With the turmoil the less graduate could enjoy

Everything happened very quickly for Grégory Balinsky. Last December, the young engineer of the company Assystem planchait still on the modernization of the computer system managing the lines for the production of the Renault Trucks plant in Caen. Early March, he inaugurated a career at EDF nuclear in Saint-Ouen. In the meantime, the crisis had hit manufacturers. Grégory Balinsky, he had followed intensive training via the internal Institute of his employer. As some 300 specialist colleagues automobile that Assystem strives to switch to nuclear power, aeronautics or the rail carriers despite the turmoil. Building on internal mobility, the engineering company, which employs 6500 employees in France, has probably avoided a social plan, even reduce the flow of hires planned this year.

Will the employees of all ages and all levels who are studying, like those of Assystem, in business universities, organizations of training or an e-learning on computer program, the France to be more this year. "The idea that should benefit periods of sub-activity to form rather than fire spreads in companies, employers, public authorities and the opinion is delighted Annie Thomas, National Secretary of the CFDT. Vocational training has long been equated to an expense rather than an investment. It is changing.

Different distribution of the budget

In fact, the crisis is moving lines. According to a survey of Opcalia, one of the 98 joint bodies to raise funds for vocational training, 30 of French companies weakened by the crisis reported training projects, against 20 for those who consider themselves non-affected. Evidenced by the Adecco Group. France, the number one of temporary work, who expects a decline in sales in 2009, undertook to eliminate 600 jobs and contemplates economies all over the place. But he has not less maintain its training budget to EUR 14 million in 2009. For its part, the BJOP Professional Federation, which brings together French specialists of the jewellery, jewellery, silver, stones and beads announces the launch of an ambitious plan for these trades through a bad password. With the help of the State and local communities, the industry hopes 27.5 million, amount which is equivalent to four months of training full-time for 3,000 employees. "The training becomes more than ever a competitive advantage", says Catherine Fourre, of the BJOP.

With the turmoil, the less graduate could enjoy. In cartons for several months, the reform of the vocational training project has be presented late April by the Council of Ministers. And aims, among other things, to create a fund which will mobilise this year EUR 360 million to support firms in difficulty and vulnerable employees in partial unemployment or away from the job.

Swedish SKF, whose two plants of Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire revolve in subscheme, took the advance by accelerating the implementation of training for the operators, including on security. "The budget does not increase, but is distributed differently," says Georges Laubry, site manager, who spent 5.11 of the salary for this position in 2008, although the legal 1.6. Executive seminars, which caused significant displacement in Sweden costs, have been reduced to the benefit of training field or security, intended to base personnel.

Prepare the recovery

But training does not stays within the professional actions. Opcalia which stirred adherent contributions of its companies 40,000 EUR 400 million, in 2008, is a renewed interest in the sessions on basic knowledge (logic and memory, math and French based on professional situations). Applications from employers jumped 241 route to March 31 to... 1.788 route to April 24. "These courses are essential to ensure a minimum of mobility at the first levels of qualification employees, whose jobs are more threatened," argues Yves Hinnekint, Director of Opcalia.

Beyond the conversion companies prepare resumed, in providing their teams versatile skills or refining their knowledge of trades. Like Renault, which says to use this bleak period to prepare employees for electric vehicles of the future. In addition, in times of crisis, train its troops becomes a tool of management. "It is in length and do not let employees disconnect from work by remaining too long in the partial unemployment", said Jean-Michel Dupuis, responsible for human resources of the factory of the manufacturer of glass MCO Boussois. Now, it awash with requests for DIF (individual right to training) on the part of its 275 employees, who, "previously did in saw not necessarily the opportunity". And offers a range of courses ranging from internships on the concept of customer trades skills by learning the languages, or computer in the DIF. "We'll fire any wood, CIF, DIF, training-adaptive devices but also by our own trainers training." "Because, today, and unlike previous crises, cash becomes a problem for companies," he said.

Discount pricing

What is likely to return the cash or maintain motivation and cohesion of the teams by weather was the wind. "Our customers focus in 2009 on operational courses to improve the commercial performance or management of proximity", summarizes Pascal Debordes, Director of the major training deployments and Cegos e-learning activities.

Conversely, sessions accompanying the release of new products or the deployment of new computer systems are retreating on bottom of gel of the projects. Idem, seminars on personal development have the lead in the wing. Because the situation invites companies to tighten their budgets. According to a survey of Cegos, 26 of the HRD or European training leaders are reducing their budgets training in 2009.

With these conflicting signals, the training organizations retain morale. In 2009, Cegos expects growth for the France of about 5, compared to 4.7 in 2008. Wall Street Institute English specialist finds a downturn brings back to... 8 growth since September 2008. And they adapt. The Demos group has, for example, launched an offer called "solutions anti-crisis" to accompany patterns of SMEs in the development of strategies of resilience and out of the rut. About Cegos, the Organization released a catalogue entitled "crisis: the new deal", identifying more than 80 courses adapted to the ambient gloom, whose "Pull part of the crisis to sell more" for the commercial. Emergent also courses at low prices. Discount training project was created last December. The idea "Offer on the model of the tour operator Lastminute discount of 30 or 40 on tickets bought long in advance or unsuccessful at the last minute in internships designed dozens of training organizations", explains Stephen Marie, co-founder of Discount training.

The movement also promotes the development of e-learning, or at least of "blended learning" (a mixture of classroom courses and computer sessions) which allows form, or even more people, reducing costs. Its introduction has another advantage in the eyes of companies: facilitate the measurement of the effectiveness of the training. "The crisis combined with the growth of e-learning accelerates the implementation of more rigorous evaluation systems", confirms Jean Wemaëre, President of Demos. Because concludes Jean-Michel Dupuis, "more that never in times of crisis, the training must be effective."