AD FORMATION

What AD FORMATION does

AD FORMATION is a privately-held professional training organization founded in 2004 by Aldo CANCARE in the Lille region of Hauts-de-France, France. The company delivers customized training programs to enterprises, public administrations, healthcare organizations, banks, industrial companies, and individual clients, with a primary focus on Bureautique (Microsoft Office suite: Windows, Outlook, Excel at three levels, Word, and PowerPoint). Over time the offering has expanded to include Management and Personal Development training (introduced 2009) and Safety/Certification training including CACES crane operations and electrical certifications (introduced 2010 and expanded 2016).

The underlying delivery platform is multi-modal, combining in-person instruction at the company's eight regional training centers (Lille, Lens, Valenciennes, Cambrai, Douai, Roubaix, Dunkerque, Arras) with e-learning modules and Visio Conférence-based distance learning sessions of 3h30 for groups of up to four trainees. The company maintains a network of approximately 20 expert trainers, coaches, and business consultants delivering roughly 1,000 training hours per year, supported by a small internal staff of about nine employees. The offering architecture follows a hub-and-spoke model where core office productivity training forms the primary revenue driver, supplemented by specialized professional development and safety/certification modules.

AD FORMATION operates a B2B sales-led go-to-market model with commissioned business development representatives (Chargé d'affaires) covering geographic sectors, and partners with AFTRAL for distribution and with OPCAs (Forthac, Arpih, Agefos) and CPF/CIF/AIF financing mechanisms to fund employee training. Revenue is generated through quote-based pricing on customized intra-company (on-site) and inter-company (open-enrollment) programs, with billing on multi-year contracts. The company does not disclose pricing publicly and shows no documented funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional ownership.

Name

AD FORMATION

Legal name

AD FORMATION

Website

https://ad-form.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AD FORMATION is a Northern France-based professional training organization founded in 2004, delivering customized Bureautique, Management, and Safety/CACES training to enterprises, public administrations, and individuals across eight regional centers via in-person, e-learning, and video conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training Services

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

IT, Systems & Tools Onboarding (Access, Apps, Security Basics) (EDABAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Onboarding & New-Hire Training Programs (BPACANAF), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Professional training services
• Office productivity training
• Management development training
• Workplace safety certification
• Corporate continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Douai

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: AD FORMATION generates revenue through professional training services delivered to enterprises, public administrations, healthcare organizations, banks, and individual clients. Training is offered through intra-company (customized on-site) and inter-company (open enrollment in their centers) formats. Revenue is also derived from financing arrangements with OPCAs (organismes paritaires collecteurs agréés) that fund employee training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AD FORMATION delivers customized professional training programs to enterprises, public administrations, healthcare organizations, banks, and industrial companies across Northern France. Core offerings include Bureautique training (Microsoft Office: Windows, Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint), management and personal development courses, and workplace safety certifications (Caces, electrical). Programs are delivered through in-person sessions, e-learning, and Visio Conférence distance learning, typically in groups of up to 4 trainees.

Product overview

AD FORMATION is a professional training organization founded in 2004 offering a comprehensive portfolio of training products and services across the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The core offering centers on Bureautique (office productivity) training with sub-products covering Windows, Outlook, Excel (Initiation, Intermédiaire, Perfectionnement levels), Word (Initiation, Perfectionnement), and PowerPoint. Beyond office skills, the company has expanded into Management & Personal Development training (since 2009) and Safety/Certification training including Caces and electrical certifications (since 2010). Training is delivered through three modalities: in-person (présentiel), e-learning, and distance learning via video conference (Visio Conférence) with 3h30 sessions for groups of up to 4 participants. The company also provides financing support services including CPF guidance. The product architecture follows a hub-and-spoke model where the core office training products form the primary offering, supplemented by specialized professional development and safety training modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bureautique (Office Productivity) Training Program Core office productivity training covering Microsoft Office applications (Windows, Outlook, Excel at Initiation, Intermédiaire, Perfectionnement levels; Word at Initiation and Perfectionnement; and PowerPoint), delivered in-person or via Visio Conférence in 3h30 sessions for groups of up to 4 trainees.
• Management & Personal Development Training Professional development courses covering stress management, personal development, and leadership / management skills for corporate clients, introduced in 2009.
• Safety & Certification Training (Caces, Electrical) Workplace safety training covering health and safety certifications including Caces bridge crane categories 1 and 2, cabin operations, and electrical certifications, introduced in 2010.
• Corporate Training (Intra-Enterprise / Inter-Enterprise) Customized training programs delivered either at client sites (intra-enterprise) or in AD FORMATION centers (inter-enterprise) for businesses, public administrations, and associations.
• CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation) Financing Support Guidance and support for employees to use their CPF (Personal Training Account) for financing training, including help with account creation and funding applications.

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AFTRALminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAD FORMATION operates in partnership with AFTRAL, a major French professional training organization. AFTRAL is a leading provider of transport and logistics training in France, and this partnership allows AD FORMATION to leverage AFTRAL's brand and potentially access their training network and resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cegos: Cegos is a global leader in professional training and development, headquartered in France, with deep presence in management, leadership, and soft-skills training. Comparable in management and professional development offerings, but at international scale.
• AFPA: AFPA is France's largest public vocational and professional training organization, delivering training across regions and sectors. Comparable as a major French professional training provider serving similar B2B and CPF-financed markets, but at national scale versus AD Formation's regional focus.
• Demos (Formation): Demos is a major European professional training organization with strong French presence covering IT, management, and personal development. Comparable in product breadth and B2B sales-led GTM, but operates at significantly larger national/international scale.
• CCI Formation: CCI Formation is the training arm of France's Chambers of Commerce, delivering professional development across all French regions including Hauts-de-France. Overlaps directly with AD Formation in Bureautique, management, and IT training categories for enterprises and individuals.
• CNAM (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers): CNAM is a major French public higher education institution offering professional and continuing education across France. Comparable in vocational/professional training and adult learners, but with academic credentials and national scale.

Emerging players

• OpenClassrooms: OpenClassrooms is a leading French online education platform offering cohort-based and self-paced professional training with employer financing. Comparable in professional upskilling and CPF-funded training, but operates via digital delivery rather than AD Formation's physical-center model.

Direct peers

• AFTRAL: AFTRAL is France's leading transport and logistics training organization, and AD FORMATION's listed strategic partner. Directly comparable in French professional training market, overlapping in Caces/safety certification categories and serving similar B2B/CPF-financed customers.
• ORSYS: ORSYS is a French private training organization specializing in IT, management, and digital transformation courses for enterprises. Highly comparable in product mix (Office tools, IT, management training), B2B customer segment, and intra/inter-company delivery model.
• IB Formation: IB Formation is a French private training organization focused on IT and Bureautique training for enterprises, with multi-site regional delivery. Closely comparable in core Bureautique product portfolio, intra/inter-company delivery model, and regional French B2B customers.

Regional players

• IFCAM (Crédit Agricole formation): IFCAM is the dedicated training arm of Crédit Agricole group, delivering professional training across banking, finance, and management. Comparable in intra-company B2B training model for a regulated industry vertical, but captive to its parent banking group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ad-formation59

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 AD FORMATION