Laurent Champaney, CEO ofArts et Métiers, took part in "l'appel des 30"(the call of the 30), an initiative launched by Usine Nouvelle. The concept: 30 prominent figures closely linked to the world of industry each propose an urgent measure to save French industry.
Laurent Champaney proposed creating "a subsidy for hiring young people that improves the environmental and social impact of companies."
Discover Laurent Champaney's opinion piece
"Engineering schools are now welcoming generations of young people who are passionate about science and technology, but who are also activists for environmental and social causes. In their minds, industry is often made up of unsuitable, polluting, and antisocial companies, and they struggle to join them because they feel they cannot adhere to their values.
We encourage them to confront their ideals and convictions with reality. Because as long as women and men need to eat, live, travel, stay informed, and entertain themselves, they will need an industry that can provide them with goods and services. It is this industry of the future, which will be fairer, more sustainable, and more equitable, that these young people will have to help build, drawing on their strong convictions.
We educate them in science so that they understand the limitations imposed on us by the world and so that, one day, they can overcome these constraints and adapt technologies to the needs of society, creating new ones that will be capable of meeting its challenges.
We show them that industry is above all a collective of women and men. A very diverse collective, because in order to properly meet society's needs, industry must embrace all of society's diversity.
We cannot do this alone, which is why a prestigious university such as Arts et Métiers a partner of the Industry of the Future Alliance and its extraordinary factories; of Bpifrance, the Big Tour, FrenchFab, and VTE; and is also a regular presence at Global Industrie.
Together, we must show them, through their first experience, that French industrial companies have strong ambitions in terms of environmental and social impact, that they know exactly how to move forward, but that they need them and their convictions to progress quickly. Young people can build a better world by choosing industry!
In order to make young people key players in a sustainable industrial recovery, I propose that work-study programs, professional training contracts, and first jobs for young people who contribute to improving the environmental or social impact of a French industrial company should receive specific support from the public authorities.
Together we can offer them a real industrial adventure!"
