Icam and Equans Sign a Strategic Partnership to Train the Talent Driving the Energy and Digital Transition

Entreprises Grands Partenaires
23 Jun 2025

On June 18, Equans France—a global leader in energy and services—and Icam signed a strategic three-year partnership focused on training the engineers and professionals of tomorrow. These future talents will be key players in addressing the urgent challenges of the energy, industrial, and digital transition.

The partnership was signed by Stéphane Vallée, HR Director of Equans France, and Gilles Vandecaveye, CEO of Icam.

A Partnership to Accelerate Recruitment and Strengthen the Energy Sector

This collaboration spans all Icam campuses and aims to bridge the gap between higher education and the business world. It includes a range of initiatives such as:
• Guest lectures and educational contributions from Equans professionals,
• Participation in recruitment forums,
• Opportunities for students to engage in real-world company projects through hands-on learning modules,
• Priority access to internships, apprenticeships, and job placements,
• Site visits to various Equans innovation labs.
The partnership was officially signed at Icam’s Grand Paris Sud campus, located close to the Equans Lab in Lieusaint—a hub dedicated to developing smart city solutions. Students will be able to participate in related projects as part of their academic experience.

This national framework also enables targeted, locally adapted actions on each campus, such as recruitment events, brand awareness activities, and an annual 100% Equans event hosted on one of the Icam campuses.

“Our recruitment needs are significant: more than 5,000 permanent and apprenticeship positions to fill each year, including 150 to 200 for young engineers. But young people first need to know who we are! This partnership is a strategic lever to raise awareness about our professions among curious, hands-on, well-trained students who share our values,” explained Stéphane Vallée, HR Director of Equans France.

Equans also seeks to actively involve young engineers in its key missions: decarbonization, energy efficiency, and digital transformation—across factories, buildings, and public infrastructure.

Alongside the signing, attendees took part in discussions and inspiring testimonials on education and innovation, with the presence of many alumni and students.

Icam’s Production School: A Model of Inclusion, Rooted in Industrial Realities

This new agreement builds on a 2024 partnership with Icam’s production school—a unique model that trains young people aged 15 to 18, often facing academic difficulties, through real orders from businesses. These programs focus on high-demand technical fields such as machining and electrical work.
Since its opening in 2021, the production school in Lieusaint—Île-de-France’s first of its kind—has shown outstanding results: 75% CAP (vocational diploma) pass rate and 100% employment rate.

Currently, the school trains students in two high-demand industrial sectors: machining and industrial electricity. These skill sets are directly aligned with Equans France’s needs in industrial performance, technical maintenance, and energy installations.

“I strongly believe in the production school model. Training young people through a hands-on ‘learning by doing’ approach is essential. It’s also a shared responsibility: to give them a chance, a profession, and a future. The school and the company share the same spirit and values,” said Richard Dujardin, CEO of Equans Netherlands & Switzerland and Icam board member.

Equans is deepening its commitment by actively supporting the employability of these young people, including through real, hands-on educational projects.

“This partnership with Equans reflects our dual mission: to train engineers who are socially engaged and grounded in industrial reality, while also supporting young people in difficulty toward meaningful careers. It represents an alliance of innovation, progress, and practical solutions—a powerful lever to imagine and build a more sustainable future. The trust placed in us by a major player like Equans is a strong signal. It validates our human-centered approach and the quality of our educational programs,” emphasized Gilles Vandecaveye, General Manager of Icam.

👉 The partnership highlighted by several media outlets, including: :

A tour of the Equans Lab was organized, along with a visit to Icam’s production school.