In 2015, French luxury brand Louis Vuitton developed an initiative to ensure its highly valued craft, creativity, and customer service skills would carry on for generations. The LVMH Métiers d’Excellence program travels around France visiting students from schools and universities, and people looking to upskill in their careers. 

For over 150 years, Louis Vuitton has prided itself on exceptional skills and is looking to continue that tradition. The recruiting tour brings Louis Vuitton to local communities, showing people the various roles, career opportunities, work/study programs, and internships available at the heritage brand. There are jobs available for people interested in being a stylist, couturier, leather goods artisan, or sales associate.

This year is the eighth edition of Métiers d’Excellence. The theme is ‘You and ME’. Former NBA and international basketball player Tony Parker is sponsoring the program. “I’m delighted to be supporting LVMH and its Institut des Métiers d’Excellence [IME] as sponsor of the You and ME Tour,” Parker said. “Education, of course, as well as access to excellence, recognition of savoir-faire [expertise], and passing on skills are all values that inspire me each day.” 

The tour begins in Clichy-sous-Bois and continues on to four French cities, each featuring a packed agenda of information and activities. The sessions include a presentation of the programs available from IME and its partner schools, and live demonstrations by tutors and apprentices. Additionally, the human resources teams from LVMH Maisons will be offering career coaching sessions on CV writing and preparing for job interviews. 

“We have a record 1,200 offers available this year, making it more important than ever to reach out and engage with our future talents across France,” Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH executive vice-president human resources and synergies said. “You and ME is designed for direct and local contacts, illustrating the desire of the LVMH Group and our Métiers d’Excellence to effectively support young people and reskill candidates by helping them learn about opportunities in professions that are actively recruiting and which are essential to our shared cultural heritage.” 

There will be 600 apprenticeships and internships, plus 600 permanent or fixed-term contracts available, across 280 professions at LVMH Maisons in France. 

Fostering diversity and inclusion

The Métiers d’Excellence initiative is also launching two special programs focused on inclusivity: training and hiring people with disabilities for sales positions, and creating a return-to-work pathway for young members of the LGBTQI+ community. These programs are in partnership with EMA SUP, a leading fashion and beauty training centre in France, and Le Refuge, an initiative providing emergency accommodation and support for LGBTQI+ people aged 18 to 25 displaced by exclusion.

“People make the difference,” LVMH said in a statement. This deep-rooted belief underlines the fact that the unique personalities and talent of LVMH’s people figure at the very heart of the group’s performance. It articulates an ethos that guides LVMH’s human resources policy: “Each person has a unique profile, and bringing together differences is an essential key to success.”

The championing of diversity and inclusivity at the luxury retailer is reflected in the LVMH Inclusion Index. The latest initiatives the company is supporting include preventing unconscious bias and stereotypes, shaping an even more inclusive culture for LGBTQI+ employees with ALL LVMH Pride, and promoting career development for women through the EllesVMH program.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of EllesVMH. Each year, the program is a week-long celebration, starting on International Women’s Day. Employees are invited to share and discuss ideas about best practices and review all EllesVMH Inclusion Index initiatives. It is a time for reflection and action, when employees vote on their preferred ideas. 

Preserving the heritage

With many companies looking to secure their future by building brand awareness with youthful audiences, Louis Vuitton adds an additional focus. The luxury label is preserving its craftsmanship through education and career pathways. In addition to training potential recruits, Louis Vuitton also ensures its employees have opportunities to further develop their skills in the best possible conditions. 

The label has developed strategic academic partnerships with leading schools and universities such as prominent fashion school Central Saint Martins. The brand also supports ENSAAMA students (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Appliqués et des Métiers d’Art) in their second-year master’s degree studies.

The LVMH Métiers d’Excellence program sends a strong message to communities in France, highlighting the need to keep quality craftsmanship and savoir-faire alive and relevant. By connecting with a diverse group of youths and candidates ready to upskill, Louis Vuitton is strategically positioning its brand with poise and purpose. 

The luxury brand is forging its own path, educating, upskilling, and creating opportunities for people, while also futureproofing its craft and brand reputation, along with its employees’ careers. 

The responsibility of educating people now extends further than the walls of a school or university, it’s being championed by global brands to support the careers of generations to come.