4.3.5.1 The Marcel platform is at the heart of the employee training strategy
With Marcel Classes, employee training continued to increase sharply between 2020, when it was rolled out, and 2025. The expectations formulated led to a change in the formats offered, with more podcasts and micro-learning spread over several months allowing for certification. Marcel Classes provides access to live formats, representing several hundred hours in 2025, with the Groupe’s executives and inspiring guests. The change in content takes into account the skills to be acquired but also expectations in terms of inspiration and tools to support tailor-made professional development. Real learning pathways have been built on themes such as self-confidence, soft skills and collaborative skills. Marcel Classes offers more than 58,000 modules and access to content developed by partners or thirdparty experts in many areas, available in seven languages. Courses produced in-house by Groupe entities are also available to meet very specific needs. Five aspects are taken into account in the analysis of training participants:
- effective participation, and having completed the module;
- certification where possible and completion of the program;
- recommendation score;
- the interest and inspiration generated by the training module;
- employee self-assessment at the end of the training.
All employees permanent, fixed-term, full or part-time) and freelancers have access to Marcel and Marcel Classes. [S1-13-85]
Employees use Marcel Classes as follows:
- self-learning, motivated by the interest of individuals themselves, with almost all modules accessible 24/7, allowing them to discover business innovations or to go over best practices;
- individualized career paths built according to precise professional objectives defined between the employee and the manager, by profession or level; all employees can benefit from a personalized approach thanks to the Growth Dashboard set up two years ago, which offers curricula adapted to the needs of employees;
- training leading to qualifications with third parties and partners in order to learn, improve and obtain certification, in certain cases;
- live learning, with simultaneous physical and virtual sessions and professional trainers, allowing cohorts to form and get to know each other better.
The 2025 data show an increase in the total number of hours compared to 2024, which is due to an increase in the number of employees, with 22 hours per capita. These figures do not take into account all the numerous peer-to-peer learning sessions with new generative artificial intelligence tools and AI agents.
| Internal indicators Training and Development (Marcel Classes & others) - specific to Publicis | unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groupe Workforce | Groupe Workforce unit number |
Groupe Workforce 2024 108,179 |
Groupe Workforce 2025114,079 |
| Workforce trained (% of employees) | Workforce trained (% of employees) unit % |
Workforce trained (% of employees) 2024 94 |
Workforce trained (% of employees) 202594 |
| Of which % women | Of which % women unit % |
Of which % women 2024 52 |
Of which % women 202551 |
| Number of training hours achieved – total | Number of training hours achieved – total unit Hours |
Number of training hours achieved – total 2024 1,917,607 |
Number of training hours achieved – total 20252,402,682 |
| Number of training hours per capita (divided by the number of employees trained) | Number of training hours per capita(divided by the number of employees trained) unit Hours |
Number of training hours per capita(divided by the number of employees trained) 2024 19 |
Number of training hours per capita(divided by the number of employees trained) 202522 |
| Number of face-to-face hours | Number of face-to-face hours unit Hours |
Number of face-to-face hours 2024 529,454 |
Number of face-to-face hours 2025842,198 |
| Number of hours in e-learning | Number of hours in e-learning unit Hours |
Number of hours in e-learning 2024 1,388,153 |
Number of hours in e-learning 20251,560,484 |
| Training fees (external) | Training fees (external) unit €M |
Training fees (external) 2024 24.1 |
Training fees (external) 202523.8 |
In 2025, the Groupe’s programs were enhanced:
- the Studio equips entry-level professionals and all those wishing to strengthen their skills with the essential skills of effective management;
- designed for Vice President levels and above, The Grand Studio is an advanced leadership program, to inspire and develop our leaders. This strengthens their ability to navigate uncertainty, while expanding their strategic and leadership capabilities;
- LAB (Live Action Boost) brings together the former students of the Grand Studio. This experience brings together top talent to explore emerging challenges, spark lively discussions, and engage with inspiring executives and thought-provoking guests;
- "Encore" is a leading leadership development experience for high-performing LAB graduates who are making a big impact. It aims to strengthen a group of connected and futureready leaders;
- finally, "Le Train" is a new immersive social learning powered by Marcel, which offers carefully selected learning paths, with very engaging short formats. They are integrated into the workflow and bring knowledge and ideas that are profoundly unique to Publicis, such as pitching the Power of One. This first edition in 2025 brought together 5,222 participants.