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In Ille-et-Vilaine, the social economy and solidarity represents some 3,800 establishments employing 35,000 staff.
These were the figures resulting from the INSEE survey for Ille-et-Vilaine Conseil général presented during the meeting in April 2007.
To download the survey, click on this link: Enquête sur l'économie sociale et solidaire en Ille-et-Vilaine
or order it by phoning (+33) (0) 299 02 20 68.

Bodies involved in the social economy and solidarity (associations, cooperatives, mutual health and insurance funds, foundations) operate within the market economy but their main aim is to create social cohesion and meet local needs.

In France, associations, cooperatives, mutual health and insurance funds, foundations etc. employ two million people and create 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP=total production in France).
In Brittany, where farming cooperatives are very active, the social economy and solidarity represent 12,572 bodies i.e. 15% of the total. This is higher than the national average of 13.3%.


Since 2004, Ille-et-Vilaine Conseil général has been supporting and strengthening the social economy and solidarity, in particular through business incubators and interim workshops. These are two essential factors in welcoming and assisting business start-ups.

Thanks to the ?consultant advice? system, Ille-et-Vilaine Conseil général provides assistance for projects that lie within the social economy and solidarity sectors but are not receiving any other help. The system helps project leaders to fund requests for advice from accredited bodies through ?Consultancy? cheques.

To support social integration through economic activity, the Conseil général assists social insertion structures (companies providing jobs for the socially excluded, intermediate associations etc.) with the creation of management posts. A grant for investment in property and equipment has also been introduced. Other projects are underway in the field of social tourism.

Since 2005, Ille-et-Vilaine has launched two calls for projects every year, to encourage cooperation and the emergence of innovative projects. As a result, 12 initiatives received support in 2005 and 13 in 2006. A further 13 will be selected in 2007.



Service emploi, économie sociale et solidaire
Tel.: 02.99.02.20.52

Useful links :

• Regional chamber of social economy and solidarity (Chambre régionale de l'économie sociale et solidaire) : www.cres-bretagne.org

• Contacts in agencies that provide assistance for the social economy and solidarity

• Survey on the social economy and solidarity in Ille-et-Vilaine (available in French only)