Diversity and Inclusion
Promoting gender balance in technical roles
Testimonial
EI joined CERTIFER as a Project Manager in 2015 and moved into a Lead Assessor role, working on international projects in Turkey, Tunisia, Denmark, and Italy. My desire for international mobility brought me to Canada in 2025 to support the opening of our new Montreal subsidiary. Today, I lead a local team—recruiting and training new talent—while managing international projects. This experience has brought me closer to our customers and allowed me to break out of the routine; crossing the Atlantic has given my career fresh momentum.
Preventing sexism and raising awareness amongst staff
“Together, let’s say NO to sexism”
Launched in France in 2022 and expanded to Spain in 2024, this internal campaign raises awareness among all employees regarding the reality and impact of sexism in the workplace.
In 2025 :
- An educational guide was made available to help identify sexist situations, reiterate reporting procedures, and encourage appropriate behavior;
- Training and awareness sessions supplemented these tools to permanently embed respect and equality into daily professional life.
Supporting every employee with a disability
Apave is strengthening its commitment to disability inclusion by establishing a network of Disability Coordinators to support employees throughout their careers.
A dedicated external point of contact provides confidential advice, support, and follow-up.
Practical tools have been introduced to reinforce this initiative:
- A self-diagnostic tool to help employees navigate the process of obtaining official disability status;
- An educational brochure, “Apave and Disability,” designed to inform and raise awareness across the Group.
Apave continues to champion disability issues through a network of Disability Liaison Officers, with the aim of supporting staff throughout their careers.
Testimonial
How was your work environment adapted?
I joined Apave four years ago. Because my integration was so positive, I wanted to share my story. I have an invisible disability that requires specific routines to maintain my health and balance. As a result, I benefited from flexible working hours and specialised equipment, including an automatic car and an ergonomic seat.
The benefits of disclosing your status?
While it isn't always easy, being open about your status can start a constructive dialogue. Once an employer is informed, they can better understand your needs and implement the necessary adjustments. Having your disability and requirements officially recognised makes you feel empowered in your requests and fosters a safe, supportive work environment. There is no reason to feel ashamed of a disability.
What has this experience ment to you?
Because I was supported so well when I arrived, I decided to become a local Disability Coordinator at Apave to set an example and help other colleagues facing similar challenges.
Gender balance and inclusion are essential: they are at the heart of our performance and our responsibility. Talent and skills have no gender. Our role is to create the conditions to attract and develop talent, and to allow everyone to reach their full potential. In engineering and expert professions that are still largely male-dominated, this requires a proactive, long-term policy supported at every level of the company. Our ambition is to show that these careers are exciting and accessible to everyone, everywhere in the Group. Diversity is a lever for performance and innovation: it enriches decision-making and improves results. This is how we make our activities both fairer and more effective.
