Tour de France companions

What Tour de France companions does

Les Compagnons du Tour de France is a French non-profit vocational training federation operating under the historic compagnonnage tradition that traces its origins back over 800 years. Officially founded in 1952 through the merger of the Companion Carpenters of the Devoir and Devoir de Liberté, the organization runs 17 regional federations, 18 CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis) training centers, and the Institut Européen de Formation (IEF) Mouchard, a national professional high school ranked 2nd best in France by Le Figaro in 2023. The federation trains 8,000+ learners annually in building trades (carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical, roofing, tiling), artisanal food trades (boulangerie, pâtisserie), and craft trades, with qualifications ranging from CAP to Licence. The core offering combines traditional dual education (alternance) with the unique 4-6 year Tour de France itinerancy program where graduates rotate across cities learning from master Companions while residing in Maisons des Compagnons boarding houses.

The federation's technology stack centers on the Net Ypareo digital learning platform (LMS), which enables hybrid and distance training alongside in-person instruction at the regional centers. The P2IPN (Pôle d'Ingénierie et d'Innovation Pédagogique National) hub supports trainers in developing new pedagogical solutions, with multimodal learning tools including video, motion design, serious games, and escape games. International mobility is delivered through the Erasmus+ Euroform programme, sending learners to host companies across 17+ European countries (Spain, UK, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, Finland). Supporting physical infrastructure includes three companion restaurants (Anglet, Limoges, Paris) and five museums showcasing compagnonnage heritage.

Revenue is generated primarily from public sources: government-funded apprenticeship contracts (contrat d'apprentissage) and professionnalisation contracts co-financed by OPCO operators; continuing professional education financed through OPCO, CPF, Pro-A, and PTP devices; the taxe d'apprentissage channeled via the SOLTÉA platform (0.59% payroll levy + 0.09% solde); regional council co-financing of learner support; and tax-deductible mécénat donations from individuals and companies. Tuition is not publicly listed; costs are covered through a combination of public funding, apprenticeship contracts, regional bursaries, national lycée scholarships, and social funds. Customer segments comprise young people (14-25) in initial training, salaried employees seeking upskilling/certifications, job seekers and career changers, and building-trade TPE/PME host companies. The organization operates as an Association loi 1901 recognized as being of public utility, with no private equity, venture capital, or external ownership involvement.

Name

Tour de France companions

Legal name

Fédération Compagnonnique des Métiers du Bâtiment et Autres Activités

Website

https://compagnonsdutourdefrance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Les Compagnons du Tour de France is a French non-profit vocational training federation operating 18 CFA centers and the IEF Mouchard national lycée, training 8,000+ learners annually across building, artisanal food, and craft trades through alternance apprenticeships and 4-6 year Tour de France itinerancy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mouchard

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded apprenticeship and training contracts: Revenue primarily derived from国家-funded apprenticeship contracts (contrat d'apprentissage) and professionnalisation contracts. The French state and regional councils co-finance learner salaries and training costs through OPCO operators. Training tax (taxe d'apprentissage) from companies provides supplementary funding.
2. Professional continuing education for employees and job seekers: Formation continue revenue from professional development modules, certification programs (CAP, BP, BTS, Licence, Titre Professionnel), and customized corporate training packages financed through OPCO, CPF, Pro-A, and PTP devices.
3. Taxe d'apprentissage contributions: Companies assujetties to the apprenticeship tax (0.59% of payroll for apprenticeship financing + 0.09% solde) can direct a portion to the organization's establishments via SOLTÉA platform. This represents a significant public financing stream.
4. Donations and patronage (mécénat): Tax-deductible donations from individuals (66% reduction up to 20% of taxable income) and companies (60% reduction up to 0.5% of turnover). Donors support training equipment, digital transition, and Tour de France itinerancy organization.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Les Compagnons du Tour de France is a non-profit federation operating a national network of 17 regional training centres (CFA) and the Institut Européen de Formation (IEF) Mouchard professional high school. It delivers alternating apprenticeship and continuing education programs in building trades (carpentry, masonry, plumbing, roofing, electrical), artisan crafts (baking, pastry, woodworking, cabinetmaking), and BIM/construction studies, from CAP to Licence level. Its distinctive Tour de France itinerancy program sends young graduates on a 4–6 year journey across France and Europe to learn from master craftspeople.

