Annual key figures

Making the commitment of entrepreneurs a lever for social change : France Active’s achievements in 2023

A major pillar of France Active’s strategy, the creation and consolidation of sustainable jobs are at the heart of the achievements by the movement of socially-committed entrepreneurs in 2023. Its advisory, financing and connection services have enabled 36,440 associations and businesses to create and consolidate more than 67,000 jobs, an increase of 12% compared with 2022.
In addition to employment, these companies are also committed to social, ecological, regional and governance issues. With more than €485 million mobilised and its support actions set to double by 2023, France Active and its 35 regional associations are demonstrating that it is possible to develop a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Action focused on job creation and consolidation: 12% growth

By mobilising more than €485 million in 2023, France Active has enabled the creation and consolidation of 67,080 jobs in all regions, including the French overseas territories. This growth of 12% compared with 2022 can be explained in particular by the doubling of its advisory and support activities and by the growth of its solidarity investment activities with the most committed associations and businesses.

 

For the 36,440 businesses and associations supported and financed in 2023, France Active’s intervention is essential in consolidating their economic model. It enables them to access bank credit, to develop over time and to commit to the pillars promoted by the association network, i.e. job creation, social cohesion, territorial development and ecology, all based on democratic governance.

 

This performance on job creation clearly illustrates the singularity of France Active’s action, whose ambition is to contribute to an economy that is resolutely more sustainable and more inclusive.

Supporting the most vulnerable groups

By mobilising almost 2/3 (325 million euros) of its funding to provide loan guarantees in 2023, France Active is giving vulnerable entrepreneurs and social economy structures access to finance. In this way, the network’s 35 regional associations are helping to secure their path and consolidate their economic model, thanks to the support of the Social Cohesion Fund, the Regions and the European Union.

 

This initiative was stepped up in 2023 thanks to the support of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Solidarity, which made it possible to finance and support almost 2,000 entrepreneurs in very vulnerable situations. As part of the French government’s “Inclusion par le Travail Indépendant” (Inclusion through Self-Employment) programme, France Active’s Pacte Création (Creation Pact) has been strengthened to offer new training courses, personalised support and a grant for 18-30 year-olds.

Creation: greater support for certain target groups  

Vulnerable groups: 100% of entrepreneurs are jobseekers, and 37% of entrepreneurs supported are in very precarious situations (long-term jobseekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, etc.).   

 

Attentive to the development of the most fragile regions, France Active has also strengthened its action in favour of entrepreneurs located in both disadvantaged rural and urban areas. The proportion of these entrepreneurs, which represented 25% in 2021, will exceed 30% in 2023.    

 

Women : one in 2 entrepreneurs supported by France Active is a woman (compared with 41% of business start-ups in France). The association facilitates their access to bank credit thanks to the “Egalité Femmes” guarantee and a dozen dedicated local support and connection programmes.   

 

Young people : more and more young people are being supported and financed by France Active: 34% of entrepreneurs supported are under 30, compared with 28.3% in 2021. 51% have a A-level or less.

Developing access to investment for Social Economy

Because it is sometimes difficult for associations and social economy companies to project themselves into the future, France Active has decided to renew its solidarity investment offer in 2023. This has led to the launch of an ambitious initiative: Actifs Solidaires. It involves a number of its partners, including the French government, the Banque des Territoires, the Regions and Mirova Foundation. In addition to new financing solutions, Actifs Solidaires offers support to give social economy leaders the keys to turning to investment.

 

Launched in September, Actifs Solidaires have contributed to 15% growth in France Active Investissement’s activity, with a total of €46 million raised from solidarity savings. With the support of its regional partners, France Active was able to invest €63 million in 1,500 associations and social economy companies.

The year of cooperation and commitment

France Active’s strategic plan focuses on regional cooperation with socially-committed businesses. Because it is necessary to accelerate the transformation of our economy, France Active was able to initiate and develop more than sixty cooperation actions between entrepreneurs, partners and local players in 2023. This acceleration in cooperation is the result of the appeal made by Claude Alphandéry, founder and honorary president of France Active, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary in November 2022.

 

More broadly, the support actions (training, awareness-raising, advice, group leadership, etc.) have doubled and will involve almost 8,600 structures in 2023. The common thread running through all these initiatives is the need to accelerate their commitment.

Pierre-René Lemas

Chairman of France Active

By working with entrepreneurs who are the furthest away from financing, associations and social economy companies, in 2023 we have once again succeeded in placing the challenges of social cohesion and ecology at the heart of the economic development of our territories. This is thanks to our advisors and volunteers, who work alongside these entrepreneurs and community leaders, and who have rallied round to support them in their projects. And to achieve this, the confidence of our partners and shareholders is more than essential to accelerate the commitment of all these players.

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