VHF

What VHF does

VHF (legal entity VHF, Lda; operating brand VHF Global Formação e Certificação) is a Portuguese-headquartered B2B services company specializing in Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) training and consulting. Founded in 2013 and operating from Sines, Portugal, the company serves industrial clients in the Oil & Gas, logistics, and ports sectors, with named customers including Galp Refinaria de Sines, REPSOL Polímeros de Sines, APS – Administração do Porto de Sines, and LAUAK Portugal. The company reports 39 years of operational activity in the HSE sector, a network of 5,000+ qualified technicians, and operations spanning 47 countries with physical offices in Portugal, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mozambique.

The company's offering is organized along two pillars. The first is a catalog of 30+ standardized training courses covering equipment operation (forklifts, cranes, dumpers, excavators, elevating platforms), regulatory compliance (ATEX, Seveso III, DL50/2005, GDPR), safety disciplines (work at height, confined spaces, LOTO, H2S, chemical and electrical risks), food safety (HACCP), first aid, and emergency evacuation, delivered in-person or asynchronously online via the TalentLMS platform in Portuguese, English, and Spanish at €35–€125 per course. The second pillar is consulting services including QHSE management system implementation (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 22000, 27001, 26000), recruitment and selection, inspection and certification, audits, and industrial emergency and rescue services, packaged as an integrated "360° HSE Solution" or "Total QHSE Solution" covering design, safety plans, coordination, equipment provision, atmosphere monitoring, technical supervision, and intervention brigades.

VHF's business model is professional services revenue from both unit-priced training courses and enterprise-level consulting contracts, accessed via direct field sales to major industrial clients in Portuguese-speaking markets. Marketing is primarily through the company website, the TalentLMS storefront, industry events (SANTIAGRO 2024, World OSH Day), and self-organized VHF QHSE Excellence Awards. Leadership consists of CEO Hugo Manuel Ferreira and Director of Operations PT Suse Oliveira. The company is privately held, founder/management-owned, with no external institutional funding disclosed.

Name

VHF

Legal name

VHF, Lda

Website

https://vhf.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

VHF is a Portuguese B2B training and consulting firm delivering QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, Environment) services to industrial clients in Oil & Gas, logistics, and ports across Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe, combining a 30+ course training catalog with integrated HSE consulting and industrial rescue services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

QHSE Training and Consulting

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification Support (Stage 1/2) & External Audit сопровождение (EUAHAIAF)

Keywords

• Occupational safety training
• QHSE consulting services
• Industrial safety certification
• Health and safety compliance
• Emergency response services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sines

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Services: Professional training courses in occupational safety, health, environment, and quality. Courses available in-person and online in multiple languages including Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
2. HSE Consulting and Services: Comprehensive health, safety and environment consulting including system implementation, audits, inspections, emergency planning, and recruitment services for industrial clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VHF is a Portuguese training and environmental consultancy that delivers QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment) services to industrial clients. The company offers a broad portfolio of in-person and online training courses (covering equipment operation, safety standards, food safety, first aid, and regulatory compliance) plus consulting services including management system implementation, audits, inspections, recruitment, and industrial emergency and rescue.

