Impeccably ironed white shirt and polished black shoes, Lucas Manoer finishes the lunch shift at the Auberge Le Prieuré. Neighboring the 11th century Cluniac priory, this Michelin-starred restaurant is the pride of Moirax, a town of 1,188 inhabitants (in 2020) located south of Agen. The 19-year-old apprentice has been working there since September 2022. A student at the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Lot-et-Garonne (CMA 47), he is finishing preparing a professional certificate devoted to tableware.
“Since Lucas started in this restaurant, he has changed a lot,” notes Mathieu de Carli, the director of the CMA 47 young workers’ center. “He has notably gained self-confidence, this can be seen in the way he carries himself and speaks. . » Barring anything unforeseen, the young man should graduate in June.
A trajectory full of promise, made possible by Apprentoit. Launched in 2013 by the CMA 47 and the social landlord Domofrance, this system helps apprentices find accommodation close to their workplace and at very low prices. Once his shift is over, Lucas only has 80 meters to go home. Thanks to increased personalized housing assistance (APL), rents are between 80 and 100 euros.
Personalized support
Twelve municipalities in Lot-et-Garonne now host 36 studios located in buildings made available by town halls and renovated by Domofrance. Unique in France, this initiative was launched in response to the recruitment difficulties of companies due to the lack of housing.
“Luckily I got this place because I wouldn’t have been able to go back and forth. Between here and my home in Gondrin, in Gers, it’s a 45 minute to an hour drive. » Rent accommodation a little further away? Not impossible, but not the most obvious with an apprentice salary of around 950 euros. “Rent in Agen is 300 to 350 euros,” says Mathieu de Carli. To which must be added water, electricity, gasoline and car costs. »
Built since 2016 in an old barn dating from the Middle Ages, the two Apprentoit apartments in Moirax benefit from a shared space. This is where Emmanuelle Sallères regularly meets young people housed by Apprentoit. In addition to administrative procedures, the CMA 47 employee acts as a link between apprentices, families and businesses. “My role is to support them throughout this first experience of autonomy and to secure their professional career,” she summarizes. This is why I talk a lot with employers. If they tell me that the young person seems tired, is often late or absent for no reason, that will alert me. »
In eleven years of existence, Apprentoit has supported 200 apprentices. “Some have signed permanent contracts or plan to take over the company when the manager retires,” rejoices Mathieu de Carli. We really act on two aspects: giving a home to young people who are starting out in working life, and maintaining the attractiveness of businesses in rural communities. »
Four new studios
The system offers valuable help to employers in convincing apprentices (and their parents) to come and work in places with poor, if any, public transport connections. On the municipal side, it is the opportunity to maintain economic activities, but also to renovate empty and sometimes very old buildings.
Observed by other rural departments such as Creuse, the system is in constant progress. Three new housing units will be delivered in 2026 to Moirax. Cocumont, located in the northwest of the department, is the last municipality to have integrated Apprentoit. Four studios will welcome young people there within a few weeks. “To say that it energizes the town is an exaggeration,” says Henri Tandonnet, the mayor of Moirax. But it brings conviviality. It’s nice to see the restaurant’s team of young people having a drink at La Cigale, on the village square, on Sunday afternoon. »
