Our commitments

Thanks to the government’s youth employment plan, Cama, GBH’s automotive subsidiary in Guadeloupe, signed 15 apprenticeship contracts, despite the uncertain health and economic climate. Every department in the company benefited from this opportunity, including the repair shops, customer relations centre, accounting, spare parts warehouse and sales office.  At an unpredictable time when the recruitment of specialist profiles in the auto sector is proving increasingly difficult, attracting these young talents who applied by their own volition and developing their skills provides considerable business security for the future.

Every year since 2011, the University of the French Antilles-GBH Foundation has organised the Student Career Forum in the French West Indies. This initiative aims to facilitate experience and skills sharing between company managers and students for improved professional integration. The aim is to create interactive meetings between students, teachers and business executives to provide students with practical information on different professions, how to enter them and career prospects.

Since 2011, the University of the French Antilles-GBH Foundation has carried out a host of actions with clearly defined objectives:

- Promote student openness towards the Caribbean
- Raise awareness among young people about higher education and the business world
- Provide professional training programmes
- Develop close and supportive relationships with students
- Reward excellence.

In 2020, the University of the French Antilles-GBH Foundation was extended for a period of five years.

GBH and Université des Antilles Foundation: “Working together for training and employment”

GBH and the University of the French Antilles and University of Guyana have been carrying out concrete actions since 2010 in order to provide professional training to students. This partnership was strengthened in 2011 with the creation of the GBH-Université des Antilles Guyane Partnership Foundation “Working together for training and employment”, which has become the GBH – Université des Antilles Foundation since the university’s separation in 2014. It’s a partnership at national level, based on the idea of moving on to universities’ Liberties and Responsibilities of Universities (RCE) and government university reforms.

A host of actions are carried out by GBH and the Université des Antilles Foundation of which the aims are clearly defined:
- Promote student openness towards the Caribbean: proposing internships in the Caribbean in the group’s companies 
- Raise awareness among young people about higher education and the business world: GBH executives’ involvement to lead conferences, take part in coaching sessions or CV workshops. 
- Professionalise the training programmes: creation of a Master specialising in IT or sales
- Develop close and supportive relationships with students: organisation of the Job and Career Forums on university campuses each year.
- Reward excellence with thesis prizes. 

The UA – GBH partnership foundation was created for a duration of 5 years. It was extended for the same duration in 2017, and has a €150,000 budget allocation and is managed by a board of directors with 12 members, 8 from the University, 4 from GBH:
-Its Chair is Eustase Janky, president of the University of the French Antilles since 2017,
-Stéphane Hayot (MD of GBH) is director of the GBH-UA Foundation; Bernard Hayot (CEO of GBH), Rodolphe Hayot (MD of GBH) are directors of this Foundation and highly involved in the running of it.

The Job and Career Forums, organised in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana for 8 years.
In 2019, the GBH-UA Foundation organised, on one hand, and within the framework of the GBH and University of Guyana partnership on the other, the ninth edition of the student Job and Career Forums. This involves interactive meetings between students, (from the University of the French Antilles, preparatory classes, BTS (advanced vocational diploma), EGC (business school)…), teachers and business executives to give students practical information on different professions, how to enter them and career prospects. In addition, these Forums are also the means to meet professionals directly on their company stands and have pre-selection interviews in response to internship offers. More than 100 professionals get involved each year to reach almost 500 young people per territory.

Creation of the Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution “Department Management – Distrisup Management” in partnership with the GBH UA foundation and the University of Rouen
As part of its commitment to the professional integration of young people, the GBH – Université des Antilles (UA) Foundation has introduced, in partnership with the University of Rouen Normandy and the DistriSup* Management Network, a Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution “Department Management – Distrisup Management”. This work-linked course, which takes into account the changes that are currently taking place within the distribution sector, aims to prepare students and working professionals for executive positions. Implemented in 2018, the first class of the Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution has 13 students and takes places as a work-study programme, with 14 weeks spent at the university and 32 weeks in the company. This training programme is given by the UA and University of Rouen faculty and Distribution professionals. 

