👨‍🎓Special report on our work-study students: How do they see the industry?

How do you see the industry?

Emma Labert, Administrative and Communications Assistant in the Performance and Investment Department (DPI) - Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Communications at ESDES (UCLY): «Working in industry, and more specifically at Vicat, has changed my perception of this field. You might imagine it to be a cold and technical sector, but it turns out to be very interesting, full of opportunities, human challenges, and innovations. By completing my work-study program in an engineering department, I'm discovering a stimulating and constantly evolving environment.»

Anaïs Devillers, Sales Assistant at Vicat Aggregates - BTS NDRC at IDRAC BUSINESS SCHOOL: «Before working there, I knew very little about this sector. Now that I've got my feet wet in it, I realize how essential it is to our daily lives. Without aggregates, there are no roads, no homes, no schools. It's a solid industry, rooted in the region, and one that's evolving a lot, particularly on environmental issues. I was surprised to see how committed the sector's players are to doing things well, with respect for nature and regulations. It's a real, human world, and one that really deserves to be better understood.»

Lilian Ibanez, Application Manager for the French Concrete Division, Master 2 Expert in Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity option at AFIP Formation: «Industry is a unique sector, offering a rich training program and with its own unique characteristics. The diversity of profiles creates a very human environment.»

Amina Mahri, Assistant Metrologist at Sigma Béton, second-year BUT in Physical Measurements (MCPC) at IUT Annecy (Savoie Mont-Blanc University): «The concrete industry is often overlooked by the general public. During my first weeks with the group, I discovered the importance of this constantly evolving industry in meeting new needs and current challenges. This sector is a true breeding ground for innovation and transformation.»

Habib Mbow, Work-Study Engineer , École des Mines de Saint-Étienne (via ISTP): «I thought I knew the industry, but I didn't imagine that adjusting a mill or kiln could require so much rigor and craftsmanship. Over the past few months, I've been discovering a raw, vast, and demanding world. A factory where chemistry, mechanics, thermal engineering, and energy intersect. Everything is interconnected, and every detail counts. And above all, I'm discovering an industry that's changing, that's questioning itself, that's seeking to produce differently to minimize CO2 emissions. We encourage ideas and circularity. The La Grave-de-Peille cement plant (Alpes Maritimes) isn't a factory of the past; it's a laboratory of the future. I recommend any student interested in the best techniques and improvement to apply to a cement plant.»

Océlia Chevaleyre, HR Project Manager at Béton Vicat - Master 2 in Human Resources Management at IGS RH Lyon: «My work-study program at the Vicat Group allows me to explore the industrial sector: an innovative and dynamic field with a wide variety of profiles and careers.» 

Romain Ferraris, Traveling Technical Sales Representative at Vicat Industrial Products (VPI) - Dijon Business School: «Having already worked as a work-study student in a materials trading company, I was familiar with the construction industry. This new experience within the Vicat group, however, allows me to go further, by delving deeper into the technical aspects of the products and discovering the richness of interactions in the field. It's a dynamic, demanding sector, and it quickly becomes exciting once you fully commit to it.» 

Romeo Pinos de Sousa Faria, Inside Sales Representative, Béton Vicat, BUT Marketing Techniques, IUT Lyon 1: «I wasn't at all familiar with the cement and concrete industry, but rather with cooking. Well, in the end, it's a bit like that, but with different ingredients. It's a very interesting field, but also complex, with many challenges. It's a work environment where everyone has their place and where teamwork is essential. I understood that the future is being built today.»