Navigating Cross-Sector Partnerships: Innovative Strategies and Challenges for Work Integration Social Enterprises in France

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In recent years, ground breaking approaches have emerged to dismantle entry barriers in the labour market for individuals facing substantial challenges. The prevailing labour market policies predominantly centre around the activation strategy, however, vulnerable groups, grappling with individual and contextual obstacles, encounter difficulties overcoming societal stigmas to secure lasting employment. This study delves into how WISEs experiment with cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) to tackle these challenges. Through collaboration with public authorities and private entities, WISEs convert transitional initiatives into enduring, valuable experiences for beneficiaries. The paper scrutinises two case studies, shedding light on tensions encountered and how organisations navigate tensions to uphold social objectives amid partnerships with entities possessing distinct logics and goals. Despite the success in providing positive experiences and practical skills, CSPs introduce complexity and inter-organisational tensions. The research identifies mechanisms and strategies employed by WISEs to prevent mission drift and sustain a focus on work integration. The study underscores the imperative for further research on CSPs in work integration, recognising their increasing individual, local and policy impact, along with the organisational implications they entail.