Sponsorship of first-year engineering students
Launched in 2012 in partnership with the École nationale supérieure des ingénieurs en arts chimiques et technologiques – Ensiacet (National School of Engineers in Chemical and Technological Arts), the INP (National Polytechnic Institute) of Toulouse and the Guadeloupe Regio, the engineering training programmes have about 80 students enrolled each year. GBH supports first year students studying the Energy Systems speciality and Materials Engineering speciality: they have the opportunity to do their internships in the Group’s companies, the Group’s managers give lectures and coach them throughout the year (preparing their CV, job interview…). 

In 2015, the UA-GBH Foundation created a professional training degree, Miage (computer-based methods applied to business management), in Guadeloupe, including coaching sessions for several hundred students looking for internships or employment and a contribution to the fees of a language course abroad for ten students.

In 2012, UAG won first prize in the “Relationships with companies” category during the MCE Awards (national awards for the innovations of universities and prestigious schools). The jury recognised the various tools and actions implemented by UAG, such as its proactive policy to bring together local economic players, which includes the UAG-GBH Foundation.

In 2011, the UAG and GBH created a Department Manager university diploma (Dumar). Adapted to the real needs of the mass retail sector in the French Antilles-Guyana, this bachelor degree level work-study programme relies on experienced professionals who provide students with the skills and techniques required of department managers and the educational content of higher university education. Fifteen of the 20 students of the first class obtained their diploma. Twenty-six students graduated from the second class.

GBH – initially via Carrefour Destreland – has been a partner of the preparatory class for the prestigious business schools of the chamber of commerce and industry (CCI) of Guadeloupe since 2006. The aim is to increase interactions between companies and students by supporting them in their training and their search for internships and employment.

Since 2008, an intensive English language preparation course for the English portion of the entrance examinations for business schools is offered each year to three deserving students from the first year of the preparatory class, selected by the teachers. In addition, each year GBH's general management and human resources departments present the Group's activities and professions to second year students in the CCI preparatory class.

In July 2016, GBH provided funding for the language course in London of three deserving students to help them prepare for the English portion of the entrance examination to prestigious business schools.

Launched in 2012 in partnership with the École nationale supérieure des ingénieurs en arts chimiques et technologiques – Ensiacet (National School of Engineers in Chemical and Technological Arts), the INP (National Polytechnic Institute) of Toulouse and the Guadeloupe Region, the engineering department of Université des Antilles is the only one authorised by the French engineering accreditation institution of the Americas/Caribbean region. Established at the Fouillole campus, both of the department’s programmes, one in environmental engineering and the other in energy systems engineering, had 57 students in 2016.

The 13 first-year students enrolled in the energy systems course and the 8 in materials engineering were sponsored by Rodolphe Hayot, GBH’s executive officer. The Group offers internships in companies designed to promote their future employability, provides tours of its sites, organises meetings with its employees and thematic conferences lead by its executives.

These two high-level programmes contribute to the emergence of future managers capable of meeting the challenges of local economic and industrial development. They meet the needs of the territories and businesses. Six months after graduating, 75% of the engineering students of the 2015 year group were professionally integrated. The 2016 year group had a success rate of 78%.

Particularly well adapted to the situation of French Guiana, apprenticeships promote long-term employability through the benefits of work-study programmes. In 2020, Carrefour Matoury, with GBH, got involved in this education initiative to meet the training needs and promote the social and vocational inclusion of young people in French Guiana. Signing a new partnership with Elfort secondary school in Mana, paved the way for introducing a butchery and charcuterie vocational qualification as well as qualifications for students wanting to learn the trades of fishmongering or catering. Two apprentices studying for the CAP butchery and BEP butchery/charcuterie qualifications graduated in a year. This year, another three butchery apprentices were recruited and an additional apprentice studying to become a fishmonger was also taken on. This means that over 20 apprentices have been hired in the sector.

Guyane Automobile, a GBH subsidiary, has long been committed to promoting the development of young people in the region and improving their employability in the professional world. In 2021, the company hired and trained 76 interns and 14 students on a work-study programme in its sales, marketing, accounting, reception, mechanics, HSE and HR departments. Continually making strides to help young people in their career development, Guyane Automobile takes regular action. For example, it supplied a 17-seater minibus worth €64,000 to the region’s only technical college. Located in Saint-Laurent du Maroni, this school trains up young people in jobs related to heavy goods vehicles. Myriam Jacques, managing director of Guyane Automobile and currently patron of the 2024 cohort of the EGC, Guyana’s sales and management school, mentored a group of 20 students during their Bachelor degree studies.

