Discovering Initiative Gard, a network for people wishing to create, take over or develop their own business

Employees and volunteers from these professional and financial support structures join forces to make each project a reality, giving future managers a better chance of succeeding.

To find out more about the work of Initiative Gard, we spoke to Alice Jollivet, its Director.

INTERVIEW

Hello Alice,

Delighted to welcome you to the Vivre en Uzège et dans le Gard section of the blog,

Can you give us a brief introduction to the Initiative Gard Association?

Initiative Gard is part of the Initiative France network, the leading network of associations for financing and supporting business start-ups, takeovers and development. Created in 1985, Initiative France has strong local roots, with 207 associations spread throughout France - both metropolitan and overseas.

What is your team like?

We have 8 employees: 4 project managers, each with a geographical area to manage (Gard Rhodanien, including the communes of Uzès and Pont-du-Gard), Alès, Nîmes and Ganges-Le-Vigan. They are supported in their work by a company advisor, a deputy director, an administrative assistant and myself, the director.

We also have more than 400 volunteers, including company directors and business professionals such as bankers, chartered accountants, lawyers and insurers.

You offer loans...

Yes, we offer honour loans, which all have the same characteristics: personal loan, 0% interest rate to boost start-up cash flow or leverage a bank loan. The loans are tailored to the initial situation of the business owner: start-up, takeover or growth.

An honorary loan is a commitment and a personal risk. Legally, it counts as a capital contribution for the banks and can be used as leverage to obtain a bank loan. The honorary loan is totally in line with the solidarity and mutual aid advocated by Initiative Gard.

It provides real support to the future business owner, giving him or her a larger capital contribution or cash flow to start up.

Speaking of support... What support do you provide to the people you have helped?

Once the loans have been released, we continue to monitor our businesses. In addition to telephone and in-person support, we offer a wide range of support services.

The mentoring, provided by an active or retired volunteer expert, lasts for as long as is necessary and can cover all aspects of the life of the company and the posture of manager. This means that the know-how and skills of a company director or manager are made available to the entrepreneur, to improve his or her chances of success. In this way, the entrepreneur gets an answer to any commercial, administrative, legal, HR or communications questions he or she may have. Sponsorship sometimes breaks the isolation of the business owner and can open up a local network.

The flash mission: For any question relating to a very specific subject (HR, tax, employment, sales strategy, communications, etc.), a meeting is scheduled with an expert mentor.

Mystery visits... This very special type of visit provides an external, friendly assessment to help with the sales process. A volunteer expert visits the business anonymously and then contacts the manager for feedback.

Workshops, face-to-face or online.

One of the highlights in the life of Initiative Gard is the visits to sponsored businesses...

Yes, of course, this is part of our monitoring of the companies we support and finance.

In terms of events, we organise "Au cœur de l'Initiative" evenings twice a year in each employment area. These bring together the companies financed in the sector.

Not to be forgotten is the presentation of the financial support with a cheque, carried out in collaboration with the agglomeration communities and the Communities of Communes, the association's long-standing partners.

The aim of all these meetings is to enable business leaders to meet, forge links and, why not, forge partnerships.

Among the many projects supported by Initiative Gard

There are a number of addresses that are well known to the people of Uzès. These include Hydrolux in Pont-des-Charrettes, the optician Manon Favan, Du soleil et du pain bakery, Loggia catering, the La pizza du duché restaurant and La fille des vignes in Uzès...

In Montaren-et-Saint-Médiers, the caterer Une pincée de sel, in Saint-Siffret, the restaurant Ode des sens and in Vers-Pont-du-Gard, the authentic Pierre du Pont-du-Gard quarry.

Many thanks to Alice Jollivet, Director of Initiative Gard, and Isabelle Marien, Business Development and Communications Officer, for their contribution to this article.

The right address: Initiative Gard, 904 Avenue du Maréchal Juin, CS 83012, 30908 Nîmes. Contact: Tel: 04 66 62 80 57.