The autumn boat shows were an opportunity for BoatIndustry to talk with Stéphan Constance, president of Grand Large Yachting. In this final part of the interview, the head of the French yachting group explains his industrial projects, his development plans and the issue of human resources.
After reviewing Grand Large Yachting's main yacht brands, how would you describe the group's overall situation?
I think there was a period after the crisis when some signals were green and others were orange. Today, they are all green. What is important is that we have more of a system approach than a brand approach. We sometimes have clients who come to one site and we send them to another if we have identified that it corresponds more to their navigation program. Today, we no longer sell boats, but slices of life, which is why services are so important, such as technical training and the entire Grand Large Services offer.
What are the group's industrial projects?
We have an expansion planned in Cherbourg by the end of 2019. This will be done thanks to a Temporary Occupation Authorization of the port on a site next to the Allures shipyard.
What are the current synergies within the group?
Purchasing is now organized transversally within Grand Large Yachting. Synergies affect all the support functions, from purchasing to administration and international sales management. As mentioned, the 30 members of the design offices can also be mobilized together on a single project.
What about recruitment?
Today, all the Grand Large Yachting shipyards are recruiting for all positions in production and the design office. Gunboat is currently hiring about fifty people. The production jobs are the most difficult to recruit for.
To conclude, after the integration of Gunboat, do you envisage other acquisitions in the current context of consolidation in the nautical industry?
We are opportunistic. We do not rule out external growth, but it is not a strategic priority for Grand Large Yachting. There has to be a real synergy and it has to be coherent with the group.