“Come and show your sales acumen”: this was the slogan Carrefour Matoury, Contact and Brioche Dorée, GBH subsidiaries in Guyana, used to promote a second job speed dating session on the campus of the University of Guyana. All three companies got a chance to talk with students who came to prove their skills and motivation in the hope of bagging a second, more in-depth interview. Over two job speed dating sessions held at the university campus, the companies met with over 170 students at the pre-interview stage. This operation subsequently led to the awarding of over 25 student contracts.

The apprenticeship programme set up in Guiana in partnership with Pôle Emploi, Akto, GBH and Carrefour Matoury, the Greta, and Max Joséphine Vocational School trains just under 20 apprentices. In 2020, halfway through their training, the partners decided to celebrate the apprentices’ involvement with a placeholder graduation ceremony. The Apprenticeship Trophy was created for this occasion to highlight partner companies’ commitment and expertise.

Three academic trophies were awarded. GBH, through Carrefour Matoury, was awarded a prize in the “Innovative Project” category. Two other Apprenticeship Trophies were awarded in the “Tradition and Public Service” and “Remarkable Investment” categories.

More information: https://bit.ly/3ln4wrC 

The University of Guyana and GBH have decided to increase their efforts in helping young people move into the workplace by signing a partnership agreement, which has the ambition of bringing the world of business closer to those of schools and universities.

A partnership to improve the professional integration of young Guianese people. The aim of this partnership agreement between the University of Guyana and GBH is two-fold: to pool both partners’ skills and resources and to facilitate the exchange of experience and skills between company executives and students.

Actions carried out by the University of Guyana and GBH:
-Raise awareness among young people about higher education and the business world
-Actions carried out by the University of Guyana and GBH
-Reward excellence with personalised professional mentoring 

Besides offering internships in some of the Group’s businesses, company visits, assistance for students in their job search, the Career Forum is one of the partnerships’ flagship actions.

Organisation of the Career Forum for 10 years in Guyana
This forum is for university, EGC (business school), BTS (advanced vocational diploma), IUT (Polytechnic) and preparatory class students.
The aim is to create interactive meetings between students, teachers and business executives to provide students with practical information on different professions, how to enter them and career prospects.

With the introduction of the work-study programme “Distrisup”, certified by the enterprise and national universities network, the mission of GBH in partnership with the EGC business school in Martinique and the IAE management school on Réunion Island is to train young people in sales and retail trades.

Eleven students from Réunion Island and 20 from the French West Indies and French Guiana have started their one-year course, alternating classes and a job at GBH subsidiaries with the aim of becoming aisle managers.

The objective of this course is to train professionals who are already working as well as young people studying three essential retail skills: business, logistics and management. They share their experience along the entire team of professionals who guide them on their journey!

Over 10 years, GBH has trained almost 180 employees in retail trades in view of giving them the keys to occupying management positions at Carrefour, Mr. Bricolage and Decathlon stores.

GBH committed to training and employability in food-related trades, in partnership with the Medef, Pôle Emploi, AKTO Martinique and Ladom.

In 2018, GBH put in place a training programme for employees working for one of its subsidiaries and external candidates to obtain a CQP (vocational qualification certificate) in butchery. Over 20 young people were trained up and nine more will complete their training in June 2022.

For the graduation ceremony held on 7 March 2022 to reward their efforts and determination, Carrefour members involved had the opportunity to celebrate the last two programme cohorts.

This training is open to everyone and takes part over nine months in several stages: the apprentices do an initial work placement at the hypermarkets then complete a food hygiene course before spending two months in mainland France studying at a training centre specialising in food and catering professions, fully funded by the company.

Back in Martinique, they continue their remote learning for the theory part while working in our stores for six months for the practical part.

Every year since 2011, the University of the French Antilles-GBH Foundation has organised the Student Career Forum in the French West Indies. This initiative aims to facilitate experience and skills sharing between company managers and students for improved professional integration. The aim is to create interactive meetings between students, teachers and business executives to provide students with practical information on different professions, how to enter them and career prospects.

