On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, a decisive meeting was held at GARAC, the National School of Automotive and Mobility Professions, to promote long-term apprentice mobility within the framework of the Employers’ Club for a European Apprenticeship Area. Co-organized by Euro App Mobility (EAM), ANFA, and GARAC, this event aimed to show that international mobility, when integrated into the apprenticeship pathway, strengthens companies’ competitiveness and their attractiveness to young talent.
Chaired by Jean Arthuis, EAM President, this meeting brought together major figures from the economic and training sectors: Francis Bartholomé, President of Mobilians and OPCO Mobilités, Jean-Christophe Sciberras, coordinator of the Global Deal France platform, facilitator of the Employers’ Club for a European Apprenticeship Area, and Guillaume Faurie, General Delegate of ANFA. This meeting, held in an emblematic institution of the automotive and mobility services sector, took place a few days after ANFA organized Auto Skills Europe, which brought together over 100 mobility referents from vocational training organizations in 16 European countries.
All participants reaffirmed the need to make European mobility a strategic tool for skills development and inclusion in the business world.
OPCO Mobilités announces increased support for mobility
OPCO Mobilités took advantage of this meeting to reaffirm its commitment to European apprentice mobility. Through the joint voices of its President Francis Bartholomé and its General Director Isabelle Maimbourg, OPCO announced its intention to strengthen its mobility support policies, both financially and pedagogically. The objective: to better support CFAs and companies in implementing long-term mobility pathways, by removing technical, administrative, and logistical barriers that are still too frequent.
GARAC: a pioneering training institution, resolutely focused on Europe
Host of the meeting, GARAC has distinguished itself in recent years as a pioneering institution in the development of international apprentice mobility. Under the impetus of its President, Raymond Vié, and its Director, Laurent Roux, GARAC has successfully implemented concrete solutions to sustainably structure long-term mobility, notably by recruiting a full-time mobility referent, dedicated to organizing and monitoring stays in Europe. This strategic choice illustrates GARAC’s commitment to training professionals who are open to the world, capable of evolving in an automotive sector undergoing rapid international change.
Strong support from MEDEF 95
During this meeting, Frédéric Anfray, President of MEDEF Val-d’Oise, expressed unambiguous support for this dynamic. He agreed to take on the role of departmental spokesperson for the Employers’ Club for a European Apprenticeship Area. Through this commitment, he intends to mobilize local businesses around international mobility as a lever for HR innovation, apprentice retention, and a response to recruitment pressures.
Young people, ambassadors of European openness
A highlight of the meeting, the testimonies of young apprentices Vicky Bodas, Abdellatif Tlati, and Hilario Marti, who undertook two-month mobility periods in garages and car dealerships in Spain and Lithuania, captivated the audience. Through their accounts, they demonstrated that international mobility transforms their journey, strengthens their autonomy, and increases their employability. These young people are now the best ambassadors for European openness, carrying an inspiring message for their peers and for the companies that employ them.
Giving a voice to mentors and HR Directors
Finally, apprenticeship masters and human resources managers from the automotive sector were invited to speak. Their testimonies, rich in concrete experiences, particularly those within the companies of Rousseau Automobile Group and Vauban Group, highlighted the operational feasibility of long-term mobility and the measurable and sustainable benefits for teams and organizations. Their involvement is key to spreading a culture of mobility and reassuring other hesitant employers.
