerting us to the fact that many people with disabilities or who were losing their independence were unable to afford medical aids (manual or electric wheelchairs, hygiene chairs, healthcare beds, patient lifts, etc.),’ he recalls. In fact, despite reimbursements from social security, supplementary health insurance and assistance from the départements or other bodies, the outlay is often considerable and many items of equipment are not covered at all.
‘For the past thirty years, the Envie network has been collecting and sorting household appliances that are about to be thrown away, reconditioning some of them in its workshops with staff on integration contracts, and distributing them with all the guarantees and compliance expected. It’s a long experience. So we decided to adapt this expertise to medical equipment’, he adds.
Meeting a real need
The first stage in this process is to check that there is a pool of equipment to collect, and that beneficiaries have a real need for it. ‘These initial intuitions were quickly confirmed. And because Envie is a fast-moving network, the experiment launched in Angers was quickly duplicated in Nancy, Lyon, etc.,’ explains Philippe Robin. The first partnerships were also formed, with departmental councils, ADEME, certain social protection groups, etc. In 2017, the initiative even won the Pionniers French Impact call for projects, which gave a boost to its national roll-out.
The model is convincing on several levels. Firstly, because of its economic and social impact, since the price of reconditioned medical equipment is 50% less than new, making it much more accessible to the most modest households.
Another reason is its environmental impact. Every year, almost 240,000 technical aids are thrown away, when over a third could be reused. Similarly, a reconditioned wheelchair emits 97% less CO2 than a new one.‘The effect on the health system’s finances would not be negligible either, as the French social security system currently spends a billion euros a year on this type of equipment,’ points out Philippe Robin. At present, second-hand technical aids are not yet reimbursed by the social security system. ‘The 2020 Finance Act provided for the reimbursement of manual or electric wheelchairs as a first step, but we are still waiting for the implementing decree to be published’.
The creation of a genuine network
After raising funds in 2019, the SCIC (Société coopérative d’intérêt collectif). Envie Autonomie is born. Its members include the companies in the Envie network, as well as France Active, which has also taken an equity stake and sits on the investors’ committee. ‘The SCIC model allows us to be autonomous and to call on the strengths of partners who contribute to our strategic management by sharing the same commitment to inclusion and the social economy. Like France Active, whose support underpins our national development.As a result of this dynamic approach, Envie Autonomie now operates in around twenty départements and currently employs 127 people, half of whom are on integration contracts. By 2023, more than 33,000 technical aids had been collected and 8,000 redistributed: ‘The volumes thrown away each year in France show that we have a lot of room for improvement. But we know that our second-hand offer meets a real need among private individuals, as well as medical and social establishments, which are increasingly committed to environmental initiatives. And let’s not forget that the need for independent living support is set to increase considerably over the next few years as the population ages,’ concludes Philippe Robin
Web site
Has benefited
several investments of up-to
300 000€
Was supported by
France Active
In 2021 and 2022
It’s here !
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Seven farms combine their strengths and impact
Clémence DUCROQUET-TALLEU
Director of the Coopérative Fruitière Lait Prairies du Boulonnais
Dairy cooperative
Becoming a cooperative is a way of putting meaning back into the job of dairy farmer.
Vieil-Moutier (Pas-de-Calais)
Dairy cooperative
The Coopérative Lait Prairies du Boulonnais is already ten years old. It was created in 2014 at the instigation of the Caps et Marais d’Opale Regional Nature Park. ‘At the time, the dairy industry was in crisis. It was neither the first nor the last, but the park’s ambition was to enable farmers to continue their activity, which was helping to preserve the region’s meadows, biodiversity and water basins,’ explains Clémence Ducroquet-Talleu, the cooperative’s director. https://vimeo.com/1066587262
Giving meaning back to the job of dairy farmer
y bringing together seven farms within the cooperative, the first benefit is pooling production, as well as equipment for collection, pasteurisation, packaging and processing (yoghurts, cream desserts, white cheese, etc.).
Over the years, this model has proved that it works, with sales increasing by 20% a year. At the same time, the region’s customer base has diversified to include supermarkets, small independent shops, the hotel trade and local authorities in schools and hospitals.