Since 2011, the University of the French Antilles-GBH Foundation has carried out a host of actions with clearly defined objectives:

- Promote student openness towards the Caribbean
- Raise awareness among young people about higher education and the business world
- Provide professional training programmes
- Develop close and supportive relationships with students
- Reward excellence.

In 2020, the University of the French Antilles-GBH Foundation was extended for a period of five years.

GBH and Université des Antilles Foundation: “Working together for training and employment”

GBH and the University of the French Antilles and University of Guyana have been carrying out concrete actions since 2010 in order to provide professional training to students. This partnership was strengthened in 2011 with the creation of the GBH-Université des Antilles Guyane Partnership Foundation “Working together for training and employment”, which has become the GBH – Université des Antilles Foundation since the university’s separation in 2014. It’s a partnership at national level, based on the idea of moving on to universities’ Liberties and Responsibilities of Universities (RCE) and government university reforms.

A host of actions are carried out by GBH and the Université des Antilles Foundation of which the aims are clearly defined:
- Promote student openness towards the Caribbean: proposing internships in the Caribbean in the group’s companies 
- Raise awareness among young people about higher education and the business world: GBH executives’ involvement to lead conferences, take part in coaching sessions or CV workshops. 
- Professionalise the training programmes: creation of a Master specialising in IT or sales
- Develop close and supportive relationships with students: organisation of the Job and Career Forums on university campuses each year.
- Reward excellence with thesis prizes. 

The UA – GBH partnership foundation was created for a duration of 5 years. It was extended for the same duration in 2017, and has a €150,000 budget allocation and is managed by a board of directors with 12 members, 8 from the University, 4 from GBH:
-Its Chair is Eustase Janky, president of the University of the French Antilles since 2017,
-Stéphane Hayot (MD of GBH) is director of the GBH-UA Foundation; Bernard Hayot (CEO of GBH), Rodolphe Hayot (MD of GBH) are directors of this Foundation and highly involved in the running of it.

The Job and Career Forums, organised in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana for 8 years.
In 2019, the GBH-UA Foundation organised, on one hand, and within the framework of the GBH and University of Guyana partnership on the other, the ninth edition of the student Job and Career Forums. This involves interactive meetings between students, (from the University of the French Antilles, preparatory classes, BTS (advanced vocational diploma), EGC (business school)…), teachers and business executives to give students practical information on different professions, how to enter them and career prospects. In addition, these Forums are also the means to meet professionals directly on their company stands and have pre-selection interviews in response to internship offers. More than 100 professionals get involved each year to reach almost 500 young people per territory.

Creation of the Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution “Department Management – Distrisup Management” in partnership with the GBH UA foundation and the University of Rouen
As part of its commitment to the professional integration of young people, the GBH – Université des Antilles (UA) Foundation has introduced, in partnership with the University of Rouen Normandy and the DistriSup* Management Network, a Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution “Department Management – Distrisup Management”. This work-linked course, which takes into account the changes that are currently taking place within the distribution sector, aims to prepare students and working professionals for executive positions. Implemented in 2018, the first class of the Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution has 13 students and takes places as a work-study programme, with 14 weeks spent at the university and 32 weeks in the company. This training programme is given by the UA and University of Rouen faculty and Distribution professionals. 

Sponsorship of first-year engineering students
Launched in 2012 in partnership with the École nationale supérieure des ingénieurs en arts chimiques et technologiques – Ensiacet (National School of Engineers in Chemical and Technological Arts), the INP (National Polytechnic Institute) of Toulouse and the Guadeloupe Regio, the engineering training programmes have about 80 students enrolled each year. GBH supports first year students studying the Energy Systems speciality and Materials Engineering speciality: they have the opportunity to do their internships in the Group’s companies, the Group’s managers give lectures and coach them throughout the year (preparing their CV, job interview…). 

In 2015, the UA-GBH Foundation created a professional training degree, Miage (computer-based methods applied to business management), in Guadeloupe, including coaching sessions for several hundred students looking for internships or employment and a contribution to the fees of a language course abroad for ten students.

In 2012, UAG won first prize in the “Relationships with companies” category during the MCE Awards (national awards for the innovations of universities and prestigious schools). The jury recognised the various tools and actions implemented by UAG, such as its proactive policy to bring together local economic players, which includes the UAG-GBH Foundation.

