SERCE, Association of electrical engineering companies has 250 specialist companies (representing over 1,200 plants in France and abroad) in works and services linked to industrial and service plants, electrical energy systems, information and communication systems and HVAC.

- From generating stations to fitting out industrial and service sites going through transmission and supply systems.
- From large telecommunications networks to local loops and LAN networks.
- From public lighting systems to operating living spaces, sites and historic monuments.
companies joining SERCE participate in all stages of projects : design, construction, maintenance and operation.

Founded in 1922, it is a Member of the National Public Works Federation [FNTP] and belongs to the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Federation [FIEEC]] .

The European dimension of association work is also brought to bear inside the European Association of Electrical Contractors (A.I.E.) which has electrical contractors from 18 countries in Europe representing 1 million people.

SERCE companies employ 110,000 people with a turnover of more than 13,6 thousand million euros per year in France and 4 thousand million in the other European countries.

Dynamics going with market movements

SERCE companies are capable of handling design, construction works, operation, maintenance and making recommendations relating to the following fields :

· Industry : power plants for processing, automatic controls, instruction controls, industrial supervision, high currents, high performing currents, operating safety, low current systems, fire safety, burglar security, access control, building management control system, central management control system, multiple plant maintenance, overall maintenance etc.

· Service : High current systems, low current systems, fire safety, burglar security, access control, building management control system, central management control system, multiple plant maintenance, overall maintenance etc

· New information and communication technologies : Hertzian systems, copper cable systems, optical fibre systems, local radio loops, LAN networks, aerials, system nodes etc.

· Lighting : public or private lighting of roads and buildings, light planes, road and traffic control signals.
· Power transmission and supply : Extra High Voltage underground conduits and lines (EHV), High Voltage (HV), Low Voltage (LV), transformer substations, protection, remote control and dispatching systems, control and management systems, etc.

· Electricity generation : thermal electric, hydroelectric, nuclear power stations, cogeneration, wind farms, fuel cells, photovoltaic cells, etc.

· Rail line electrification : electric equipment, catenaries, HST signalling, standard rail networks and urban rail networks.

Big responsibility in large installation works

SERCE companies carry out :

· 80 % of line and network installation works
· 90 % of power station electrical installation works
· 80 % of electrical installation work for big industry
· 70 % of public lighting and traffic control signalling works.

Companies are generally very much involved in electrical installation works for offices and services (they carry out 25% of the corresponding work and half the big projects on the markets).

Work priorities

· Strengthening companies' economic environment, as public authorities' natural spokesman for regulations questions and large contractors in negotiation of the contractual environment of contracts.

· Working in the technical field, for upgrading new techniques, especially in design, maintenance or the development of services ensuring the quality of electricity ; taking part in European and international standardization.

· Furthering works quality, whether it relates to quality training, company qualification or participating in certification systems.

· Monitoring site safety, thanks to constant research work, awareness and education of the Association's Prevention and Safety Department, and of its safety engineers (site visits, recommendations, accident prevention).

· Working at training personnel in electric plant jobs to uphold skills by preparing implementation of new techniques ; including works in surroundings and the Environment.

Flexible, reactive open organization

· Twenty work committees chaired by company men each in their field, study and make our quality, safety, human and technical skills job improve. Their quarterly meetings ensure sound monitoring of current developments.

· Twenty systems advisors and eight industry and services representatives, aided by assistants by business sector or geographical area, represent the Association in areas as regards institutions, economics and the technical fields.

· Inside the C.I.E. (Electrical Interprofession Committee) SERCE plays a part in promoting the electrical industry which, with over 250,000 people employed in its companies, comprises one of the key development sectors in our country.

· Member of CNEE (National Electrical Equipment Council), it plays a part in works sector business coordination and energy beside small and large companies and craftsmen.

· As a Member of [CIGRE] (International Council of Large Electrical networks), SERCE is involved in upgrading experience and development of technical exchanges involving systems of over 80 countries. Likewise SERCE takes an active part inside the [CIRED] (International Congress of Electricity Supply Networks).

· SERCE plays an active part in standardization work carried out inside [UTE (Technical Electricity Union) of which it is a member, [CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) and the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

· Maintaining relations with the whole electrical business, it is a member of very many associations for promoting and looking after business operations involving the use of electricity, including :[CNMI] (National Council for Industrial maintenance), CONSUEL, PROMOTELEC, QUALIFELEC.

Participation in professional and technical training

Constantly developing electricity jobs calls on new technologies (IT, communication networks). They require great technical inquisitiveness, the need to learn definite tasks incorporating a significant part of manual work, upgrading and the possibility of contact with third parties.

SERCE devotes itself to offering young people, their families and those who direct them, training for learning them in the best possible way.

In initial training, SERCE makes available documentation on jobs, skills and the qualifications required. It lends its support to leading jobs forums organized in the regions.

It takes part in the preparation of diplomas and certificates of the Education Department and AFPA (Government body promoting adult vocational training)

With [ESTP] (Special Public Works School) moreover SERCE founded an " Engineering and Electrical Works " business where teaching is provided by company professionals.

In day release or night school education SERCE is involved in setting up training activities requested by companies and particularly contributes to operating FORMAPELEC (Association for Day Release or Night School professional Education in Electrical Equipment).

Information capacity

Officials of the Association welcome and inform journalists who are interested in electrical works.

· " The press seen by SERCE ", a fortnightly review of current events, comprises a link between the profession and its surroundings.

· Files, technical meetings and forums enable specialist journalists and opinion leaders to be informed on the various aspects of the profession, current events, its worries and its future.

· It is here, for and with its members, in the most important national and international professional events.

Partners of big manufacturers as well as Large and Small Companies and Firms, our companies go with economic players in their investments and productivity efforts by offering them their capacity for design, maintenance works and operation of their plants. They are thus positioned like overall suppliers of all services concerned with electricity. They carry out installation and maintenance of systems. Assisting private service units, they are also specialists to whom local communities award their public lighting work, traffic control signalling, construction and maintenance of electrical plant in their schools, hospitals, auditoriums or sports fields. SERCE companies are also negotiating partners for large public or private electricity telecommunications and transport companies for whom they carry out system installation and maintenance works.