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France is a very interesting market for many international training organizations. Indeed, it has a dynamic and innovative ecosystem, particularly in EdTech, and it’s also a fast-growing market with over 13 billion euros invested in training every year! Not to mention the financing opportunities, which are more plentiful than in other countries, between Qualiopi, the CPF, OPCOs, or even public tenders! It’s hardly surprising that more and more companies want to set up a school in France (and if you’re reading this article, you may well be!).
However, it’s important to think ahead and, above all, act strategically. France is certainly a strategic and lucrative market, but it also presents challenges, particularly with its specific regulations.
Setting up a training organization in France requires strategic and rigorous thinking, but don’t panic, we’re here to help you implement your action plan for successful implementation!
Before setting up a training organization in France, it’s essential to carry out a thorough market study. This will enable you to ascertain the training needs in your sector, assess what already exists and how your competitors are positioned, and thus define your own positioning.
For this first stage of market research, we advise you to identify the growth sectors in France and how you are positioned. For example, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and ecological transition are all sectors with strong demand. However, these are not the only ones, and it’s essential to analyze your sector and its needs in France.
You can also analyze trends and official industry reports, as well as carrying out surveys with industry professionals or even future customers, to verify your initial ideas.
Last but not least, we also advise you to check the existing and (potentially) accessible financing schemes for your offers. Will you be able toobtain Qualiopi, position yourself on the CPF, apply to OPCOs…?
Identifying and analyzing your competitors is also a key step in establishing your training organization in France. Seeing where they stand will help you position yourself better!
We advise you to take stock of your direct competitors, and analyze their offerings, prices and, of course, their positioning. This will enable you to potentially identify gaps and interesting opportunities to position yourself (an innovative approach, a specific teaching method, an exclusive certification…).
With all these elements in hand, you’ll be able to choose your positioning and implementation strategy.
Once you’ve decided on your strategy, it’s time to start the paperwork!
The first step is to set up your company in France, by choosing a legal status.
There are several types of status, depending on your business model, the level of initial investment and your development prospects.
We frequently find the micro-business, suitable for the self-employed, the SARL or SAS, which is recommended for companies wishing to grow or hire, or even associations if you have a non-profit purpose and wish to seek government recognition.
In this article, we don’t intend to tell you which structure to choose, as there are several, and the choice must be made according to your specific needs. However, you are welcome to contact us if you would like personalized guidance on this point.
Once your organization has been set up, it must be recognized as a training organization. To do this, you need to obtain an activity declaration number (NDA) from the DREETS.
You will need :
With this number in your pocket, you will be able to make your declaration to the rectorat de région académique, once again with a file to be completed, including :
After all that, you can finally start selling your training courses legally!
If you wish to benefit from public and mutualized funds to finance your training courses, you will need to obtain Qualiopi.
Qualiopi can be a very interesting strategic lever for setting up a training organization in France. If you obtain certification, you will have access to funding from OPCOs, FIF-PL, the region, France Travail and Agefiph.
The steps are as follows:
If you would like to position yourself on the CPF, you have two options:
Having a certification registered with France Compétences enables you to deliver a diploma recognized by the State. It’s a powerful lever for setting up a training organization in France, bringing prestige and recognition in addition to the CPF, but it’s far from a cakewalk.
You will need :
If France Compétences validates the registration, it will be for a fixed period, at the end of which you will have to re-submit a complete file in order to renew the certification.
Of course, whether or not you want to position yourself on the certification market, you’ll need to structure your teaching offer in any case.
To do this, consider integrating modular units if your course lends itself to this, as it is a very common format in France.
Think about the modalities, in line with your market research: do you offer face-to-face, e-learning or hybrid training? On what platforms and with what tools? What kind of support do you offer your customers?
If you have opted for a development plan that includes eventual registration with the RNCP or RS, we strongly advise you to take these requirements into account from the outset, in order to facilitate the construction, coherence and relevance of your dossier.
Finally, to set up a training organization in France, you need to make yourself visible!
You can do this in several ways:
There are, of course, other levers, but these are the main ones and can be very effective if well thought out.
Setting up a training organization in France is an ambitious project, but one that’s within reach if you think strategically from the outset. With all these tips, you have a good basis on which to build your own plan.
Do you need personalized assistance with any or all of the steps involved in setting up a training organization in France? Contact our experts and let’s build your customized implementation strategy together!
