Stephenson Formation

What Stephenson Formation does

Stephenson Formation is a French apprenticeship training organization (CFA — Centre de Formation d'Apprentis) established in 1982 and headquartered at 48 rue Stephenson, 3,500m² of premises in Paris's 18th arrondissement. The organization is structured as an Association loi 1901 (non-profit) and operates 15 formations en alternance spanning the CAP to Master's degree levels, covering six sectors: commerce, management, sales, tourism, hospitality, and banking. Its core offering combines theoretical instruction with work-integrated learning delivered through the proprietary 'Pédagogie 4D' methodology, which embeds sustainable development as a fourth pedagogical dimension alongside conventional training dimensions.

Revenue is generated through multiple publicly funded streams typical of the French vocational training system: apprenticeship and professionalization contracts (training costs paid by employing companies and subsidies); contribution through OPCO (Opérateurs de Compétences); the 'taxe d'apprentissage' (0.9% of employer payroll contributions); CPF/CSP/PSE funding for continuing education and VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience); and the CVEC student fee of €105 (2025-2026) collected by Crous. The organization maintains a distribution network of 500+ partner enterprises in Ile-de-France for apprentice placements, with dedicated enterprise relationships such as Au Forum du Bâtiment and Burger King France. Higher-education programs are delivered through certifying partnerships with Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (IREST), Université Gustave Eiffel, IDELCA Business School, and ECORIS, conferring RNCP-recognized titles at levels 3, 6 and 7.

Technology deployment centers on the proprietary 'Pédagogie 4D' framework and an integrated 'Parcours IA & RSE' (AI & CSR) curriculum of 41 hours within BTS MCO and BTS NDRC programs launched in September 2025, accompanied by an Open Badges micro-credentialing system and a December 2025 in-house Charter of Responsible AI Use. In March 2026 the organization extended its offering into entrepreneurship incubation through a partnership with Station F (Fighters Program). Operational status indicators — 2026 job dating events, an employability week in January 2026 training 450 apprentices, an international mobility programme (Malta, Marrakech) for BTS Tourisme, and a renewed Qualiopi certification (August 4, 2024) — confirm the institution is actively operating.

Name

Stephenson Formation

Legal name

Stephenson Formation, Association loi 1901

Website

https://stephenson-formation.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Stephenson Formation is a Paris-based French apprenticeship training center (CFA) operating 15 programs from CAP to Master's level across commerce, tourism, hospitality, banking, and digital marketing, serving individual apprentices through 500+ partner enterprises in Ile-de-France with funding from OPCO and French public training schemes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Apprenticeship Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN), Product Management (Core) (EDABAHAC), Valuation, M&A & Corporate Development (EDABAJAN)

Keywords

• Apprenticeship training programs
• Vocational education services
• Continuing education courses
• Work-integrated learning
• Professional certification training

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship contracts (alternance): Training costs covered by companies through apprenticeship contracts - remuneration based on SMIC percentage according to age and contract year. Companies receive financial aid from government for hiring apprentices.
2. Professionalization contracts (professionnalisation): Contracts for professional retraining and unemployed job seekers, funded through OPCO (Opérateur de Compétences)
3. Taxe d'apprentissage: Companies contribute a portion of their training tax (0.9% of payroll) to support apprenticeship organizations like Stephenson Formation
4. Continuing education and VAE: Professional development courses funded through CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation), CSP, PSE, or company training plans
5. CVEC fee collection: Contribution de Vie Etudiante et de Campus collected by Crous (105€ for 2025-2026), mandatory student fee for enrollment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stephenson Formation is a CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis) and continuing-education provider delivering apprenticeship-based vocational training programs from CAP to Master level in commerce, management, marketing, tourism, hospitality, banking, finance, and digital fields. Beyond apprenticeships, it runs Formation Continue, VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience), and dedicated programs such as the Fighters Program at Station F, alongside co-developed pedagogical tools like the Pédagogie 4D methodology and an integrated AI/RSE curriculum.