Product overview

VHF (VHF Global Formação e Certificação) is a Portuguese multinational specializing in Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) training and consulting services. The company offers a broad portfolio organized into two main pillars: (1) over 30 specialized training courses delivered in-person or online via the TalentLMS platform, covering equipment operation (forklifts, cranes, excavators), safety standards (ATEX, Seveso III, work at height, confined spaces, LOTO), food safety (HACCP), first aid, defensive driving, emergency evacuation, and regulatory compliance (DL50/2005, GDPR); and (2) consulting services including QHSE management system implementation (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 22000, 27001), recruitment and selection, inspection and certification, audits, and industrial emergency and rescue services. The company operates a comprehensive 'Total Solution' model offering end-to-end HSE project support including HSE design, safety plans, safety coordination, equipment provision, atmosphere monitoring, and technical supervision. Training courses are also available in English and Spanish.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solução Total QHSE (360° HSE Solution) Integrated end-to-end HSE service covering design, safety plans, coordination, equipment provision, atmosphere monitoring, technical supervision, quality control, and emergency response for industrial projects in Oil & Gas, ports, and logistics.
• Implementação de Sistemas de Gestão QHSE Consulting service implementing QHSE management system standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 26000, ISO 22000, and ISO 27001 for industrial clients.
• Inspecção e Certificação Inspection and certification services verifying legal conformity of machines, equipment, installations, personal and collective protective equipment, and premises.
• Auditorias Audit services covering safety, environmental, and health management systems, quality management systems, legal conformity verification, and RGPD (GDPR) audits.
• Emergência e Resgate Industrial Industrial emergency and rescue services including emergency plans, rescue teams, PPE/CPC provision, atmosphere monitoring, equipment installation, and intervention brigade training.
• Recrutamento e Selecção Recruitment and selection service for national and expatriate staff, including HR needs assessment, training plans, and career development plans, drawing on the company's network of 5,000+ qualified technicians.
• Formação Presencial (In-Person Training) In-person classroom training delivered at VHF's training centers or client sites, covering theoretical and practical components for occupational safety and health.
• Formação Online (Online Training via TalentLMS) Online training delivered 100% asynchronously via the TalentLMS platform, available 24/7 with trainer support via forum, chat, email, and phone, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
• QHSE Training Course Catalog Catalog of over 30 specialized QHSE training courses covering equipment operation, safety standards, food safety, first aid, defensive driving, emergency evacuation, and regulatory compliance. Individual named courses include Diretiva ATEX, Formação Básica de Segurança, Segurança com Empilhador, HACCP, Diretiva Seveso III, Ergonomia, Segurança com Ponte Rolante, Segurança com Multifunções, Espaços Confinados, Primeiros Socorros, Segurança com Grua de Torre, Segurança com Andaimes, Trabalhos em Altura, Investigação de Acidentes, Segurança com Plataforma Elevatória, Condução Defensiva, LOTO, Pandemia, Segurança na Utilização de Matérias Perigosas, DL50, Evacuação de Emergência, H2S Training, Princípios Gerais de Higiene e Segurança no Trabalho, Proteção de Dados (RGPD), Rigger, Segurança Contra Incêndios, Riscos Químicos, Riscos Elétricos, Máquinas em Obra, and Manobrador de Dumper.
• VHF Global Formação e Certificação The main brand division providing QHSE training and certification services, operating across Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe with a network of 5,000+ qualified technicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,580,000+ projects completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique (ENIDH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2024Cooperation protocol signed for collaboration in Training, Consulting and Events in Maritime-Port, Logistics and Security areas. Includes joint projects, professional training actions, conferences, student internships, and technical information exchange.
• Associação Empresarial de Sines (AES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local business association for supporting training programs and promoting regional development. AES supports VHF training initiatives including technical visits and collaborative events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: SGS is the world's largest TIC company, providing inspection, verification, testing, and certification across industrial sectors including oil & gas, ports, and logistics — directly competing with VHF's HSE inspection, audit, and certification services for enterprise industrial clients.
• DNV: DNV is a leading TIC and maritime classification society with deep expertise in oil & gas, ports, and energy — overlapping with VHF's HSE training, audits, and certification for refinery and port customers such as REPSOL and APS Sines.
• Intertek: Intertek is a global TIC provider offering quality assurance, testing, inspection, and certification for industrial clients including oil & gas and ports — a broad incumbent competitor to VHF's HSE inspection and ISO management system implementation services.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) leader covering marine, oil & gas, ports, industry, and buildings — overlapping directly with VHF's QHSE consulting, inspection, and certification services for O&G and port clients. As a much larger incumbent with worldwide coverage, it is the natural benchmark competitor for VHF's enterprise HSE offerings.
• TÜV Rheinland: TÜV Rheinland provides testing, inspection, certification, and training services globally for industrial clients, overlapping with VHF's QHSE consulting, ISO certification support, and equipment/personnel safety training.
• TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a global TIC and certification organization offering audits, ISO system certification (9001/14001/45001), industrial inspection, and safety training — directly comparable to VHF's integrated QHSE consulting and ISO implementation practice.
• RINA: RINA is an Italian-headquartered TIC, certification, and marine classification society with active operations in energy, ports, and industrial safety — overlapping with VHF's QHSE services to O&G refineries and port authorities across the Mediterranean and Lusophone markets.
• DEKRA: DEKRA is a global TIC firm specializing in industrial safety, automotive testing, and certification, with strong European presence — comparable to VHF in HSE training, inspection, and certification for O&G, ports, and industrial maintenance clients.

Direct peers

• Apave: Apave is a French TIC firm offering HSE consulting, technical inspection, training, and certification for industrial, construction, and energy clients — closely matching VHF's integrated HSE training + inspection + consulting model in continental Europe.

Regional players

• ISQ (Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade): ISQ is a Portuguese TIC and technology institute offering inspection, welding qualification, training, and certification for the oil & gas and industrial sectors — the closest Portugal-based regional peer to VHF, serving overlapping enterprise customers.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vhf-training

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 VHF