The swimming pool manufacturer Desjoyaux creates its own masonry training centre
16/10/2020With high temperatures and the health crisis, the swimming pool manufacturer Desjoyaux is now growing fast, but is struggling to recruit qualified masons to install its swimming pools. In order to address this problem, the SME based in La Fouillouse, in the Loire, is creating a training centre in partnership with Pôle Emploi (the French job centre).
Following a period of uncertainty at the beginning of the lockdown, the swimming pool manufacturer Desjoyaux (240 employees; €91.9 M turnover), based in La Fouillouse (Loire), rapidly got back on track to growth. “At the end of February, we had recorded a 20% increase. The arrival of Covid slowed us down somewhat, but we will nevertheless be having an outstanding year, with growth of around 10%, a historic consolidated turnover that will exceed 100 million euros and very good profit also,” says the delighted CEO, Jean-Louis Desjoyaux.
€8 M invested to meet demand.
What are the reasons for this success? It is probably a combination of climate change and the Covid effect. In any case, this is the theory held by Jean-Louis Desjoyaux. “Temperatures have risen over the past four to five years. We are having very good summers, as well as warmer springs and autumns than in the past. There is also an underlying trend that is encouraging people in France to refocus on their main or secondary residences. They want a pitch to play boules, a bioclimatic pergola and a swimming pool. They want an outdoor living space for the spring, summer and autumn. The Covid effect has only supported this trend. French people rapidly realised that it would be difficult to go on holiday abroad. So, they invested in pools,” says the CEO.
And this trend does not look like it will end any time soon. “The prospects are excellent for the end of this year and 2021,” says Jean-Louis Desjoyaux, who has invested nearly €8 M over the past year to meet growing demand. “We are currently adding 800 m² of storage space, which will be ready next month. This will enable us to free up space to create a workshop, where we will be putting moulds and eight new injection presses to meet our growth needs. The only problem we have is with the recruitment and training of masons,” explains the head of the company.
A lack of qualified labour
Making and selling more pools is one thing, but finding qualified personnel to install them is another. To address this skills shortage, Jean-Louis Desjoyaux decided to contact Pôle Emploi to set up a training centre for masonry and swimming pool-related jobs. “The first two-month training session should begin by spring 2021. Initially, the aim is to train twenty or so masons, who will be recruited throughout France. We could later expand it to include training for electricians and plumbers,” says Jean-Louis Desjoyaux.
This training centre, in which the swimming pool manufacturer has invested €120 K, will complement the certified training centre that the Loire-based SME uses to provide internal training for its personnel. This centre recently recruited two new trainers to provide training within the Desjoyaux dealer network (which includes 165 outlets in France).
Article published on 17/09/2020 in ‘Le journal des Entreprises’
Gilles Cayuela