Product overview

Stephenson Formation is a vocational training organization (CFA - Centre de Formation en Apprentissage) offering a comprehensive portfolio of education programs from CAP (vocational training certificate) to Master's degree level. The organization operates on a dual-company training model covering commerce, management, tourism, hospitality, banking, digital marketing, and human resources sectors. Key programs include BTS MCO and NDRC (with integrated AI & RSE pathways from 2025), Bachelor and Licence Professionnelle degrees in collaboration with partners like IDELCA, ECORIS, and Paris 1 Sorbonne, and four Master's programs in tourism and hospitality. The institution also provides continuing education, VAE services, and the Fighters Program in partnership with Station F for entrepreneurship. The 15 training programs are delivered using the 'Pédagogie 4D' methodology combining professional, digital, sustainable development, and behavioral dimensions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BTS MCO (Management Commercial Opérationnel) Two-year apprenticeship diploma program training apprentices in operational commercial management and retail business operations for the commerce sector.
• BTS NDRC (Négociation et Digitalisation de la Relation Client) Two-year apprenticeship diploma program focused on customer-relationship negotiation and digital client engagement, for apprentices targeting sales and client-management careers.
• BTS Tourisme Two-year apprenticeship diploma program specializing in tourism sector skills, including travel retail, e-tourism, and tour-operator operations.
• Bachelor Marketing Digital Bachelor-level apprenticeship program covering digital marketing techniques for apprentices targeting digital and marketing careers.
• Bachelor Commerce et Marketing Bachelor-level apprenticeship program training apprentices in commerce and marketing fundamentals, with practical work-integrated experience in partner companies.
• Licence Pro Banque Assurance Finance Professional Bachelor's degree apprenticeship program for apprentices seeking roles in banking, insurance, and financial services.
• Licence Pro E-Tourisme Professional Bachelor's degree apprenticeship program covering digital and e-tourism, including online travel, e-marketing for tourism operators, and digital distribution.
• Licence Pro Hôtellerie Professional Bachelor's degree apprenticeship program training apprentices in hotel and hospitality management for careers in the hotel sector.
• Master GATH Master-level apprenticeship program offering advanced training in the GATH specialization for senior roles in management or hospitality sectors.
• Master DATT Master-level apprenticeship program offering advanced training in the DATT specialization.
• Master EDTI Master-level apprenticeship program providing advanced education in the EDTI specialization.
• Master GVTP Master-level apprenticeship program offering advanced training in the GVTP specialization.
• CAP EPC (Employé Polyvalent du Commerce) CAP-level apprenticeship diploma program training apprentices in versatile retail-store sales and customer-service operations.
• BAC Pro MA (Métiers de l'Accueil) BAC Pro-level apprenticeship diploma program training apprentices in customer reception and front-desk services.
• BAC Pro MCV (Métiers du Commerce et de la Vente) BAC Pro-level apprenticeship diploma program training apprentices in commerce, sales, and customer-relationship roles.
• Titre Pro Conseiller de Vente Professional title (Titre Professionnel) certification program training apprentices in sales advisory roles in retail.
• Titre Pro Assistant MUM Professional title (Titre Professionnel) certification program training assistants in MUM (multi-service unit operations).
• Formation Continue et VAE Continuing-education (Formation Continue) and VAE programs offering Qualiopi-certified upskilling, reskilling, and validation of prior learning for working professionals and corporate HR buyers in commerce, hospitality, digital, and banking sectors.
• Fighters Program (Station F) Dedicated program delivered inside Station F for startup founders and employees, combining entrepreneurship, AI, and business-skills training through the proprietary Pédagogie 4D framework.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Station FcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Collaboration on Fighters Program - a 100% free 7-month intensive entrepreneurship accompaniment program for atypical entrepreneurs. Round 1 (1 month) validates ideas through networking and masterclasses; Round 2 (6 months) structures startups with workspace access at Station F.
• MAIFminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Insurance partner for Eco Games Paris 2022 - an eco-responsible sporting event co-constructed with apprentices focusing on environment and sustainable development themes.
• Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (IREST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for Licence Professionnelle E-tourism and Master programs (GATH, DATT, EDTI, GVTP). Provides university diploma recognition with Stephenson delivering practical training components.
• Université Gustave EiffelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertifying university for Licence Professionnelle Assurance, Banque, Finance: chargé de clientèle (RNCP40193). Degree level 6, 180 ECTS.
• IDELCA Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertifying institution for Bachelor Marketing Digital (RNCP40248). Title 'Responsable de la performance commerciale et du marketing digital' recognized at level 6.
• ECORIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertifying institution for Bachelor Commerce et Marketing - Entrepreneuriat (RNCP42153). Title 'Responsable en développement commercial et marketing'.
• Au Forum du BâtimentstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDedicated partner enterprise for Titre professionnel Conseiller de vente program, providing apprenticeship placement opportunities.
• Burger King FrancestrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDedicated partner enterprise for Titre professionnel Assistant MUM - Manager d'Unité Marchande, providing apprenticeship placements in fast-food retail management.
• OPCO (Opérateurs de Compétences)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment-approved skills operators financing apprenticeship and professionalization contracts, handling funding declarations and employer subsidies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ISCOD: Specialist in 100% online alternance programs (BTS, Bachelor, Mastère) in commerce, marketing, digital and management. Comparable to Stephenson on program mix and RNCP target levels but competes via a fully remote delivery model targeting the same candidate pool.
• Skill and You: Distance-learning training group delivering CAP to Bac+5 programs in commerce, management, hospitality, tourism and finance, with strong alternance and CPF-funded offers. Direct competitor to Stephenson's program portfolio via remote delivery, appealing to similar learner demographics across France.
• ENACO: Online-first French CFA offering BTS, Bachelor and Titre Professionnel programs in alternance across commerce, management, marketing and digital. Direct competitor to Stephenson's BTS/Bachelor programs, distinguished by a digital-delivery model rather than a single Paris campus.
• IFOCOP: Paris-based alternance specialist delivering Titre Professionnel and Bac+2/+3 programs in commerce, management and tourism/hospitality. Closely comparable to Stephenson in geography, program mix (CAP/Titre Pro/BTS) and target learner segment, competing for the same Ile-de-France apprentice pool.

