Longed-for and anticipated for many years, Caen la Mer’s nautical enterprise zone, the first of its kind in France, finally opened its doors last October. Designed to welcome young businesses from the sector, during either their creation or development phase, the zone reunites complementary nautical projects within a unique site, nearby the town’s Nouveau Bassin. A novelty sure to generate both emulation and collaborative projects.

11 offices and 8 workshops | 9000 m² of industrial naves nearby | Already 7 businesses, and room for more

11 offices and 8 workshops
The enterprise zone offer (premises and coaching) comprises the following:
• Tertiary premises of a total surface area of 590m2, including 11 offices and shared areas (meeting rooms, secretarial and reception services, cafeteria and social areas) within an entirely renovated building located in the heart of the enterprise zone.
• 8 workshops covering 75m2 (x2), 100m2, 150m2, 300m2, 350m2, 650m2 and 1,435m2, all within the same perimeter and equipped with storage platforms and three rolling bridges.
• Reception and secretarial services, together with personalised business plan monitoring.

9000 m² of industrial naves nearby

In complement to the above, and to satisfy projects requiring larger work areas, the nautical enterprise zone is also bordered by 3 vast halls, respectively offering approximately 3,000m2, with rolling bridges and a further 600m2 tertiary building nearby. These halls are due to be renovated in the near future to accommodate relay workshops.

Already 7 businesses, and room for more
5 of the nautical enterprise zone’s 11 offices and 5 of its 7 workshops are already occupied. A total of 7 companies, with complementary profiles.
• Shore Team: composite design and engineering
• Kalibee: navigation assistance software and 3D reconstruction
• Normandy Yacht Service: boat construction, repair and maintenance
• Sail Factory: sails
• Lavaflo: marketing of afloat wash stations for boats
• Oleo: hydraulics and automated systems (pendulum keels, etc).
• S2I: Sales and maintenance of welding materials

A Friday afternoon, mid-autumn marked the beginning of a truly festive weekend in the Norlanda enterprise zone’s freshly painted premises. It was almost an historical event: the arrival of the site’s first 7 businesses (see boxed article). They were all, or nearly all, there. They embodied both young and complementary projects. Innovative businesses, service providers, technicians, builders… “It’s a huge satisfaction to now see such a wide range of professions set up side by side on one unique site where their projects can be developed,” Pascal Hurel, director of Synergia (1) was delighted to announce, “We have been working on the project since 2001, with the aim of creating a genuine foundation tool to serve the local nautical industry. And as far as that aim is concerned, even if it has taken time to mature, it is an exemplary achievement.”

An audit for local enterprise

Within a specifically designed environment, close to Caen’s Nouveau Bassin, the enterprise zone will be offering a range of offices and technical workshops to recently created or burgeoning businesses from the nautical field. “It is a genuine breeding ground, since it has been designed to accompany the growth of these businesses by offering more than just rented premises, but also shared facilities and coaching solutions,” adds Pascal Mérat (Synergia), the project’s kingpin from the very beginning. Mathieu Desramé, director of Caen la Mer’s enterprise zones, also insists on the importance of associated services to guarantee businesses quality support. “By joining the nautical enterprise zone, business creators benefit not only from a quality welcome, but also from advice, an assessment of their training needs, help in getting started and in joining the economic and social environment, shared resources, along with help to firmly establish the business when the time comes to leave the enterprise zone.” In particular, as soon as it enters the enterprise zone, each and every business benefits from an audit focusing on management and strategy, together with a two-day training course on marketing and communication, dispensed by the consultancy Démarches, also present on the site. “Coaching is a long-term affair, with at least a quarterly follow-up and the possibility to obtain further advice, on an occasional basis,” adds Mathieu Desramé.

A genuine launching pad for projects

The complex’s potential very rapidly appealed to young businesses looking to get going within an environment propitious to consolidating their activity. By joining the enterprise zone for a few years, they can now rely on tailored premises, at attractive rates, and within a collaborative environment. “The existence of many shared services, together with the appeal of joining a genuine hub including other businesses from the same sector is a major advantage for us,” confirms Jérôme Morio from Oléo System (hydraulics and automated systems, 2 employees). “And rental charges are attractively low, and that’s essential for getting off to a good start,” adds Gérald Champion from S2I (welding sales and maintenance, 2 employees). “Alone, you’re far too isolated. Here in the enterprise zone, the opposite applies and I can already sense a great feeling of emulation,” considers Patrick Lenormand from Normandy Yachts Service (boat construction, repair and maintenance, 5 employees), which has taken up quarters in the 1,435m2 yard.

Innovative businesses

Of the seven to have joined the zone last month, two particularly innovative companies stand out. Charmed by the enterprise zone approach, they were even one step ahead of its completion, having occupied nearby temporary premises for the last year. “We wanted to stay in Caen, whilst benefiting from premises on a flexible basis, via which we could adapt to our progressive development,” sums up Emmanuel de Bressy. His company, Kalibee, currently has only 3 employees; however, it needs to keep on the ball, ready to face potentially rapid development. “We have designed and marketed Tiny Coach, a unique integrated system to advise skippers via vocal synthesis.” Connected to the navigation system, it provides skippers with information in real time, via vocal synthesis. In the wake of this highly innovative product, the company has recently began marketing a live system to monitor regattas, via a 3D interface, for race organisers, TV channels and competitors.
The enterprise zone is also home to: Shore Team (ex Seaway Normandy / 5 employees). The company, which is managed by Arnaud Lample, moved to its new offices and 200m2 workshop where it will produce closed mould composite parts. This engineering and design office, specialised in high-tech materials, ensures the design and technology transfer of production processes and tools for a number of clients. Shore Team is also a training centre, and its production activities are but one more string to its bow. “These new processes using closed moulds, of which we now have a perfect command, involve far less manpower in the cost price of produced parts. Consequently, we are truly competitive.”
We can also add Lavaflot to the list, a company which has launched a unique system for washing boats (Washboat), inspired by car wash stations. It is consequently safe to say that the profusion of ideas and the ferment of complementary skills are sure to render this enterprise zone a competitive and attractive hub. A further 6 offices and 2 workshops remain vacant.

(1) Caen la Mer’s economic development agency

Send post as PDF to