Vilmorin & Cie - Annual report 2017-2018

ANNUAL REPORT Vilmorin & Cie 111 2017-2018 4 Recruitments / Departures: key figures 817 employees, including 151 with a permanent contract, were hired by Vilmorin & Cie during the course of fiscal year 2017-2018. Out of the total recruitments with fixed term contracts, 215 managers (32.28% of recruitments) were hired by Vilmorin & Cie over the course of fiscal year 2017-2018, representing 3.8% of the global permanent headcount. Among these recruitments (with fixed term contracts), 11.56% concerned young employees less than 26 years old, including 2.70% without any prior professional experience. At the same time, 649 employees left Vilmorin & Cie during fiscal year 2017-2018. Number of employees 15-16 16-17 17-18 Retired 73 73 99 Resigned 313 325 335 Discharged (individual and collective) 108 110 134 Others 75 86 81 Total 569 594 649 4.3.1.2 Attracting and retaining talents Development of the Group’s employer brand The Human Resources teams working in the Business Units and at corporate level worked together on the Group’s employer brand, and more globally on the notion of appeal, with the objectives of attracting and retaining talents. The subject of appeal is now a separate aspect of the HR strategy. Implementation through action plans will be initiated at the beginning of fiscal year 2018-2019. The “7 good reasons” for working for the Group remain at the heart of communication on the employer brand. 7 reasons Reason No. 1 - “Working in a committed and responsible company” Reason No. 2 - “Experiencing a human adventure that is enriching and unique” Reason No. 3 - “Combining international ambitions with local development” Reason No. 4 - “Evolving in diverse professions and cultures” Reason No. 5 - “Associating progress and performance in a cooperative approach” Reason No. 6 - “Innovating for modern, visionary and responsible agriculture” Reason No. 7 - “Taking action to meet food challenges” This employer brand is intended for potential applicants, but also for the Group’s employees. During the course of 2017-2018, new initiatives were undertaken to reinforce this approach, such as: The development of school relations in France and abroad, in particular through the beginning of a close relationship with the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands, the first school in the world ranking in the life sciences category. In the Group's home region, Auvergne, the partnership with ESC Clermont business school has developed around a strengthened contribution to the selection panels for admission, the presentation of the Company's businesses, courses given by the Group’s experts and support for the activities of the SquareLab (start-up incubator). The organization by HR Corporate teams of employer brand/ appeal workshops with HR representatives from the Business Units to collect specific needs and the changes expected. Continuing deployment of employer brand communication on the main social networks where the Group has an account: LinkedIn, Viadeo and Facebook. Deployment of the “Campus Management” approach to reinforce the Group’s action with schools and universities. Actions in favor of recruitment In order to accompany its development, Vilmorin & Cie needs young talents. To strengthen its action with schools and universities, the Company relies on its Campus Management program. About fifty volunteer employees and various training courses help HR teams to promote the Group in their former schools through their business expertise and their testimony in terms of career paths. Through this network of Campus ambassadors and privileged partnerships with targeted higher education institutions, Vilmorin & Cie is increasing its visibility. Campus ambassadors are a privileged contact in schools and universities to showcase career opportunities and promote the wide diversity of Vilmorin & Cie's business lines. They are an essential part of the recruitment process and play a key role in the early stages of the process, supporting the recruitment team and thus helping to identify the talent the group needs. In 2017-2018, Vilmorin & Cie ran nearly 40 actions: participation in business forums, round tables, organization of visits to companies in the group, sitting on juries, etc. In France, for example, Vilmorin & Cie continues to support the financing of the International Plant Breeding Chair at UniLaSalle, a leading engineering school specializing in agriculture, agri-food, food and health, environment and geosciences. The Plant Breeding Chair has just obtained the Erasmus Mundus label; it combines the excellence of the best European universities, the expertise of renowned seed and agri-food companies, young international high flyers and practical experience. 4.3. Conducting activities in an ethical, sustainable and effective manner Social, environmental and societal INFORMATION