Together, let's work for diversity
This month, as part of our work on the theme of diversity, discover 3 initiatives for a more inclusive future that treats everyone fairly and celebrates diverse profiles and the uniqueness of each person.
Diversity and inclusivity: core priorities
At Valrhona, gender equality is a part of who we are. We are proud to be able to say that 50% of our workforce is female, and that we score 90/100 on the French gender equality index.
Although Valrhona has been a great place to work for many years, we know that we still have a lot to do to ensure that it is inclusive for everyone. As a result, this issue will be a priority for us over the next few years.
Those who stand out from the crowd, with unusual career paths, can be a real asset. An example with Bricoleurs de Douceurs
After a months-long culinary trip between Australia and Bali, the dynamic duo, Clement Higgins and Aurélie Pauletto, are setting up shop in Marseille, a city which has always been close to their hearts. They have decided to pool their talents and founded Bricoleurs de douceurs.
Clément and Aurélie were keen to draw from their unique career paths to create a company that stood out just like they did. What they have come to call their “family” is now made up of people from completely different walks of life, including those who come from the world of pastry, as well as some who have had little experience of the field; this diversity is what gives the company its strength! We met them to find out more. Listen to their exciting and inspiring account of their experience!
Excellence in gastronomy to promote women's inclusion in the workplace
Supported by chef Alain Ducasse and launched in 2015 by La Table de Cana Marseille, Des étoiles et des femmes gives women who are passionate about cuisine a chance to return to work thanks to training focused on cooking where motivation is the keystone.
The program, whose French title means “Stars and Women”, came about in response to three issues:
- Unemployment among women in the city’s priority neighborhoods is high
- Women are underrepresented in the catering sector
- There is a shortage of talent in professional kitchens
To meet this triple challenge, they have devised a 9-month support program during which 12 women complete a work/study vocational training course in cooking with renowned chefs.
For 9 months, these women receive personalized support to remove barriers to returning to employment. This included an administrative component, a childcare, training and mobility component and lastly a component covering individualized coaching and personal development. This program is unique in that it makes a vocational qualification in cookery accessible to women who would otherwise find it difficult to become chefs.
Today, the program has been rolled out in 9 cities: Lille, Paris, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lyon, Montpellier, Arles, Marseille, and Nice. Since it was created in 2015, the initiative has been a success: 1500 women have been made aware of the scheme and 260 women have begun training, 98% of which have passed their CAP qualification and 70% of which have found a job within 6 months of the end of their training.
We'll see you next month for a new topic with B the Change.
