EDF Pulse Ventures, the corporate venture arm of the EDF group, has taken a stake in La Solive, one of France’s leading innovative technical training schools specialising in the energy transition sector. This investment is accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at tackling the training and recruitment challenges essential for the large-scale rollout of energy renovation and electrification.
With applications for energy renovation support up by 63% in France over the past year1, the need for a skilled workforce to carry out this work has become critical. To meet this growing demand and help achieve carbon reduction targets, EDF Pulse Ventures has decided to invest in La Solive.
Founded in 2021, La Solive’s mission is to address the skills shortage in the energy transition sector, particularly in building renovation and electrification. With six campuses across France, La Solive helps companies recruit talent by attracting, selecting, and training thousands of career changers for technical roles, offering qualifications from CAP up to BAC+2. Today, La Solive trains, among others, heat pump and gas heating engineers, maintenance technicians, energy renovation project managers, site supervisors, and photovoltaic panel installers. Its innovative teaching methods, inspired by Lean approaches and focused on hands-on practice in technical workshops, combined with the use of digital tools and AI to personalise learning, enable students to acquire the fundamentals of their trade in just four months and become immediately operational in the workplace.
This investment is further strengthened by the signing of an MoU with EDF’s Regional Development and Action Department, and some of its energy services subsidiaries (Izi by EDF, Izi Confort, EDF Solar Solutions). The partnership has three main objectives: to accelerate the recruitment of qualified professionals in local areas through La Solive’s apprenticeship programmes and alumni network; to upskill existing employees with the school’s technical training courses; and to develop new training programmes tailored to the Group’s needs.
1Review of ANAH grants in the third quarter of2025, january-september 2025
We are delighted to deepen our partnership with EDF group, so we can work together to develop solutions that best meet the recruitment needs of the sector. We share the conviction that we must change the image of technical professions that contribute to the energy transition, attract the best talent, and train them as effectively as possible to meet the enormous challenge of decarbonisation.
The electric revolution will only be possible if we raise the technical skills of the men and women on the ground. Yet, too few people are currently choosing these fields. Thanks to La Solive’s expertise and alumni network, we want to showcase our professions, which are vital for the future, and multiply training opportunities to accelerate the electrification, the renovation of buildings, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for both our business and residential customers.
Our promise to support customers in renovating their homes is only possible thanks to highly qualified employees and partners, who master technical skills and work safely. Through our collaboration with La Solive, we are strengthening our ability to mobilise trained professionals across all regions and for all our business lines. By developing and mastering our skills, we earn the trust of the French public and make it easier for them to take action.