In 2011, the UAG and GBH created a Department Manager university diploma (Dumar). Adapted to the real needs of the mass retail sector in the French Antilles-Guyana, this bachelor degree level work-study programme relies on experienced professionals who provide students with the skills and techniques required of department managers and the educational content of higher university education. Fifteen of the 20 students of the first class obtained their diploma. Twenty-six students graduated from the second class.

Mr. Bricolage has sponsored, since 2003, the "Yole du Robert", an activity led by the Las Palmas association, which aims to promote the social integration of young people from the city of Le Robert who are experiencing difficulties by involving them in a collective and unifying project: the construction and maintenance of a round skiff and training of its crew.

Skiffs are beautiful, traditional Martiniquan boats and the Tour des Yoles Rondes, a week-long team race which consists of sailing around the island, is a major event in Martinique.

The Las Palmas association, which upholds the values of integration, prevention, sharing and progress, knowing how to live together, as well as the transmission of experience and know-how from those with more experience to younger people, has appealed to Mr. Bricolage in such a way that the brand has been its exclusive partner since 2010.

Established in 1993 by 13 major groups, including Casino, Danone and Renault, the FACE (Fondation Agir Contre l’Exclusion – Action Against Exclusion Foundation) business club, with its 4,000 partners and recognised public utility, is a tool to prevent and work against all forms of exclusion and discrimination, particularly professional exclusion and discrimination. Its network of local clubs spans various territories in France and abroad.

In 2012, GBH and FACE conducted an initial joint action by organising a "Diversity and Excellence" morning together. The aim of this event, which was attended by students, economic, social and educational players, was to encourage young graduates to pursue management positions, to invite them to diversify their professional choices – particularly for women – and also to promote diversity within companies and professional organisations, from the recruitment process to career development.

In order to deepen and sustain their partnership, GBH and FACE-Martinique signed an agreement in February 2013 whose aim, through concrete actions, is to promote diversity and excellence and favour equal opportunities.

www.fondationface.org

GBH and Internat de la Réussite (Boarding Schools for Success) signed an agreement in 2014 regarding Martinique. Internat de la Réussite is a programme set up by the State in 2009, which helps deserving and working students from disadvantaged social backgrounds to pursue their studies in the best possible conditions.

The boarding school in Martinique can accommodate 73 students. It is dedicated to the preparatory classes of prestigious schools.

GBH is committed to helping students prepare for competitive examinations by:

• Covering the costs of language courses abroad which open students to the international context. In 2016, 30 students were able to discover Ireland during an immersion language programme.

• Participating in the Jobs Forums, which raise awareness of these young people to the socio-economic fabric and give them the key tools of their future profession.

• Preparing for examinations with the help and tutoring of Group employees.

• Organising activities that contribute to their cultural enrichment, such as visiting exhibitions at the Clément Foundation.

This partnership for the professional integration of young people continues in 2017.

GBH is a partner of the Nos Quartiers a Talents (NQT – Our Neighbourhoods have Talent) association, which promotes the professional integration of young people from priority neighbourhoods or disadvantaged social groups by arranging to have them sponsored by experienced entrepreneurs and executives. All young beneficiaries must be under the age of 30, with higher education degrees and in search of employment. The advice given by the sponsors is related to job searches, CVs, cover letters, interviews, help with networking, etc.

There are three separate systems.

"Nos Quartiers ont des Talents", the association’s historic operation, targets young graduates with at least 4 years’ higher education from the priority neighbourhoods of large French cities or disadvantaged social groups.

"Nos Territoires ont des Talents” targets young graduates with at least 3 years’ higher education in French territories where this level of diploma best suits the needs of the employment area.

"Nos Outremer ont des Talents” (Our Overseas Departments and Territories have Talent) targets young graduates with at least 3 years’ higher education who live in French overseas departments and territories. This system has been deployed since 2013 in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Reunion Island and since 2015 in French Guiana. 

On the national level, 36,925 young graduates have been included in one of these three programmes since 2005, supported by 9,983 sponsors, thanks to the support of 930 partners and patrons. 70% of the young people in the study found a permanent and qualified job, in an average of seven months.

Many GBH executives have integrated this programme, which complements both the target (young graduates with 3 years’ higher education) and the object (equal opportunities) of the actions the Group already carries out for students.

