On Friday 16 September, at the Wallace Collection, in London, Mr Bernard Emié, France’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, unveiled the Grand Prix VIE 2011 awards. The awards ceremony was organised by the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE and the British chapter of France’s Counsellors for Foreign Trade on the 10th anniversary of the launch of the VIE programme by the French government.    “The submissions reflected the diversity of the profiles and the range of competences that our young talents make the most of, as part of the VIE programme,” explained Hervé Ochsenbein, Director of the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE    in London, in his speech, given before the announcement of the winners.   The candidates for the awards had to hand in a dossier in print together with a video-clip presenting their project and achievements. As the judges, who were members of the British chapter of France’s Counsellors for Foreign Trade (known in French as Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur de la France or CCEF), underlined, the decision was not easy to make, since all the applicants showed a wide range of skills and qualities — the ability to see the big picture, charisma, adaptability, creativity and self-determination.   Rémi Campagne has successfully developed the operations of Magellium’s British subsidiary and won the prize for best Professional Project . The prize included a one-day high-performance car experience, courtesy of Renault UK, together with a cash prize of £700. Magellium is a medium-sized company specializing in imaging technology for the aerospace and defence sector. The second prize in this category went to Solène Doukhan of automotive group PSA. The prize for best Entrepreneurial Project was given to Antoine Quentin, who works for Mobilitas, the international furniture remover. The prize included a coaching session with a member of CCEF, as well as a cash prize of £1,200. Antoine Quentin wants to set up a pan-European and dynamic web-based platform whose aim will be to better defend the interests of medium-size companies.   For the first time since its launch, the Grand Prix VIE in the UK was sponsored by several leading companies, which made it possible to broaden the range of prizes and for the winners to get prizes in kind as well as cash prizes. The sponsors were Air France, Bongrain, Bouygues UK, Eurostar, Maileva, Pernod Ricard, Roset UK and Véolia.   “We wish the winners of the Grand Prix VIE 2011 all the best for their promising future career,” says Isabelle Tibayrenc, who is in charge of the VIE programme at the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK.

The Grand Prix VIE 2011 will be awarded at the Wallace Collection, in the heart of London, on 16 September, in the presence of Mr Bernard Emié, French Ambassador to the United Kingdom. The Grand Prix VIE 2011 is organized jointly by France’s Counsellors for Foreign Trade (CCEF) and the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK. For the third year, the prizes will reward young and talented post-graduates employed in Britain under the VIE scheme.   VIEs who have been working in the UK for over six months are invited to submit a dossier highlighting their performance or showcasing an entrepreneurial project. The two winners will benefit from various prizes obtained through partnerships, including coaching sessions provided by a member of the British section of CCEF. This year, participants have to create a video-clip to complete the printed material they submit and to illustrate, with creativity, their achievements. Two categories have been defined: Professional Project and Personal Project . Both categories are resolutely turned towards the future, in order to underline the VIE scheme’s raison d’être — to boost the international career of young graduates, and to help French companies in their export drive.

  The VIE Department of the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK is organizing a Recruitment Day for Gide Loyrette Nouel, a leading international law firm, tomorrow, Thursday 18th November 2010, on the premises of the French Trade Commission, in the heart of London.  In order to recruit a new lawyer, representatives of Gide Loyrette Nouel will be meeting 6 candidates identified by our Matchmaking Department in UBIFRANCE Marseille.  Among those candidates, 4 are currently based in Paris. The VIE Department has arranged and paid for their transportation. This matchmaking event fits in with the objectives and remit of the VIE Department, whose aim is to help French companies and their subsidiaries identify and recruit new talents under the VIE Programme. The VIE Department at the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London is run by Ms Emmanuelle Mendy. The VIE Programme is run by UBIFRANCE, France’s export-support agency, from its offices in Marseille. The VIE Programme helps young graduates from France and other EU countries find employment outside France, working for local subsidiaries of French-based businesses.  

On Thursday 9 September 2010 was held the Awards ceremony for the 2nd Grand PRIX VIE run by UBIFRANCE and the French Foreign Trade Advisors in the United Kingdom (CCEF UK). The two winners were announced during a gala dinner run by CCEF UK, which was held in the House of Lords, in the heart of London. The Awards ceremony took place in a most prestigious venue – at the Palace of Westminster, in the House of Lords – and further to an invitation from Lord Janvrin, Chair of Trustees, Entente-Cordiale Scholarship Scheme. The ceremony took place in the presence of Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, the Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom; Jean-Louis Latour, General Delegate of the French National Committee of Counsellors for International Trade (or CNCCEF); Claude Bébéar, Chairman of the Institut Montaigne; Robin Niblett, Director of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (the most prestigious and influential British think-tank); and Hervé Ochsenbein, Director of the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK. The 2010 Grand PRIX VIE rewarded the most successful assignments of the VIE programme in the UK. Two young graduates employed under the VIE scheme in the United Kingdom came with their tutors, and they were given a prize, in recognition of the projects they have successfully carried out for their companies during their assignment. The winners were carefully selected by UBIFRANCE as well as a jury composed of  CCEF UK members, who wished to reward outstanding VIE employees for their proven initiative and for their impressive contribution to the development as well as the performance of their company. The prize in the Limited Companies Category was awarded to Mr Peio LAHIRIGOYEN , who works for international energy group EDF ENERGY as a Demand Analyst. His one-year VIE contract started on 1 November 2009 and is due to end on 31 October 2010. The prize in the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Category was awarded to Mr Nicolas LECOINTE , who works for FLEXELEC UK , a company specializing in cables and flexible heating units, as Sales Manager. His 18-month VIE contract started on 1 October 2009 and is due to end on 31 March 2011. Additionally, a cash prize of € 1,000 was given to each winner by CCEF UK From left to right : Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom ; Jean-Louis Latour, General Delegate of the CNCCEF ; Peio Lahirigoyen of EDF Energy ; Nicolas Lecointe of Flexelec ; Bruno Deschamps, President of the UK Section of the French Counsellors for International Trade (CCEF) ; and Hervé Ochsenbein, Director of the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK. Written by Juveline Franchis