MYSTREAM, an exemplary SME when it comes to employing young people and using work-study programs

Founded in 2003, MyStream deploys and supervises corporate interconnection networks on behalf of its customers. Positioned in the SME and multi-site international markets, the company currently manages over 2,500 sites in Europe and worldwide. MyStream offers a load-sharing solution, as well as a captive portal via an in-house-developed box, the MyBox. The company is growing, with sales of €5.4 million in 2012 and 18 employees.

Over the past 10 years, some twenty young people have been trained here

As soon as MyStream was founded, CEO Alain Rousselin decided to recruit his non-managerial staff mainly from future graduates of work-study programs, from BTS to Licence professionnelle. 80% of his non-managerial staff, technical or otherwise, come from such programs. Over the past 10 years, Mystream has trained around twenty young employees, mainly on professionalization contracts.

Given the company’s sector of activity, Mystream’s preferred course of study is the BTS SIO (Services Informatiques aux Organisations), created at the start of the 2011 academic year, and replacing the BTS Informatique de Gestion. It trains students to implement IT solutions within companies, and comprises two options: the “infrastructure solutions, systems and networks” specialization, and the “software solutions and business applications” specialization.

Major benefits for the company

According to AlainRousselin, MyStream benefited first and foremost from employees on sandwich courses, trained in the latest developments in its field.

What’s more, in the long run, when it comes to final recruitment on a fixed-term or permanent contract, the company has reduced its risks by hiring someone it knows well, who is operational and suited to the company’s needs and culture.

A guarantee of success is the involvement of all stakeholders.

According to Alain Rousselin, it’s important not to overlook the time and effort involved for a company. MyStream, for example, has gone beyond conventional tutoring and set up a real procedure for its employees on work-study contracts, from the welcome booklet on arrival, to professional monitoring by an outside consultant to quantify the progress made over the past year and identify the desired and appropriate training areas.

Alain Rousselin also stresses the need for frequent exchanges and links between the company, the school and the teaching staff to ensure the successful integration of young employees on sandwich courses.

For an SME like MyStream, the judicious use of work-study employees has been an important factor in the development of its business.

Beneficiary’s opinion: Romain Huon, on a professionalization contract with Mystream

“I joined Mystream on a work-study program thanks to a friend who praised the quality of the company’s welcome and support. The choice of this type of training was obvious: a quicker and better integration into the world of work, something concrete and a regular income. Now, after 3 years’ training, I plan to continue working for Mystream. The work-study option has proved conclusive!”

In 2012, a number of agreements were signed in the digital sector:

• 4558 professionalization contracts (Source FAFIEC)

• 71 apprenticeship contracts

Syntec numérique promotes work-study programs and works with public authorities to enhance the image of digital professions among young people.