Construction & Public Works
In France, the Construction and Public Works sector represents nearly 430,000 companies generating €140 billion in revenue each year. Major players such as Vinci, Bouygues, Eiffage, Colas and Legrand operate internationally on large-scale building, public works, civil engineering or electrical equipment projects. However, there is also a large number of local SMEs, very small companies and individual craftsmen who offer their services in structural work, finishing work, fittings and finishes, woodwork or locksmith work.
Multiple factors have an impact on the evolution of construction markets: the economic context, public procurement investment cycles, material prices, interest rates, household purchasing power, quantitative and qualitative impacts of sociological and demographic changes.
Following the strong economic downturn in 2009, the repercussions of the crisis are still being felt. In 2013, business volume kept contracting on the national market by 3 to 4%, leading to the loss of several thousands of jobs. Today, this explains why companies may seek the assistance of a recruiting firm specialized in Construction & Public Works to find the right candidates.
The Construction Industry in France: what’s at stake
The demand from institutional and private clients for a comprehensive service offer that is not fragmented between different trade bodies calls for a necessary reorganization. For smaller companies, this means implementing a supply strategy with the development of commercial services. This is exemplified by the trend in multiple contracting authorities. The order is divided into several sequenced batches: structural work/roofing/rainproofing and draftproofing; technical work (electricity, heating); finishing work (painting, woodwork). One party is appointed to coordinate the whole project. Cooperation between several SMEs then becomes a possible solution.
The new public-private partnership agreements mostly impact public works companies and increase the private actors’ responsibilities from design to implementation. They require a more horizontal organization as well as training throughout the whole supply chain, in particular for support functions:
- Marketing: feasibility study, commercial, project management;
- Project design and development;
- Research and methodology;
- Financial engineering;
- Project management and maintenance, as well as legal proficiency in maintenance contracts.
Ordering institutions’ requirements in terms of quality, security and the environment are growing. Firms respond by developing integrated QSE management systems to meet quality standards, sustainability and security requirements on work sites.
Companies and their employees must continuously adapt to the technical and material evolutions of the industry: numerical control machines, complex embedded technologies in equipment, robotization, new higher performance materials, smart work sites, mobile computing.
The industrialization of the Construction & Public Works industry aiming at cutting costs and time while increasing productivity will have a strong impact on craftsmanship.
To respond to shorter delays, quality and sustainability requirements while guaranteeing profitability, companies have developed “project by project” management in real time, with strong project supervision and greater team autonomy favoring versatility. In this framework, a recruiting firm specialized in Construction & Public Works helps find the right profile in a timely manner.
We source talent for the following functions in the Construction industry:
- Construction Manager
- Site Manager
- Team Supervisor
- Head of Research & Construction
- Operations Director
- Head of Market Research
- Land Developer
- Business Manager
- Civil/Building Engineer
