NewValue, Bouygues construction’s intrapreneurial program

Launched at Bouygues Construction in June, the intrapreneurial NewValue programme is now allowing nine employees who have come up with a concept to develop it and take it to market (either within the group or outside it) while sharing the risks and benefits with the company. Steered by the human resources and innovation departments, NewValue is part of Bouygues Construction’s shared innovation strategy.

An exciting experience

The NewValue programme is inspired by the major phases of development for start-ups, feedback from other major groups, and the experiences of other employees who created their own companies. Becoming an intrapreneur doesn’t happen overnight. Three phases were created to help employees, whether working alone or in teams, to finalise their plans. The process includes a dedicated training course and customised support.

The nine intrapreneurs who were selected at the end of 2017 are now in the programme’s second phase, i.e. the “maturation” phase. This part of the programme helps them analyse their target markets, test their concept out in the field, develop their business plan, and create a prototype of their idea. They receive help from the Bouygues Construction’s human resources and innovation teams as well as the Schoolab, an incubator created ten years ago that is specialised in assisting intra- and entrepreneurs. This approach gives them access to feedback from and the perspective of entrepreneurs as they develop their start-up. In April 2018, the intrapreneurs will present their projects to the managing directors of the entities, who will decide which projects will go onto the incubation phase by funding the development and marketing of their solutions. The goal is to start selling by the end of the year!

A comprehensive approach in line with Bouygues’s strategy

Because intrapreneurship is gradually becoming a key tool for stimulating innovation within companies, similar programmes have been created in other entities of the group. At the end of January, TF1 sponsored its first group of intrapreneurs (six projects), and Bouygues Immobilier is taking inspiration from NextDoor and Aveltys to create an even more developed programme.

In addition, Bouygues Group will soon roll out its “Innovate Like A Start-Up” approach through an intrapreneurship programme dedicated to teams that include at least one employee from two different business lines (TF1, Bouygues Télécom, Colas, Bouygues Immobilier, and Bouygues Construction).

Stay tuned for an interview with our intrapreneurs about their projects.