Groupe La Varappe

When Laurent Laïk took over Groupe La Varappe in 1997, the association focused on construction services and developing green spaces. He widened the range of services by creating several companies and investing in areas with a future, such as renewable energies. Today, 85% of Groupe La Varappe’s income comes from the sales of its services, and in 2010 the group paid more than 700 salaries. In 2009, the turnover increased from 25% and the number of integrated employees increased by 19% . More than 65% of the employees who left La Varappe found a steady job with another employer.

Groupe La Varappe is composed of two main organizations. One uses its six agencies based in the south of France to focus on finding temporary employment for people with minimal qualifications. Many succeed in getting short-term contracts as painters, drivers, masons, and in other professions. The other organization focuses on three environmental areas: construction and green spaces, waste, and renewable energies. In renewable energies, the group intends to double its current activity through its work on a new large construction site. It is also developing an environmental self-service for companies and individuals. This activity proposes painting or plumbing services for the home, gardening and installing different types of renewable energy systems.

Since 2010, Groupe La Varappe has created a think tank charged with mapping out projects for the future development of the group, as well as new social programmes at the national level. One project currently under discussion concerns the transformation of shipping containers into low-cost houses for students and poor people. Groupe La Varappe also manages a camp of Romani people in the city of Aubagne.