At first, the idea may have seemed bold, even unlikely: bringing together tens of thousands of employees from dozens of countries through an international sports and artistic competition.
And yet, since its launch in 2017, the Colas Team Cup has become a key event in the Group’s life, fully embodying its team spirit, diversity, and human values.
Colas Team Cup: A Journey Born from a Collective Challenge
Launched in 2017, the Colas Team Cup was created with the ambition to offer more than just an internal event.
The goal was clear: to create a shared experience that would unite employees across borders, jobs, and cultures.
From the very first editions, the enthusiasm was palpable.
In 2019, more than 3,600 participants signed up for the second edition, representing 46 different nationalities. During the third edition, nearly 4,300 employees and students took part in the regional trials, confirming that the event had taken root in Colas' culture.
Today, the Colas Team Cup is no longer just a sports event: it’s a unifying tradition, anticipated and embraced by teams around the world.
An International Event Open to All Employees
The Colas Team Cup (CTC) is an internal international challenge open to all adult employees of the Colas Group:
- On permanent contracts,
- On long-term fixed contracts,
- Or in apprenticeship programs.
Temporary contracts (short-term, internships, temp work) are excluded in order to foster long-term engagement and sustained team commitment.
Held every two years, the competition features three complementary disciplines:
- 5-a-side football,
- Running,
- And “Incredible Talents”, an artistic category where participants can express their creativity.
Clear Objectives: Unite, Connect, Share
The Colas Team Cup serves several key objectives at the heart of the Group’s people strategy.
Above all, it offers a unifying, dynamic, and memorable experience that leaves a lasting impact on participants.
But it also plays a vital role in cross-functional collaboration: through sport, art, and informal exchanges, employees build connections, expand their networks, and discover new job roles and geographies.
The event also reaffirms the importance of team spirit, both locally and globally, highlighting core values such as:
- Pushing beyond limits,
- Friendliness,
- Solidarity,
- And mutual respect.
Diversity at the Heart of the Colas Team Cup
Since day one, the Colas Team Cup has reflected the Group’s cultural, geographic, and human diversity.
Employees from across the globe come together on the same playing field, each bringing their unique identity, story, and energy.
As Canadian participant Lydia Pépin shared during the second edition:
"For me, the Colas Team Cup is a true symbol of diversity and openness. I was the only woman in the football category that year… I hope others will follow my lead"
These stories show how the event goes far beyond competition. It becomes a space for expression, inclusion, and inspiration.
A Collective Spirit That Reflects the Colas Group's Values
What sets the Colas Team Cup apart is the collective energy behind it.
Behind every team, every regional trial, every final, there is impressive mobilization: local coordinators, communications teams, managers, supporters… Everyone contributes to making it a success.
This dynamic shows that at Colas, engagement is never an individual act.
It’s the result of a shared movement: where success takes on its full meaning only when achieved together.
Innovating Without Losing What Matters
With each edition, the Colas Team Cup evolves. New formats emerge, solidarity challenges are introduced in partnership with Colas Foundation, and innovative tools are tested to bring geographically distant teams closer together.
This ability to innovate methodically, to test and scale, truly reflects Colas’ pioneering mindset: imagining the future while upholding excellence in teamwork and execution.
A Dynamic That Lives on Beyond the Competition
The impact of the Colas Team Cup goes far beyond the final whistle. Over time, a natural phenomenon has taken root: experiences are passed on, best practices are shared, and former participants support new local ambassadors.
This culture of sharing strengthens employee bonds and helps cultivate a global culture within the Group.
The Colas Team Cup: A Living Mirror of Colas Values
Through the Colas Team Cup, the Group’s values are not just displayed: they are lived, embodied, and shared.
Respect, pioneering spirit, boldness, transmission… all these principles come to life in this unique event.
More than a competition, the Colas Team Cup is now a strong symbol of Colas’ identity: a special moment where employees around the world move forward together, on the same playing field.
