EPE - Escola Profissional de Esposende

What EPE - Escola Profissional de Esposende does

EPE - Escola Profissional de Esposende is a private Portuguese vocational education institution founded in September 1993 and located in Fão, Esposende (Northern Portugal). The school is owned and operated by Zendensino - Cooperativa de Ensino e Interesse Público de Responsabilidade Limitada, a public-interest cooperative whose founding members are the Câmara Municipal de Esposende and Cooperativa de Ensino Alfacoop. EPE delivers Level 4 Cursos Profissionais (3-year professional courses) and Level 2–3 CEF vocational training courses across hospitality and tourism (kitchen/pastry, restaurant-bar, hotel accommodation), media and IT (multimedia, IT management), sports (sports technician, sports management support), education and social services (educational action, sociocultural animation), and communication/marketing. Course delivery combines classroom instruction with mandatory Formação em Contexto de Trabalho (work-placement) internships hosted by a network of 50+ regional and international business partners including Vila Galé, Pestana, Axis Hotels, Meliá, Grifid, and IPCA.

The school is co-financed by European Funds through the Pessoas 2030 program under Portugal 2030, with no commercial tuition revenue — students receive subsidies covering food, transport, materials, and professionalization allowances. Internationally, EPE operates Erasmus+ mobility programs spanning Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Poland, Germany, Spain, and Czech Republic. The institution carries ISO 9001 certification (since 2005), EQAVET Conformity Seal (since 2020), ENIS Innovative School status (since 2003), Eco-Escola awards (2010–2013), and Bandeira Azul / Blue School designation (2022). Recent strategic activity includes a 2023 application for Specialized Technological Center status in the industrial area and receipt of Erasmus+ Project Excellence Awards in 2026. With 42 employees, EPE serves a youth student base (ages 15–19) primarily drawn from the Esposende municipality and broader Cávado region of Northern Portugal.

Name

EPE - Escola Profissional de Esposende

Legal name

Escola Profissional de Esposende

Website

https://epe.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAABAL

Tutoring, Study Skills & Learning Strategies for ASE

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Professional training
• Secondary education
• Hospitality training
• Information technology courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Fão

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The school is co-financed by European Funds (Fundos Europeus) under the Pessoas 2030 program, receiving public funding for initial qualification courses.
2. Student Subsidies: Students receive subsidies including food allowance, transport allowance, school material allowance, and professionalization allowance, funded through government programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EPE is a private vocational education institution in Fão, Esposende, Portugal, founded in 1993, that delivers Level 4 professional courses (cursos profissionais) and Level 2-3 CEF courses across disciplines including hospitality, tourism, multimedia, sports, education, information technology, and communication/marketing. The school combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training (FCT) and international mobility programs through Erasmus+, targeting secondary-level students seeking professionally oriented qualifications.

Product overview

EPE - Escola Profissional de Esposende operates as a vocational education institution offering a portfolio of professional courses (Cursos Profissionais) at Level 4 and vocational training courses (CEF) at Levels 2-3. The school's offering includes courses in hospitality and tourism (Kitchen/Restaurant, Hotel Accommodation, Pastry/Bakery), media and technology (Multimedia, IT/Management Informatics), sports and recreation (Sports, Sports Management Support), education and social animation (Educational Action, Sociocultural Animation), and communication/marketing. Students receive practical training through Formation in Work Context (FCT) stages and can progress to higher education. The institution also participates in Erasmus+ international mobility programs for both students and staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Erasmus+ S.M.I.L.E. European mobility and exchange programs including SMIL.E, The CIS Tourism, and Ecotour projects

Products and services

• Cursos Profissionais (Level 4 Professional Courses) Three-year Level 4 vocational secondary courses combining classroom instruction, FCT workplace training, and Erasmus+ international mobility, offered in areas such as hospitality, tourism, multimedia, sports, education, IT, and communication/marketing. Targeted at secondary-age students seeking professionally oriented qualifications.
• Cursos CEF (Level 2-3 Vocational Training Courses)

