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Press release

SDIS de la Mayenne – Groupe Gruau: Supporting the Commitment of Volunteer Firefighters and Local Emergency Services

Press Release

Gruau Ambulances exhibits ambulances designed with healthcare transport professionals, perfectly adapted to their needs and manufactured in France through an eco-responsible approach. Discover this range at the Reims Ambulance Workers Congress The GRUAU Group and SDIS 53 strengthen their partnership through the signing of new availability agreements for employee volunteer firefighters, demonstrating a long-term commitment to volunteerism and territorial safety.(September 18 and 19).

Born from the merger of two historic brands, Gifa and Petit, Gruau Ambulances has maintained its position as a key player among ambulance professionals. The Reims convention is an opportunity to discover the brand’s latest innovations through a reinforced and expanded vehicle offering. The range covers all needs and budgets, from essential fittings to custom configurations, with a commitment to quality and reliability guaranteed by the multi-specialist expertise of the Gruau group, the European leader in utility vehicle bodywork.

1. A Partnership in Service of Volunteerism

The Mayenne Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS 53) and the GRUAU Group are signing an availability agreement to facilitate the deployment of volunteer firefighters to emergency calls during their working hours.
This agreement formalizes the company’s commitment to facilitating the availability of its employees for their operational missions and training, while enabling them to balance this commitment with their professional activities.
It forms part of a cooperative approach between economic stakeholders and emergency services, for the benefit of residents’ safety.

This signing also marks continuity in the GRUAU Group’s commitment, as it represents the third agreement concluded within the company since last year.

2. Three Employees Engaged as Volunteer Firefighters

Three GRUAU Group employees benefit from an availability agreement:

Through their commitment, they directly contribute to protecting the population and to the SDIS operational response throughout the Mayenne territory.

3. A Lasting Commitment to Safety

The partnership between the GRUAU Group and SDIS 53 began 13 years ago, in December 2013. As early as 2014, the Group was recognized for its commitment to volunteerism by obtaining the “partner employer” label awarded by the SDIS.

Today, this momentum continues through the signing of new agreements, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting its engaged employees. As Samuel Fairier, employee and volunteer firefighter, testifies:
“Being able to count on the company’s support makes a real difference. It allows me to fully commit to my rescue missions while balancing my professional activities.”

Through this commitment, the GRUAU Group values essential skills such as responsiveness, teamwork, and emergency situation management, benefiting the entire organization.
This partnership is also part of the GRUAU Group’s RSS2E (Social, Societal, Economic and Environmental Responsibility) approach and its commitment to “contribute to caring for and saving lives.” This promise, embedded in its 2030 Project, is reflected particularly in one of the bodywork manufacturer’s historic activities: the design and production of fire and rescue emergency vehicles for over 30 years.

Over these years, a close relationship has developed between the GRUAU Group and firefighters, driven by shared values with SDIS 53: teamwork, passion for their mission, and responsible commitment in service of the population.

4. What the Agreement Provides

The agreement signed between SDIS 53 and the GRUAU Group concretely organizes the availability conditions for employee volunteer firefighters.

It notably includes the following provisions:

Operational availability
Authorization of absence to respond to emergency calls during working hours.
Possible late arrival
Possibility for the volunteer firefighter to arrive late when an emergency call begins before the start of their shift.
Access to training
Authorization of absence to participate in volunteer firefighter training (initial training, skills maintenance, specializations, advancement).

It also establishes the procedures for monitoring absences, the conditions of cooperation between the company and the SDIS, as well as the volunteerism support mechanisms provided by regulations.

5. Volunteerism: A Pillar of Civil Safety

The agreement signed between SDIS 53 and the GRUAU Group concretely organizes the availability conditions for employee volunteer firefighters. The French civil safety model relies largely on the commitment of volunteer firefighters.
In Mayenne, they constitute the majority of SDIS personnel (90%) and handle a large portion of emergency calls every day.
The support of public and private employers is therefore essential to enable these engaged citizens to balance their professional lives with their mission in service of the population.
By facilitating the availability of its volunteer employees, the GRUAU Group directly contributes to territorial safety and local solidarity, thus confirming its active role in service of the Mayenne population.