Broad incumbents

• CCI Formation: The network of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry runs extensive alternance and continuing-education programs nationwide. Comparable in mission (CFA delivery, professional qualifications, OPCO-funded programs) but operates as a public-institution network with multi-site geographic reach that Stephenson lacks.
• AFPA: France's national agency for adult vocational training, delivering alternance and professionalisation programs across multiple sectors. Comparable to Stephenson as a major CFA/training provider, but at national scale and with a broader portfolio including industrial and construction trades.
• OMNES Education: French private higher-education group encompassing schools in commerce, engineering, communication and political science, with substantial alternance programs. Comparable on Bachelor/Master credentials and alternance delivery, but with broader portfolio and multi-site presence beyond Paris.
• ESG (Galileo Global Education): Network of French business schools offering Bachelor to Master programs in commerce, marketing and management with significant alternance. Comparable to Stephenson's university-partnered Bachelor/Master tracks, but at multi-campus national scale and owned by a global education group.
• Cegos: France-headquartered international corporate training leader offering professional development across management, leadership, finance and digital. Overlaps with Stephenson's continuing education and corporate training offerings, but Cegos operates at much larger scale and serves enterprise clients globally.

Others

• IREST (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne): Tourism research and training institute within Sorbonne that already partners with Stephenson on Licence Pro E-tourisme and Master programs. Listed as a peer/ecosystem participant rather than competitor because of the existing co-delivery relationship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StephensonForm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stephenson Formation