What is a Junior Enterprise? Why should you join this flagship association that is found in all French Grandes Écoles? We answer all your questions about this growing student movement.
What is a Junior Enterprise?
A Junior-Enterprise, otherwise nicknamed JE, is a student association present in business schools, but also engineering schools or universities. The objective is to allow students to professionalize, either by managing this association or by carrying out missions for professionals.
Indeed, Junior Enterprises enter into contracts with large companies, startups or SMEs to support them on very diverse subjects. Some specialize in the world of finance, others carry out audit missions, while some support product launches by analyzing customer feedback.
At the house of SKEMA Conseilfor example, the areas of expertise are quite broad. They range from improving the customer experience, to communication, through brand image or even employee experience. The SKEMA Junior-Enterprise has also worked with big names such as SNCF Réseau, Coca-Cola, Decathlon and GRDF. SKEMA Conseil even carried out a mission for Le Grand Débat National, an initiative launched by Emmanuel Macron.
Be careful, it takes time to create your Junior Enterprise. Indeed, you have to obtain different marks in order to obtain the JE mark. In short, the creation of an JE requires several criteria. The mark is never definitive, it can be downgraded to Junior-Initiative, if it no longer meets certain criteria.
The history of Junior Enterprises in France
The very first Junior-Enterprise was born in 1967 in a business school: ESSEC. Today it is the largest JE in France and Europe. The ESSEC Junior Enterprise generates a turnover of 1.8 million euros per year. Its president is therefore at the head of a real SME. The birth of the ESSEC Junior-Enterprise finds its origins in the desire of students to put into practice their courses which were too theoretical for their taste.
In 1969, the CNJE, National Confederation of Junior Enterprises, was born, the organization which unites and develops what is the largest student movement in France. This body established the excellence prize in 1987. It was only 30 years later that the CNJE was able to benefit from the Apprenticeship Tax.
Why join a Junior Enterprise?
Why join a Junior Enterprise? Quite simply because it is an extremely professional experience that makes the difference on the job market. Some presidents have to manage JEs whose turnover exceeds one million euros.
In addition to managing Junior Enterprises, those who carry out missions for JE clients can also showcase their skills and experience to recruiters. Today, a Junior Enterprise can work with very large groups who are attracted by the flexibility and talent of Grandes Écoles graduates. Furthermore, the functioning of JEs is sometimes close to consulting firms. Joining a Junior Enterprise can be an ideal springboard for working in this world.
Finally, in business schools and engineering schools, those who are asked to carry out missions and help Junior Enterprises can sometimes receive remuneration for their work. This can be a helping hand in financing your daily expenses.
For large groups, do they call on Junior Enterprises?
From startups to large groups, everyone is vying for Junior Enterprises. Indeed, SKEMA Conseil works with startups (Filolab, Dej Box, etc.) as well as with SMEs or public service players, proof that students from Grandes Écoles and universities attract all types of companies. But what can seduce them?
It is above all the flexibility, the speed, but also the fresh perspective of the student members of Junior-Entreprise which interests large groups, as demonstrated by Alain Charmeau, ex-CEO of ArianeGroup, with the CNJE : “ We work more and more with students, Junior Companies, because you bring us new ways of working, new skills that are not yet in the company, but also freshness, will, dynamism. . »
In addition, large groups appreciate that students can sometimes achieve much better results than the collaborators of said group. Jérôme Cruciani, marketing director of Airbus Interiors Services, was amazed by the work of the members of the TBS Junior-Enterprise: “ ESCadrille was able to carry out a complex study with 800 people in 4 countries, relying on its network of partners abroad (…). Very available and showing adaptability, the ESCadrille team coordinated the investigation from A to Z (…). A real plus for AIRBUS INTERIORS SERVICES. »
How to join a Junior Enterprise?
How Junior Enterprises operate depends on the school in which you are a student. Indeed, at HEC Paris, for example, you have to list to join HEC Junior Conseil. In other schools, a simple interview is enough. Finally, depending on the JE requirement, you may have to complete an exercise, such as a case during recruitment in a consulting firm. Again, this will be the perfect preparation for working in this universe.
Junior-Enterprise in business school
Here is the list of Junior Enterprises that you can find in your business school!
| School | Associations |
|---|---|
| Audencia | Audencia Junior Consulting |
| BSB | Burgundy Junior Consulting |
| EDHEC | EDHEC Junior Studies |
| EM Normandy | Normandie Junior Council |
| EM Strasbourg | Europe Studies |
| emlyon | emlyon junior consultancy |
| ESC Clermont | SEGMA |
| ESCP | ESCP Junior Conseil |
| ESSEC | Junior ESSEC Consulting |
| Excelia BS | Excelia Junior Consulting |
| GEM | GEM Junior Consulting |
| HEC | HEC Junior Conseil |
| ICN | ICN Junior Consulting |
| IMT-BS | Sprint |
| INSEEC | INSEEC Conseil |
| KEDGE Bordeaux | AMS Consulting |
| KEDGE Marseille | Mediterranean Marketing |
| M.B.S. | MBS Junior Consulting |
| NEOMA Reims | NEOMA Reims Conseil |
| NEOMA Rouen | Altéo Conseil |
| Rennes BS | Brittany Council |
| SCSB | Get Junior |
| SKEMA | SKEMA Conseil |
| Toulouse BS | Squadron |
