UIMM Occitanie LR, a player for Montpellier, Positive Industry

Project: a resource center for the industry of the future

“In our discussions with the Metropolitan Council for Positive Industry, we contribute our in-depth knowledge on local companies,” adds Simon Philibert.

Presided by Luc Martin, CEO of the Optitec group in Vendargues, UIMM Occitanie LR has 175 members (totaling 3,900 employees) around the greater Montpellier metropolitan area, including Horiba Medical, Profils Systèmes, Atole, ECP, Kawneer, Solem, ESII, IES Synergy, and more. 600 industry companies are partners of the federation’s Training Department. Driving industrial momentum, UIMM Occitanie LR is very active with training, including both work-study and ongoing professional education. The department is led by Etienne Léa, director of Captels in Saint Mathieu de Tréviers, just north of Montpellier. 

“We train about 600 people via work-study programs, with levels ranging from vocational aptitude certificates to third year of university,” explains Simon Philibert. Our goal, which is ambitious, is to increase that figure by 50% within the next five years. Industry is a sector for the future, and we need to train the next generation.”

Another major project for UIMM Occitanie LR is also in the works: creating a resource center at Station M dedicated to tomorrow’s industry. “It could be a flagship site for the positive industry, where industrial companies can get together, share information, and innovate.”

The second Metropolitan Council for Positive Industry workshop is scheduled for January 10, at the EDF Group facility in Montpellier. After the workshops, an industrial policy roadmap for the Montpellier Métropole area, covering the 2020-2040 period, will be elaborated jointly and presented in the spring.