The activity of technical design offices and consulting engineers strongly impacted by the reconfinement

Inevitably, the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic and the new restrictive measures that accompanied it severely affected VSE SMEs in the BETIC branch, which still suffered the economic consequences of the first wave. Companies working for the industrial sector and more particularly for the automotive and aeronautics sectors are the hardest hit and forecasts remain pessimistic for the coming months.

Key figures from the CINOV barometer for November 2020

• 58% of the responding companies declared a drop in their turnover in November 2020 (+ 4 points compared to October)
• Of which 20% declare a drop in turnover of more than 50% (+ 11 points compared to October)
• 53% of VSE SMEs in the BETIC branch expect a further drop in turnover in the next 3 months (+ 1 point)
• 21% of the companies questioned had recourse to the partial activity in November and 15% wish to set up the APLD

The 2nd wave accentuates the crisis

In November, 58% of the companies questioned as part of the CINOV barometer declared a drop in their turnover compared to 2019, i.e. an increase of 4 points compared to October. Even more worrying, 20% of the responding companies declared a drop in turnover of more than 50%: an increase of 11 points compared to the previous month. It is the independents who are most directly affected by this new episode of crisis: they are 34% to declare a loss of turnover of more than 50% in November, that is to say an increase of 17% compared to the month of October.

The impact is also disparate depending on the type of activity: the research firms operating in the field of management consulting, tourism, ergonomics or even digital are among the hardest hit.

A stronger impact for the industrial sector, particularly for the automotive and aeronautics sectors

The impact on the activity of companies in the BETIC branch is also closely linked to the sector of activity of their customers. Unsurprisingly, it is the companies providing advice to industrial companies that are the most affected by the crisis. Thus, companies whose main client sector is industry and more particularly aeronautics and the automobile industry are the ones that most announce a drop in turnover for November compared to 2019: more than 70% of them are concerned. Companies working in the hotel and catering industry are also very affected: 60% of them foresee a decrease in turnover for the next three months.

Conversely, 80% of companies whose main customer sector is logistics, transport and telecommunications are to declare an increase in turnover compared to 2019 and 60% to anticipate a further increase in the next 3 months.

Teleworking, partial activity, training: companies are trying to adapt to preserve activity and save jobs

For the moment, the impact of the crisis and of this new wave of the epidemic remains measured on employment: only 13% of the companies questioned state that they plan to reduce their workforce in the coming months. To preserve employment, business leaders in the BETIC branch sometimes resort to partial activity: 21% of them say they used it in November (+ 6 points compared to October). But a large part of these companies (52% of respondents), it is training that appears to be the main lever to get through the crisis. 70% of companies in the branch declare that they are aware of the funding mechanisms for vocational training.

Regarding teleworking, made 100% compulsory when possible by the government as part of the fight against the epidemic, the business leaders of the branch are very divided. 83% of the companies questioned declared that their employees had to work face-to-face during confinement. Among the obstacles identified to the implementation of 100% teleworking, the business leaders of the branch cite the difficulties linked to remote management (79%), the technical impossibility of carrying out certain teleworking missions (62% ) and the desire of employees to maintain a face-to-face activity (21%). They are even 15% to declare that some employees have told them about psycho-social risks related to teleworking 100%.

“The CEOs of the BETIC branch are determined to face the crisis and to adapt in order to preserve jobs. Our very small and medium-sized businesses are suffering the full force of the consequences of this second wave of the epidemic and the CINOV Federation is fully mobilized to bring their voice to public decision-makers. We will be particularly attentive to ensure that public procurement can be relaunched as soon as possible and that the partial activity mechanism can be extended at least until March ”

Frédéric Lafage, President of the CINOV Federation