‘Becoming a cooperative is in fact a way of putting meaning back into the job of dairy farmer,’ says Clémence Ducroquet-Talleu. This way, we are enhancing the value of our work by creating a direct link with our customers and consumers. We’re also adding value in economic terms, because we’ve made a commitment to the farmers in the cooperative to buy their milk 20% more expensively than conventional suppliers. Lastly, it’s a way of promoting our region. We advocate environmentally friendly dairy farming based on pasture in summer and meadows for hay production in winter. It was this new-found sense of purpose that motivated Clémence Ducroquet-Talleu to become Director of the cooperative in 2021: ‘As the wife of a dairy farmer, I realized that there were a lot of hours worked for too little recognition. So I was keen to get involved to help develop the cooperative further.
Increasing the impact
Currently, of the 4,000,000 litres of milk produced annually by the seven farms, 10% is processed directly by the cooperative. ‘It’s still not a huge amount. But it also shows how important it is to grow in order to have a greater impact on the farms.
As a result, the cooperative decided to capitalize on its strengths and expand its processing plant to increase its capacity and even reach other markets. In 2024, it installed a new milk sterilization line that also enables it to package milk in returnable glass bottles. ‘We also wanted to reduce the carbon footprint of our production. That’s why we started working with a specialist distributor, Le Fourgon.
To support these transformations, the cooperative has obtained financial backing from the Region, the national water agency, banks like Crédit Mutuel and CIC and the semi-public investment fund Finopra. Convinced by the relevance of its model and its commitment to both the region and the environment, France Active has also granted it an equity loan.
The new workshop is now on track. ‘Our aim is to process 25% of the farm’s milk there by the end of 2025,’ concludes Clémence Ducroquet-Talleu.
Benefited from
the transformation offer
with an investment of
200 000€
Supported by
France Active Pas-de-Calais
In 2024
It’s here !
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Female entrepreneurship: study, key figures and inspiring stories
Focus on 3 stories of female entrepreneurs who defy preconceived ideas
Despite an uncertain economic environment, entrepreneurship is attracting many women who feel that being their own boss is more motivating than being an employee. If they take the plunge into entrepreneurship, the majority do so to put a personal idea into practice (57%) and to give meaning to their lives (56%).
Key figures on female entrepreneurship in 2025
The study reveals that 20% of women want to start their own business. However, compared with the previous year, the desire to start a business is down by 6% among women, while it remains stable among men.
Main motivations for women entrepreneurs
- 57% want to turn a personal idea into reality (+10% compared to 2024)
- 56% want to give meaning to their professional lives (+12% compared to 2024)
- Men, on the other hand, are more motivated by financial gain
Obstacles to female entrepreneurship
The obstacles identified by women are
- Lack of start-up capital (45%)
- Incompatibility with family life (33%)
- Complex administrative procedures (45%)
Solutions to encourage female entrepreneurship
The women surveyed believe that to encourage female entrepreneurship, it is necessary to :
- Simplify administrative procedures and reduce regulatory obstacles (48%)
- Set up schemes to reconcile professional and personal life (45%)
- Better sharing of family tasks (42%)
France Active support for female entrepreneurs
To support female entrepreneurs, France Active has set up a specific guarantee enabling them to borrow without a personal guarantee. This guarantee is offered as part of a wider support package for women entrepreneurs. In addition, support programmes and meetings specifically for women are organised in most regions.
3 examples of women who have developed their projects in rural areas, thanks to the investment :
Clémence Ducroquet-Talleu: a booming dairy cooperative
Director of the dairy cooperative “Lait Prairies du Boulonnais”, Clémence Ducroquet-Talleu has brought together seven farms to pool their resources. This cooperative enables them to share equipment for collecting, pasteurising and processing dairy products.
Her model is working: sales are increasing by 20% a year, and her customers range from supermarkets to hotels and schools.
Sandra GRENTZINGER, Director of the Marpa de la Doller
Located in Sentheim, a town of 1,600 inhabitants in the heart of Alsace, this home for independent living (Marpa) has a maximum capacity of 25 residents. Average age: 87. All have their own private flat (40 m2 T1bis for singles and 50 m2 T2 for couples), with the option of sharing meals together and taking advantage of the communal areas, as well as socialising and taking part in activities. The aim is to enable everyone to participate in the life of the home. They can give their opinion on the week’s menu or the programme of activities, lend a hand with cooking or preparing the table… It’s a real home from home, where everyone’s abilities are valued and their sense of usefulness is boosted! And it’s all run by one woman, Sandra Grentzinger, who cares about everyone’s well-being.