GBH and Bellevue Secondary School signed an agreement to assist students in preparatory classes for prestigious business schools in their training and search for internships and employment.

Each year, three first-year students, selected by the faculty, are able to take a language course abroad, with GBH covering the costs of the foreign language courses during the stay. GBH's management team also welcomes second-year students to introduce the Group's business areas, as well as the most sought-after specialisations, and organises informal exchanges with its employees who graduated from prestigious schools.

Over the past few years, many deserving students have benefited from language courses in London, including one at the EF (Education First) international language centre, with plane tickets offered by Air Caraïbes as part of a partnership with GBH, a cultural trip to Paris, including tours of museums and the HEC campus in Jouy-en-Josas (78), or iPads offered during the "Prix de l'excellence" awards organised by Bellevue Secondary School. In addition, many students have completed internships in the Group's companies.

Martinique Automobiles, a subsidiary of GBH, launched a tailor-made vocational training programme in partnership with Pôle emploi and Opcalia. This initiative was designed to contribute to the professional reintegration in the automobile sector of young Martiniquan job seekers who have been unemployed for over a year. The tailor-made educational programme takes place at the MA/Academy, the Martinique Automobiles training centre.

In 2015, the eight selected candidates, aged 18 to 33, and holding a secondary school vocational diploma, a BEP (technical school certificate) or a CAP (vocational training certificate) in automotive mechanics and maintenance, received 400 hours of training divided between theoretical instruction and practical training experience in the Martinique Automobiles workshops.

In 2016, ten successful candidates each received three-month's training in the trade of workshop receptionist, which encompasses everything from customer relationship management to vehicle return.

For both sessions, graduation was preceded by a "job dating” encounter between candidates and professionals of the automotive sector, with self-management, self-presentation and recruitment interviews being an integral part of the training process. 

The results were positive: the majority of candidates selected during these two sessions graduated from their training and were recruited by car dealers, including Martinique Automobiles, or garages.

Martinique Automobiles makes every effort to continue and extend this vocational training programme leading to a job in the automotive sector.

GBH helps improve the professional integration of young people in the local areas of Overseas France where it is established. For several years, GBH has implemented training programmes, both to develop the skills of its current employees and to boost the employability of students and future employees. In terms of professional insertion, GBH is working to bring the worlds of education and business together, through training while fostering diversity and excellence. Numerous partnerships with universities and schools in Overseas France have been forged to reach this objective. Training talents, taking time to meet students to tell them more about the French territories, their economies, the companies that contribute to them and the professional career paths they could be offered are part of the Group’s recruitment priorities. Each year, the human resource managers of the Group and its subsidiaries take part in employment fairs to meet candidates. They have a stand to receive candidates during job interviews and organise conferences on HR themes, for example: the professional opportunities offered in Overseas France. GBH notably took part in the in the Overseas pavilion of the Paris employment fair in October and the France Overseas students fair in September.

With the introduction of the work-study programme “Distrisup”, certified by the enterprise and national universities network, the mission of GBH in partnership with the EGC business school in Martinique and the IAE management school on Réunion Island is to train young people in sales and retail trades.

Eleven students from Réunion Island and 20 from the French West Indies and French Guiana have started their one-year course, alternating classes and a job at GBH subsidiaries with the aim of becoming aisle managers.

The objective of this course is to train professionals who are already working as well as young people studying three essential retail skills: business, logistics and management. They share their experience along the entire team of professionals who guide them on their journey!

Over 10 years, GBH has trained almost 180 employees in retail trades in view of giving them the keys to occupying management positions at Carrefour, Mr. Bricolage and Decathlon stores.

GBH has a very active professional training and skills development policy, both internally and externally.

In 2011, in order to promote the employability of its current and future employees, GBH launched a work-study training programme in the field of department manager / operational retail manager (ROD). Seventy-five students from the West Indies, French Guiana and Reunion Island were trained during the first five years.

The ROD training programme "Becoming operational to sustainably integrate the managerial staff of a store" is a 3 years’ higher education certificate programme conducted in partnership with Neoma Business School. It is a work-study programme, consisting of one week of theoretical courses and three weeks of in-store practical experience, lasts 11 to 12 months and provides candidates motivated by trades in the specialised or food retail industries with a global vision of management, helping them acquire skills in business, management, but also in law, communication and human resources.

