Helping people create their own jobs

Unemployed to Entrepreneurs Initiative

This scheme was set up in 1993 in order to help would-be entrepreneurs start up their own businesses. The Agency's advisors are spread across three sites (Saint Aubin in the north, Evry and Etampes in the south).
They provide job-seekers with free and confidential advice that is tailored to their needs. Individual interviews, information on the economic environment, legal, fiscal, financial and welfare information, help in putting together and validating administrative applications, help in looking for financing, logistics help (lists of companies, telephone, fax, photocopier, postage) - services designed to help the entrepreneurs of these projects start up their businesses and create jobs in the best possible conditions
And should the entrepreneurs need training, the Essonne Development Agency is an authorized Cap Entreprise diagnostics centre (www.iledefrance.fr).

The route taken by the entrepreneurs

As soon as the would-be entrepreneur makes contact with the Essonne Development Agency, an individual meeting is set up with an advisor from the employment division.
There are a number of stages between inception and the company actually being set up:

1. First is the idea. The idea is not always a project and sometimes needs to be adapted, or even discarded.
2. Once the project has been properly defined, it has to be looked at from all angles (premises, suppliers, insurance, etc.)
3. Thought also has to be given to legal, fiscal and welfare issues.
4. Financial forecasts are produced, giving an indication of the project's feasability.
5. Applications for financial assistance can then be made.
6. All the above issues then have to be placed within the context of the real world and a client base established.
7. Everything is ready, all that remains is to give the project legal status so that it becomes a company. The company is now registered.

Achievements

Since it was set up, the Employment team has lent its support to more than 4,500 projects - nearly 1,700 companies have been created, including 1,000 still operational in 2005.
From 1993 to 2003, the Essonne Development Agency helped to create nearly 1,400 jobs.

Useful links

National bodies:

• www.apce.com
• www.travail.gouv.fr
• www.iledefrance.fr
• www.assedic.fr
• www.anpe.fr
• www.lamaisondesartistes.fr
• www.urssaf.fr

Structures in Essonne:

• www.essonne.fr
• www.essonne.cci.fr
• www.cm-essonne.fr

A full list of Essonne's partners in creation is available at:

• www.cree91.com

National business start-up networks:

• www.portage.asso.fr
• www.adie.org
• www.reseau-entreprendre.org
• www.fir.asso.fr

Welfare offices:

• www.organic.fr
• www.ava.fr
• www.canam.fr