Natacha Kancel, Drain’ailes project manager
Natacha Kancel has set up her Drain’ailes back-to-work workshop in Sainte-Rose, north of Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe, a town often cited for its unemployment and crime rate. On this farm, she employs a dozen women, mostly single mothers, in three activities: agroforestry (cocoa, vanilla, coffee, etc.), permaculture organic farming (market gardening, fruit trees, etc.) and agro-processing (sauces, seasonings, juices, etc.). Drain’ailes is the first association in Guadeloupe to benefit from a interest-free loan.
This tool provides an accessible solution and real leverage for associations that often have difficulty accessing bank loans. France Active is co-financing up to 70% of the needs, alongside the Banque des Territoires, the Region and the Department. Natacha Kancel wanted to create this place of integration for women and by women through the memory of her grandmother, who provided for the family by cultivating the land.
Women’s entrepreneurship is booming, despite persistent obstacles. With support schemes like those offered by France Active, more and more women are daring to take the plunge and give life to their projects. The inspiring stories of Clémence, Sandra and Natacha show that it is possible to succeed, even in sectors and territories that have been little explored by women.
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At the age of 22, she opens her own flower shop in the Ain department
Léa CARON
Manager of the ‘Au clos fleuri’ shop
Florist
The support I received from France Active Ain was very beneficial. Franklin Witham, the France Active adviser, guided me through the steps I needed to take and helped me draw up my business plan.
Nantua, Ain (01)
Florist
Léa Caron has always worked in retail. After her A levels in this field, she joined a cheese shop and then a bakery. She enjoys the contact with customers. One day, she came across an advert for a florist who was looking for an apprentice, so she decided to take the plunge. She discovered a business she liked and took the diploma to make it her profession. A few months later, the shop closed as the florist moved to another sector. It was at this point that her path crossed the one of another florist who wanted to sell her shop in Nantua. Léa decided to take over the shop, supported by an uncle who also worked in the trade. She had always wanted to set up her own business, and when she told her friends and family that she wanted to take over a shop, they all supported and encouraged her. It was the bank that directed Léa to France Active Ain. Franklin Witham, the network’s adviser, clearly explained the steps she needed to take to set up her project. ‘Léa Caron is very young, just 22. But despite her age, I felt she was dynamic, mature and determined. I showed her where to start, what a business plan was and how to put it together, who to talk to about the next steps… She had a real desire to do things right.
Thanks to France Active, she received a bank guarantee to enable her to take out a loan without having to provide a personal guarantee, as well as grants to help finance some of the work involved in refitting the shop and some of the initial stock.
With the opening approaching, Léa was apprehensive: she was worried that in the middle of July she wouldn’t have enough customers. But the opposite happened: ‘I had a much better opening than I’d hoped for. That enabled me to put some cash aside. I wasn’t expecting such a huge response over the summer period and I’ve had a lot of compliments about the flowers and the reorganisation of the sales area.
Léa’s next step is to recruit an apprentice to help her on a day-to-day basis.
Any advice for entrepreneurs who want to get started?
‘Knowing how to surround yourself with the right people to move forward with confidence and serenity, being patient and knowing how to protect yourself are the 3 pieces of advice that I would give to an entrepreneur who wants to get started’, she confides.
Focus on the FAPE EDF grant
Enabling the most vulnerable people to create their own jobs, while revitalising rural areas that are all too often deserted, is the ambition of the joint action undertaken by France Active and FAPE EDF for almost 15 years. This ambition has resulted in support for the start-up of more than 1,800 businesses over the last 15 years. Here’s a closer look at this partnership.
Léa Caron received a €2,000 grant for her business start-up project ‘Au clos fleuri’.
Benefited
With a guarantee of
32 000€
from a bonus of
3 000€
Supported by
France Active Ain
And
FAPE EDF
In 2024
It’s here !
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