Quantifiable outcome

• Students successfully complete professional qualifications with access to higher education or direct employment.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zendensino - Cooperativa de Ensino e Interesse PúblicocoreOthers · 10 September 1999Zendensino is the parent cooperative entity that owns and manages the EPE school. Founded on September 10, 1999, it is composed of the Câmara Municipal de Esposende and Alfacoop cooperative. It ensures administrative, economic, financial, and property management of the school.
• Câmara Municipal de EsposendecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Municipality of Esposende is a founding partner and co-owner through Zendensino. Collaborates on community events and supports school initiatives.
• IPCA - Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do AvecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner providing pathways to higher education. Students can access CTeSPs and undergraduate degrees. Also provides student interns to EPE through partnership.
• Associação Rio Neiva - Defesa do AmbienteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on NatureLab European project studying nature's impact on physical and mental health. Activities were conducted at Foz do Neiva natural space.
• EduCaixa / Fundação 'la Caixa'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Liderança para a Aprendizagem' (Leadership for Learning) program. EPE participated in the 5th edition of this educational leadership program.
• European Erasmus+ Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mobility program partners including institutions from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Poland, Germany, Spain, and Czech Republic. Provides student and staff exchanges.
• Vila Galé HotelscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor hospitality partner hosting students for internships. Students have visited Vila Galé Ponte de Lima and Vineyard Location. Also hosts international mobility participants in Bulgaria.
• Grifid Hotels (Bulgaria)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational hospitality partner in Varna, Bulgaria. Hosts EPE students for 3-week internships across multiple properties (Grifid NOA, Vistamar, Encanto Beach, Arabella, Bolero) under Erasmus+ program.
• Axis Hotels & GolfcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional hospitality partner providing internship placements for hotel operations students. Properties include Axis Ofir, Vermar, and Ponte de Lima.
• Hotel Suave MarcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal hospitality partner providing internship opportunities for hospitality and communication students.
• Pestana Hotel GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational hospitality partner where alumni have completed internships, including at Porto Santo Pestana Hotel.
• Notur - Agência de Viagens e TurismominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTravel and tourism agency partner for marketing and communication students, providing internship opportunities.
• Meliá Hotels InternationalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational hospitality partner providing internship opportunities for culinary students.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de EsposendecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial institution providing internship placements for educational action students.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de BarcelosminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial institution providing internship opportunities for action education students.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de FãominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial institution partner for action education student internships.
• Centro Social Paroquial de AguçadouraminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial care center providing internship opportunities for educational action students.
• ASCRA - Associação Social, Cultural e Recreativa de ApúliaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing social and cultural association providing internship placements for action education and sociocultural animator students.
• Centro Social da Juventude Unida de Marinhas (JUM)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerYouth social center providing internship opportunities for action education and sociocultural animator students. Some former interns have been hired as employees.
• Centro Social da Juventude de BelinhominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial institution partner for student internships in educational action.
• Centro Social da Juventude de MarminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial institution partner for student internships in educational action.
• Centro Social da Juventude Unida de MarinhasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial institution partner for student internships in educational action.
• Centro de Bem Estar Social de BarqueirosminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial welfare center providing internship opportunities for action education students.
• Centro Humanitário CVP de Macieira de RatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPortuguese Red Cross humanitarian center providing internship placements for students.
• Centro de Intervenção Cultural e Social de Palmeira de FarominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCultural and social intervention center providing internship opportunities for students.
• A Beneficente - Associação de Solidariedade SocialminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSocial solidarity association providing internship placements for action education students.
• Esposende Basket ClubeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSports club partnered with action education students for children's basketball event animation.
• Associação Desportiva de EsposendeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSports association partner for sports management students.
• Clube de Futebol de FãominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal football club providing internship opportunities for sports management students.
• Clube Náutico de FãominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWater sports club partner for sports management students.
• ACICE - Associação Comercial e Industrial do Concelho de EsposendeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChamber of commerce partner, particularly for communication and marketing courses.
• Municipio de EsposendecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner collaborating on educational initiatives and community events including sustainable gastronomy activities.
• Municipio da Póvoa de VarzimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring municipality partner for communication and marketing course activities.
• PROPEDALminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal cycling tourism company founded in 2003, partnered for hotel management student activities exploring local tourism offerings.
• Proriver - Atividades TurísticasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTourism company providing internship opportunities for tourism operations students. 10-year partnership with positive impact on company projects.
• Mobility FriendscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational mobility consortium partner coordinating Erasmus+ student and staff mobility projects with Bulgarian host organizations.
• Forum EsposendenseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal media partner for communication and marketing students.
• Mais/SemanáriominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional media outlet partner for communication and marketing course students.
• OndaMagna (OM Surfschool)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSurf school partner providing internship opportunities for tourism operations students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• IEFP - Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional: Portugal's national public employment and vocational training institute. Operates state-funded VET centers nationwide, competing for the same government-funded vocational training mandate and student subsidies as EPE.
• IPP - Instituto Politécnico do Porto: Major public polytechnic in Porto offering undergraduate and professional higher education across multiple schools (including technology, hospitality, and management). Represents a broader incumbent alternative pathway for students in Northern Portugal.
• IPCA - Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave: Public polytechnic in Barcelos, Northern Portugal, and a strategic partner of EPE. Offers undergraduate and CTeSP programs; comparable as a regional post-secondary education institution serving an overlapping Cávado-region student base.

Others

• Universidade do Minho: Public university in Braga, Northern Portugal, providing a complementary tertiary education pathway. Relevant as the primary alternative higher-education route for EPE graduates not entering the IPCA partnership.

Direct peers

• EPATV - Escola Profissional Atlântica: Private vocational school in Vila do Conde/Barcelos area of Northern Portugal offering Level 4 professional courses across hospitality, tourism, IT, and social areas. Closest comparable to EPE in scale, region, structure, and program mix.

Regional players

• IPB - Instituto Politécnico de Bragança: Public polytechnic in Trás-os-Montes, Northern Portugal, serving an adjacent rural region. Comparable as a regional public post-secondary institution with vocational and undergraduate offerings, though operating in a different catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/escolaprofissionaldeesposende
• Instagraminstagram.com/epe_esposende
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epe---escola-profissional-de-esposende

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 EPE - Escola Profissional de Esposende