During the programme, the company’s salaried candidates are in a professional training period and those external to the company under a one-year fixed duration professional training contract, which can lead to a permanent contract at the end of the programme, if it is conclusive. The admission level required is a validated 2 years’ higher education diploma. The training programme results in a 3 years’ higher education diploma.

Trainees are hosted at GBH’s Carrefour, Mr. Bricolage and Decathlon stores in Reunion Island, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana.

For several years, SCIE, a GBH subsidiary, has worked closely with the apprentice training centre at the chamber of trades to train young people in a variety of retail professions.

On 17 December 2021, the CAP Boucher (a vocational certificate for butchery training) was awarded to four apprentices at the Géant Dumbéa Mall and Géant Sainte-Marie hypermarkets, which cemented this partnership in the long term. To obtain this valuable qualification, they were helped and guided by their respective tutors during the course of the two-year apprenticeship.

Two of the happy graduates are planning to continue their training via a work-study programme and qualify for a vocational diploma while the two others signed their first permanent job contract to work at our company at the end of their apprenticeship contract.

In 2013, SCIE Distribution, a subsidiary of GBH, set up two continuous training courses for employees of the Géant, Casino and Leader Price chains. The first issues a 2 years’ higher education department manager diploma, the second programme provides secondary school level education, as a department assistant. The educational content of the programmes was developed with Paris Executive Campus and Neoma Business School. Implementation is overseen by SCIE Distribution in partnership with the CCI of New Caledonia. The training lasts 15 months and includes 400 hours of theory lessons. The graduation ceremony for the first 28 employees to graduate from these two programmes was attended by Bernard Hayot, CEO of GBH, Stéphane Hayot and Rodolphe Hayot, executive officers of GBH, and Olivier Le Fournier, Assistant Dean of Neoma Business School. Now well mastered, the department manager programme has also been adapted to Reunion Island with Neoma Business School, and in Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana with Université des Antilles.

With the introduction of the work-study programme “Distrisup”, certified by the enterprise and national universities network, the mission of GBH in partnership with the EGC business school in Martinique and the IAE management school on Réunion Island is to train young people in sales and retail trades.

Eleven students from Réunion Island and 20 from the French West Indies and French Guiana have started their one-year course, alternating classes and a job at GBH subsidiaries with the aim of becoming aisle managers.

The objective of this course is to train professionals who are already working as well as young people studying three essential retail skills: business, logistics and management. They share their experience along the entire team of professionals who guide them on their journey!

Over 10 years, GBH has trained almost 180 employees in retail trades in view of giving them the keys to occupying management positions at Carrefour, Mr. Bricolage and Decathlon stores.

GBH and Université des Antilles Foundation: “Working together for training and employment”

GBH and the University of the French Antilles and University of Guyana have been carrying out concrete actions since 2010 in order to provide professional training to students. This partnership was strengthened in 2011 with the creation of the GBH-Université des Antilles Guyane Partnership Foundation “Working together for training and employment”, which has become the GBH – Université des Antilles Foundation since the university’s separation in 2014. It’s a partnership at national level, based on the idea of moving on to universities’ Liberties and Responsibilities of Universities (RCE) and government university reforms.

A host of actions are carried out by GBH and the Université des Antilles Foundation of which the aims are clearly defined:
- Promote student openness towards the Caribbean: proposing internships in the Caribbean in the group’s companies 
- Raise awareness among young people about higher education and the business world: GBH executives’ involvement to lead conferences, take part in coaching sessions or CV workshops. 
- Professionalise the training programmes: creation of a Master specialising in IT or sales
- Develop close and supportive relationships with students: organisation of the Job and Career Forums on university campuses each year.
- Reward excellence with thesis prizes. 

The UA – GBH partnership foundation was created for a duration of 5 years. It was extended for the same duration in 2017, and has a €150,000 budget allocation and is managed by a board of directors with 12 members, 8 from the University, 4 from GBH:
-Its Chair is Eustase Janky, president of the University of the French Antilles since 2017,
-Stéphane Hayot (MD of GBH) is director of the GBH-UA Foundation; Bernard Hayot (CEO of GBH), Rodolphe Hayot (MD of GBH) are directors of this Foundation and highly involved in the running of it.

