Old industrial areas
Good practice case study
Vitamine T, France
Vitamine T is a group of 37 social enterprises, mostly in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region in France, committed to addressing the social and economic consequences of unemployment. It does this by operating enterprises that operate in competitive product markets, across many diverse sectors, yet create integration routes into employment. For each individual helped, Vitamine T offers an insertion route, customised to the individual and taking into account his or her levels of confidence and competencies.
Lessons learned from the experience of Vitamine T are that:
- a welcome period is important in enabling the individual to readjust to working life;
- preparation for employment is best gained from working in a real job, which will allow the development of personal and professional skills;
- it is necessary to allow for a period of transition to mainstream employment, which can include external work placements.