Product overview

Les Compagnons du Tour de France is a vocational training organization operating a network of 16+ CFA training centers and the Institut Européen de Formation (IEF) Mouchard professional high school. The organization offers comprehensive training programs in building trades (carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical, roofing), artisan crafts (bakery, patisserie, woodworking), and food service, ranging from CAP certificates to Licence degrees. Training is delivered through alternating apprenticeship (CFA), continuing professional education, and the unique Tour de France itinérance program where graduates travel 4-6 years learning from master craftsmen. Supporting services include student housing (Maisons des Compagnons), three companion restaurants, and five museums. Digital services include the Net Ypareo student portal for enrollment and training management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation en CFA (Apprenticeship Training)

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ learners trained annually across 19 sites
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Erasmus+ / Euroform ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Erasmus+ Euroform programme enables IEF Mouchard students and Tour de France itinerants to undertake international work placements in European partner companies across Spain, UK, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, and Finland. The programme provides funding for cross-border mobility and international skill development.
• SOLTÉA Platform (Ministry of Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOLTÉA is the national platform through which companies direct their apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage) contributions. The organization's establishments (UAI: 0391131T, SIRET: 40350234700012) are registered on SOLTÉA to receive 企业 contributions, representing a critical public funding channel.
• OPCO (Operators of Skills)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOPCO (formerly OPCA) are French government-mandated skills operators that finance vocational training for all active workers. They manage apprenticeship contracts, professionnalisation contracts, and continuing education funding for the network's learners and employer partners.
• European Companies (Euroform/Erasmus+ host employers)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompanies across Europe host Companions on international work placements as part of the Erasmus+ Euroform programme, spanning Spain, UK, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, and Finland.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• CAPEB: CAPEB is the French confederation of small building-trade craft businesses, many of which host apprentices on Les Compagnons programmes. It is a key employer-side partner and stakeholder in BTP apprenticeship, indirectly shaping demand for the federation's training.
• CCCA-BTP: CCCA-BTP is the governing body that coordinates apprenticeship funding and policy for the French BTP (building and public-works) sector, including oversight of BTP CFA. It is an institutional peer shaping the regulatory and financial environment Les Compagnons operates in.
• AKTO (OPCO): OPCO (skills operators) such as AKTO are the French state-mandated bodies that finance vocational training, including apprenticeship contracts relied on by Les Compagnons du Tour de France. They are critical funding partners rather than direct competitors.

Broad incumbents

• AFPA: Association nationale pour la Formation Professionnelle des Adultes is the largest state-backed vocational training network in France, offering continuing education, reskilling, and qualification programmes across many trade families that overlap with Les Compagnons du Tour de France's curriculum.
• CCI France - Réseau Formation: The Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) run training organisations across France offering apprenticeship, vocational, and continuing-education programmes in many trade families. They form a broad incumbent alternative to the federation's regional CFA network.

Direct peers

• GRETA: GRETA (Groupements d'Établements) is the public network of adult continuing-education providers operated via the French Éducation Nationale. It serves salaried employees and job seekers across trade families that overlap with Les Compagnons' continuing-education offerings.
• INBP (Institut National de Boulangerie Pâtisserie): INBP is France's leading specialised training centre for boulangerie and pâtisserie, based near Rouen. It offers CAP, BP, and continuing-education programmes that directly overlap with the food-trade training delivered within Les Compagnons du Tour de France's network.
• BTP CFA: BTP CFA is the umbrella network of apprenticeship centres (CFA) for the French building and public-works industry, operating ~100 centres nationwide via CCCA-BTP. It is the principal apprenticeship competitor to Les Compagnons du Tour de France in construction trades.
• Les Compagnons du Devoir: Les Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France is the other major compagnonnage network in France, formed from a parallel tradition. It runs a similar apprenticeship, Tour de France itinerancy, and trade-school model across many of the same craft families, making it the closest direct analogue to Les Compagnons du Tour de France.

Regional players

• ZDH / Handwerkskammer (German Chambers of Crafts): Germany's dual-system vocational training, coordinated through Handwerkskammern and the ZDH, is the European benchmark for alternance training in craft trades. Operates in a different national market but offers functional comparability in dual-learning model and trade-family coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtJPcifpX4bzC3xV9c6r44w
• Facebookfacebook.com/CompagnonsDuTourDeFrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/67181947/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/compagnons_tour_de_france/?hl=fr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tour de France companions