LVMH celebrates success of artisan apprenticeship programme
The executive vice-president for human resources at luxury group LVMH, Chantal Gaemperle, has said the group is “very proud” of its the Institut des Métiers d’Excellence (IME) initiative.
Launched in 2014, IME is a programme that recruits people to the group to work with skilled artisans across all its activities, including those who make leather and leathergoods. The specific aim is to make sure experts in these traditional crafts can pass on their skills to new generations.
“The artisans at our maisons have unique savoir-faire that has been passed on for generations and elevates our creations,” Ms Gaemperle said. “We believe we have a responsibility to preserve these time-honoured skills and pass them on to new generations.”
Since IME began, the group has recruited 800 apprentices in France, Italy and Switzerland. Chantal Gaemperle said 97% of these people have completed their apprenticeships and 74% of these newly qualified craftspeople have taken up jobs in the luxury sector.
