The October 2020 publication of the magazine “l’officiel des transporteurs” is about Groupe Hautier RSE commitment (Social Responsibility of the Company). Our President, Pierre-Marie Hautier answers an interview.
In La Rochelle, Transport Hautier has decided in 2016 to use patronage in order to implement the RSE project through an agreement signed with Excelia Group (former Sup-de-Co). This agreement has been extended this year for 3 more years.
Officiel des transporteurs: Back then, what were your motivations?
PIERRE-MARIE HAUTIER: When we decided to implement the RSE project, we had two options: either ask an independent company to help us with a list of items to respect or choose a research chair by integrating teachers-researchers and students. The second option appears to be the best for all parties. Furthermore, Excelia Group is an important local actor in La Rochelle and we are convinced our company should contribute to the local economy.
So why choose a skill share patronage as part of the agreement signed with this group?
P.-M.H.: This agreement allows us to work together with teachers-researchers who gives us a theoretical vision of the ISO 26000 certification. This is key in order to try to best understand the RSE philosophy. On our side, we offer the teachers the possibility to observe the implementation of the RSE in a company. It gives them the opportunity to publish in famous magazines. Last year a case study about Groupe Hautier was done and published at national scale for all business schools. Moreover, students played a part on several occasions to implement actions directly at our company.
How was this partnership created?
P.-M.H.: As a former student of Excelia Group I am still connected to this school, I am part of the admission examination board. Beside the school is managed by CCI La Rochelle whose president is Thierry Hautier (Pierre-Marie’s father), so we had a good knowledge about the opportunities Excelia offers to help businesses.
What are the results?
P.-M.H.: The results are good because the RSE process has actually been part of Groupe Hautier for 5 years now. It helped us identify and implement practical actions. It is a process that constantly evolves and its final target is to be fully integrated in our quality management system. We are also convinced this partnership contributes to the local business school development and increases our brand awareness amongst students who will become tomorrow’s managers.
Is getting a tax deduction an advantage for you?
P.-M.H.: Of course it is. However choosing the research chair option is more expensive. The tax deduction was not our main motivation. We truly wanted to fully implement this process so that we could appreciate not only the completed actions but also the results on our local economic environment.
Why did you decide to extend this partnership for 3 years?
P.-M.H.: The next step is to integrate the RSE process to our quality management system. Today we are deploying SMIR (responsible and integrated management system). The idea is for the social responsibility of the company to be real and spontaneous at every level of the company. Every action should consider the idea of RSE. Our purchase, our management, our services provided and our local action should show our RSE commitment.
/ INTERVIEWED BY FLORENCE FALVY