The Job and Career Forums, organised in Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana for 8 years.
In 2019, the GBH-UA Foundation organised, on one hand, and within the framework of the GBH and University of Guyana partnership on the other, the ninth edition of the student Job and Career Forums. This involves interactive meetings between students, (from the University of the French Antilles, preparatory classes, BTS (advanced vocational diploma), EGC (business school)…), teachers and business executives to give students practical information on different professions, how to enter them and career prospects. In addition, these Forums are also the means to meet professionals directly on their company stands and have pre-selection interviews in response to internship offers. More than 100 professionals get involved each year to reach almost 500 young people per territory.

Creation of the Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution “Department Management – Distrisup Management” in partnership with the GBH UA foundation and the University of Rouen
As part of its commitment to the professional integration of young people, the GBH – Université des Antilles (UA) Foundation has introduced, in partnership with the University of Rouen Normandy and the DistriSup* Management Network, a Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution “Department Management – Distrisup Management”. This work-linked course, which takes into account the changes that are currently taking place within the distribution sector, aims to prepare students and working professionals for executive positions. Implemented in 2018, the first class of the Vocational Degree in Business and Distribution has 13 students and takes places as a work-study programme, with 14 weeks spent at the university and 32 weeks in the company. This training programme is given by the UA and University of Rouen faculty and Distribution professionals. 

Sponsorship of first-year engineering students
Launched in 2012 in partnership with the École nationale supérieure des ingénieurs en arts chimiques et technologiques – Ensiacet (National School of Engineers in Chemical and Technological Arts), the INP (National Polytechnic Institute) of Toulouse and the Guadeloupe Regio, the engineering training programmes have about 80 students enrolled each year. GBH supports first year students studying the Energy Systems speciality and Materials Engineering speciality: they have the opportunity to do their internships in the Group’s companies, the Group’s managers give lectures and coach them throughout the year (preparing their CV, job interview…). 

In 2015, the UA-GBH Foundation created a professional training degree, Miage (computer-based methods applied to business management), in Guadeloupe, including coaching sessions for several hundred students looking for internships or employment and a contribution to the fees of a language course abroad for ten students.

In 2012, UAG won first prize in the “Relationships with companies” category during the MCE Awards (national awards for the innovations of universities and prestigious schools). The jury recognised the various tools and actions implemented by UAG, such as its proactive policy to bring together local economic players, which includes the UAG-GBH Foundation.

In 2011, the UAG and GBH created a Department Manager university diploma (Dumar). Adapted to the real needs of the mass retail sector in the French Antilles-Guyana, this bachelor degree level work-study programme relies on experienced professionals who provide students with the skills and techniques required of department managers and the educational content of higher university education. Fifteen of the 20 students of the first class obtained their diploma. Twenty-six students graduated from the second class.

GBH’s companies and EGC (School of management and business) of Reunion Island formed a strong relationship very early on. The agreement signed at the end of 2010, which marks a new stage in their relations, formalises this connection between GBH and the world of education. Its main objective is to help more EGC students undertake internships and market research in the Group’s companies, and support excellence by rewarding the best students of each year.

Since 2004, GBH, the local education authority and Bellepierre Secondary School have signed an agreement whose ambition is twofold: to bring the worlds of education – students in the preparatory classes for prestigious business schools and faculty – and business together, but also share the same requirements of consistency, competence and performance.

GBH proposes and finances internships abroad which reflect its desire to equip students with an open-minded attitude towards the world. The Group also offers internships in its various companies, in the territories where it is established, thus providing students with a first successful professional experience. The recipients of these two types of internships are selected after an interview with juries composed of members of the Group’s human resources managers and executives.

Created in 2012, the alumni network’s database aims to optimise the interaction between young graduates and the company. Through this network, business school students have easy access to internship offers within GBH, and graduates at the end of the course are informed of GBH job offers, both in Reunion Island and in other territories where GBH is established.

Lastly, the high school-business synergy was strengthened with the opening of work-study master's degree in chartered accounting (DSCG) at Bellepierre Secondary School, set up in association with the Greta de La Réunion Neotech III. This programme hosts interns from GBH and external companies who are under professional training contracts or professional training periods.

GBH is also a partner of the site www.reunionnaisdumonde.fr.