 |
UNITED KINGDOM
New
|
- France offers huge scope for business creation in personal services
London - 04/08/09
04 August 2009 – The personal-services sector in France has been one of the fastest growing sectors of the French economy over the last 15 years, with turnover more than doubling from €6bn to €14.2bn between 1996 and 2007. The French personal-services sector, which includes childcare and care for the elderly, currently employs 2 million people, and has created more than 100,000 jobs every year since 2006.
The French National Personal-Services Agency (ANSP – Agence Nationale des Services à la Personne) was created in 2005 to guarantee the quality of services being offered by companies and other bodies pre-approved by the agency. The ANSP is responsible for the promotion, development and quality of personal services which facilitate the daily life of individuals, families and dependants.
With a view to boosting demand for jobs in this sector and improving quality standards, the French authorities and industry professionals are encouraging approved personal-services providers (OASPs – organismes agréés de services à la personne) to adhere to a quality certification scheme.
The reduction in social-security contributions and the introduction of tax credits for private individuals and businesses, amounting to 50% of annual expenses incurred, have helped reduce the cost of such services. Moreover, universal employment service vouchers (CESU – chèque emploi service universel) have simplified payment procedures and can, in some cases, lead to cost savings thanks to an advance funding scheme. This approach has been strengthened by the EU Services Directive, which aims to create a European market for services free of legal and administrative barriers.
There has been a rise in the number of personal-services providers, particularly from the private sector. In France today, there are over 7,000 personal-services providers, including international companies such as NESS Corporation, a Japanese private crèche provider which opted to expand initially in Europe, choosing France as the location for its European headquarters (NESS Enfants SAS in Paris). The high birth rate in France and the quality of the French education system were also factors in this decision.
Growth in the childcare sector in France is set to continue in the coming years due to population changes. The relatively high birth rate, which has been around 13 births per 1,000 inhabitants for a number of years (and which was the highest birth rate in Europe in 2008), has resulted in increased demand for childcare. Urbanization and the rising number of women in the workplace are leading to domestic tasks being delegated and to a greater need for personal services.
According to INSEE (French Office for National Statistics), the number of people aged 60 and over will increase by 56% to 19.7 million in 2030, up from 12.6 million in 2005. By 2030, the over-80 age group will also have risen to 4.8 million, or 7.2% of the population, up from 4.5% at present.
“In France, the professionalization and growth of personal services are creating numerous opportunities for companies in the sector – business start-ups, partnerships, buy-outs or franchises with large distribution or service companies (such as banks and insurance companies) – allowing them to add personal services to their existing ventures. International companies are justifiably interested in these burgeoning business activities and are taking advantage of the situation in France and the liberalisation of the sector throughout the European Union,” says David Appia, President of the Invest in France Agency.
About Invest in France (IFA)
The Invest in France Agency (IFA) promotes and facilitates international investment in France. The IFA network operates worldwide. IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors business opportunities and customized services all over France.
For more information about this press release, please contact Martin Hedges, Director of Communications at the Invest in France Agency in London: mhedges@investinfrance.org
For further information, please go to: www.investinfrance.org
France offers huge scope for business creation in personal services
04 August 2009 – The personal-services sector in France has been one of the fastest growing sectors of the French economy over the last 15 years, with turnover more than doubling from €6bn to €14.2bn between 1996 and 2007. The French personal-services sector, which includes childcare and care for the elderly, currently employs 2 million people, and has created more than 100,000 jobs every year since 2006. The French National Personal-Services Agency (ANSP – Agence Nationale des Services à la Personne) was created in 2005 to guarantee the quality of services being offered by companies and other bodies pre-approved by the agency. The ANSP is responsible for the promotion, development and quality of personal services which facilitate the daily life of individuals, families and dependants.
With a view to boosting demand for jobs in this sector and improving quality standards, the French authorities and industry professionals are encouraging approved personal-services providers (OASPs – organismes agréés de services à la personne) to adhere to a quality certification scheme.
The reduction in social-security contributions and the introduction of tax credits for private individuals and businesses, amounting to 50% of annual expenses incurred, have helped reduce the cost of such services. Moreover, universal employment service vouchers (CESU – chèque emploi service universel) have simplified payment procedures and can, in some cases, lead to cost savings thanks to an advance funding scheme. This approach has been strengthened by the EU Services Directive, which aims to create a European market for services free of legal and administrative barriers.
There has been a rise in the number of personal-services providers, particularly from the private sector. In France today, there are over 7,000 personal-services providers, including international companies such as NESS Corporation, a Japanese private crèche provider which opted to expand initially in Europe, choosing France as the location for its European headquarters (NESS Enfants SAS in Paris). The high birth rate in France and the quality of the French education system were also factors in this decision. Growth in the childcare sector in France is set to continue in the coming years due to population changes. The relatively high birth rate, which has been around 13 births per 1,000 inhabitants for a number of years (and which was the highest birth rate in Europe in 2008), has resulted in increased demand for childcare. Urbanization and the rising number of women in the workplace are leading to domestic tasks being delegated and to a greater need for personal services.
According to INSEE (French Office for National Statistics), the number of people aged 60 and over will increase by 56% to 19.7 million in 2030, up from 12.6 million in 2005. By 2030, the over-80 age group will also have risen to 4.8 million, or 7.2% of the population, up from 4.5% at present.
“In France, the professionalization and growth of personal services are creating numerous opportunities for companies in the sector – business start-ups, partnerships, buy-outs or franchises with large distribution or service companies (such as banks and insurance companies) – allowing them to add personal services to their existing ventures. International companies are justifiably interested in these burgeoning business activities and are taking advantage of the situation in France and the liberalisation of the sector throughout the European Union,” says David Appia, President of the Invest in France Agency.
About Invest in France (IFA)
The Invest in France Agency (IFA) promotes and facilitates international investment in France. The IFA network operates worldwide. IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors business opportunities and customized services all over France. For more information about this press release, please contact Martin Hedges, Director of Communications at the Invest in France Agency in London: mhedges@investinfrance.org
For further information, please go to: www.investinfrance.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kate AMBLER – Press Officer
UBIFRANCE Press Office in London
Telephone: 020-7235-5330
Email: kate.ambler@ubifrance.fr
Web site: www.ftpb.co.uk
UBIFRANCE UK #3294