La Cravate Solidaire: promoting equal opportunities in the workplace

What motivated the creation of La Cravate Solidaire?

La Cravate Solidaire is a network of associations set up in 2012 based on the observation that some jobseekers don’t have the means to buy the clothes they need to pass an interview and join the world of work. To help them, we decided to gradually build up a large dressing room thanks to donations from individuals, collections from companies and partnerships with brands. Every year, our initiative enables 15,000 applicants to find clothes (suits, tailoring, etc.) that they feel comfortable in and that match the company’s codes. This is an important way of combating discrimination in recruitment, by limiting as far as possible recruitment bias linked to physical appearance.

To take this approach a step further, we have set up a series of workshops called “Coup de Pouce”. Participants not only choose their outfit, but also benefit from image coaching and HR coaching, during which our volunteers – many of whom are working – teach them how to master the codes of the interview. Finally, they are photographed in a professional studio. Another longer-term initiative: a mentoring scheme can also be offered to help candidates on their way to employment (CV formatting, interview preparation, etc.).

The Covivio Foundation supports your association. How did you meet?

A call for expressions of interest issued by the Covivio Foundation in 2021 was an opportunity for our two organisations to get together. Our fruitful discussions enabled the Foundation to ensure that the association’s actions were in line with its own values – in particular the promotion of equal opportunities. For our part, we were impressed by the seriousness with which the Foundation approached our relationship, its interest in our actions and its willingness to make a long-term commitment.

What does this commitment mean in practical terms?

First of all, it takes the form of financial support over several years – currently until 2027. This gives us invaluable visibility so that we can support our project. More specifically, this support will enable us to carry out initiatives in Paris and Metz, where Covivio and our association are based. Support for around a hundred young people is financed each year in each of these areas.

At the same time, Covivio employees are involved in a variety of ways. Firstly, by taking part in clothing collections organised in several of the Group’s buildings in Paris, Metz, Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille. These collections take place throughout the Covivio portfolio, enabling the Group’s customers to take part. In 2024, over 460 kg of clothes were collected from 16 buildings.

In Paris and Metz, employees have the opportunity to volunteer their time to sort the clothes collected. Some also share their expertise by mentoring applicants.

Finally, Covivio has provided us with 200 m² of premises at the Cap 18 site in Paris. This is a major asset for us: we can store and sort all the outfits donated by partner brands. This has enabled us to take on the change in scale of our dressing room, for which we now receive 50,000 new items a year.

What are the next big projects for La Cravate Solidaire?

We’re facing increasing demand from applicants. One of our priorities is therefore to strengthen our activities by developing our network of local associations. A new branch is due to open every year across France (Toulouse in 2025). Our aim is to support 20,000 people a year by 2027, compared with 15,000 today.

At the same time, we want to carry out in-depth work to encourage more inclusive recruitment. To do this, we will be seeking to raise the awareness of more and more recruiters and managers, in particular through a non-discrimination training course that we have designed.