3 questions for Emmanuel Ledroit, Head of Human Resources

  • What are the main HR challenges facing the transport and logistics industry?
    The transport and logistics industry is now at a crossroads in regard to many challenges. First of all, the young generation is looking for meaning and flexibility in their approach to work (telecommuting, management of their free time, etc.). Second, it is a fast-paced, absorbing industry that is facing a shortage of human resources. It is also an industry that suffers from an image problem, and that we must make more attractive.
  • How do you meet these challenges?
    We are very active in communicating and promoting our career opportunities, such as recently on the French National Education system’s Melchior site, with Jean-Thomas Schmitt, with the aim of showing teachers the variety of careers available in our Group. Admittedly, commitment is one of the strong features of the supply chain industry and of our Group. Nevertheless, Heppner is recognised in the GPTW survey for its flexibility in taking time off, for example, and for its care for its employees’ well-being. We have also put in place a telecommuting agreement for the jobs where this is possible.
    Finally, regarding meaning, 72% of the employees questioned in the GPTW survey confirm that they find meaning in what they do, and that this is a key motivating factor.
  • What are Heppner’s specific challenges and how do you address them?
    They are challenges specifically related to the growing digitisation of our business lines. However, there are also CSR challenges that need to be understood and taken on board. Heppner strives for excellence and innovation, to be on the cutting edge of all issues, today and tomorrow. It is essential for us to find the best talent and nurture it through training and experience. Whether through student traineeships, internal development of our employees’ skills or Heppner University, our know-how belongs to the women and men who make up our company. 

Launch of climate, IT and biodiversity collage

This is a strategic training programme for the Group to ensure that all employees have a good knowledge of the ins and outs of climate change. The first collages were launched at the end of 2022 and will continue in 2023.

Objective: 300 employees trained in France in the International division by the end of 2023

The entrepreneurial culture: a Group asset

At Heppner, everyone is responsible for developing the means to achieve their goals: employees work with a high level of independence and subsidiarity; it is a truly enterprising culture. And this is reflected in the commitment of our teams, who find meaning in what they do in their daily work, as the latest GPTW survey has highlighted.

Heppner University: a talent nursery

Held every two years, the last Heppner University took place in 2022. It aims to:

1/ Teach: participants to develop their skills, as the Group’s future leaders, by giving them Heppner’s strategic vision, developing their leadership and helping them lay out their career plan.
2/ Build and collaborate: so as to develop an entrepreneurial culture among participants, Heppner’s DNA, by allowing a good idea to take form, mentoring and steering its progress, and taking risks.
3/ Create a structure-building project: by relying on networking and lobbying while participants organise themselves to operate as a team.

The main principles of Heppner University

  • A class of 25 talents from the field or recruited from schools, a “network” of different profiles that is built over time
  • 6 months of University with 2 to 3 days of meetings and work per month
  • Support by a coach: to work on public speaking skills in order to meet with members of the Executive Committee and prepare a presentation before a jury
  • 20 hours of individual work for project management support
  • A high-level competition undertaken in a friendly spirit

The University offers many benefits. For the Group, it fosters the emergence of ideas and projects that can become viable within a shorter or longer period. For example, in 2022, 3 of the 4 projects supported have been selected for roll-out. This allows everyone to make a contribution, in the spirit of initiative actively encouraged by Heppner. Also, our talents can propel their career forward and we can establish a long-term relationship with them. In the months following the University, a number of internal promotions are offered: there were 4 for positions of responsibility following the 2022 University.

Cécile Marcelino

Training and Skills Development Manager