What SYNPASE does

SYNPASE (Syndicat National des Professionnels de l'Audiovisuel, du Spectacle et de l'Événement) is a French professional trade union and employer federation founded in 1988 and headquartered in Paris. It exclusively represents companies providing technical services for live performance and events across France — including set constructors, audiovisual production firms, rigging and scaffolding specialists, lighting and sound technicians, and equipment rental companies. The organization holds official representational mandates in key industry bodies (CPNEF-SV, CNL, CNAM CNO) and negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of its member companies, most recently co-creating the unified Convention Collective n°3252 effective July 2024.

SYNPASE generates revenue primarily through recurring membership subscriptions from hundreds of affiliated companies. Its core product portfolio consists of advisory and representation services (590 member consultations in 2023), industry certifications (the Prestadd label for service providers and the CIMED technician certification program), reference publications (Rapport de branche, Mémento Matériels et Ensembles Démontables, Vade-Mecum de la prévention des risques), practical tools and templates (GDPR register model, public procurement guide), and the SYNPASE Club partner ecosystem connecting members to specialized service providers (Audiens for social protection, APAVE/DIVERSIS for training, Actuarem for HR compliance, AMAT for eco-responsible materials).

The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors (15 administrators for the 2023-2026 term) and operates with a small permanent staff of approximately 6 employees led by Délégué Général Philippe Abergel. Eric Barthélémy (BLIVE) was elected President in October 2023. The union distributes services primarily through direct member engagement across French regions (81% of consultations outside Île-de-France in 2023), industry trade show presence (JTSE, Heavent Paris, BIS), thematic days hosted by member companies, and the Synpase Club partner network.

Name

SYNPASE

Legal name

Syndicat National des Professionnels de l'Audiovisuel, du Spectacle et de l'Événement

Website

https://synpase.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SYNPASE is a French trade union founded in 1988 that represents companies providing technical services for live performance and events across France. It delivers advisory support, certifications (Prestadd, CIMED), collective bargaining representation, and partner ecosystem services to its member companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Union Services / Employer Federation

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Trade union representation
• Collective bargaining services
• Industry certification programs
• Member advisory services
• Sector labor compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: SYNPASE generates revenue through membership fees paid by affiliated companies in the audiovisual, scenic, and events sector. These subscriptions fund the union's activities including social dialogue, collective bargaining, member support, publications, and events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SYNPASE is the French national trade union (employer federation) representing companies that provide technical, scenic, and audiovisual services for live performance and events. Its core offering is a membership-based service bundle that combines regulatory and legal advisory, collective bargaining representation, industry reference publications, professional certifications (Prestadd label and CIMED training), and partner-network benefits for member companies operating across France.

Product overview

SYNPASE is a professional trade union for technical service providers in the live performance and events sector in France. Rather than a traditional software product company, SYNPASE provides a comprehensive suite of member services including: reference publications (Rapport de branche, Mémento Matériels et Ensembles Démontables), practical guides (Vade-Mecum, Petit Mémento, Guide de l'acheteur public), templates (RGPD register model), professional certifications (Label Prestataire, CIMED training), access to partner services (AMAT eco-material library, Actuarem 4I tool), and the SYNPASE Club professional network. The organization also negotiates collective agreements and provides occupational health and safety support through its Convention Nationale d'Objectifs (CNO) with CNAM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SYNPASE Club: A professional network and exchange platform bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, training organizations, event organizers, insurers, and other ecosystem actors serving the audiovisual and event sector.

Products and services

• SYNPASE Trade Union Membership Subscription Annual membership subscription providing French technical service companies in the audiovisual, scenic and event sectors with regulatory and legal advisory (590+ consultations in 2023), representation in collective bargaining and industry bodies (CPNEF-SV, CNL, CNAM CNO), access to publications and partner services, and eligibility for the Prestadd label and CIMED certification pathways.
• Label Prestataire de Service du Spectacle Vivant (Prestadd) Industry certification label granted to qualifying French live performance technical service companies, distinguishing legitimate providers in the sector and facilitating compliant use of intermittent (CDDU) workers. Available to qualifying member companies.
• Formation CIMED Certification Training Modular certification training for technicians competent in the inspection of temporary equipment and structures, with four specialties (CIMED 1-4) covering demountable grandstands, stages, beams/grids, and scaffolding. Delivered through SYNPASE-approved training organizations APAVE and DIVERSIS.
• SYNPASE Club Partner Network Partner ecosystem and exchange platform connecting manufacturers, suppliers, training providers, software vendors, insurers and event organizers with SYNPASE members, providing visibility, cross-promotion at union events, and access to the SYNPASE member base.
• Mémento Matériels et Ensembles Démontables Industry reference compendium on the design, implementation and verification of temporary/demountable equipment and structures, published by SYNPASE in French and English and used as a best-practice standard by the sector.
• Convention Nationale d'Objectifs (CNO) Aid Program

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• ActuaremminorOthers · 1 January 2023SYNPASE formalized a partnership with the Actuarem platform (https://actuarem.com/) enabling member companies to calculate severance compensation (4I: rupture conventionnelle, licenciement, départ volontaire, mise à la retraite) according to legislative and collective agreement texts. Small companies (<10 permanent employees) receive free access as a negotiated benefit.
• Novelty FranceminorOthers · 1 January 2023Novelty France hosted the second SYNPASE Thematic Day in 2023 on the theme of software management for technical equipment and service planning, welcoming approximately 40 participants.
• After France (constructeur de décors)minorOthers · 1 January 2023After France, a set construction company, hosted the first SYNPASE Thematic Day in February 2023, with participation from the Banque de France on sector financial ratios (study ACSEL 2022).
• Banque de FranceminorOthers · 1 January 2023The Banque de France participated in the first SYNPASE Thematic Day in February 2023, presenting the results of the ACSEL study commissioned by SYNPASE covering economic and financial ratios of the sector for 2017-2021.
• Bruit du MarteauminorOthers · 1 January 2023SYNPASE has been a partner of the Bruit du Marteau event (championship of scenic scaffolding assemblers) since 2019, including the 2023 edition (March-April 2023 at Meyrié, 69). Patrick Fromentin, then President, was a jury member.
• SYNAM (Syndicat National des Agences de Mannequins)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SYNAM (National Union of Model Agencies) joined SYNPASE in 2022 to benefit from its political weight in terms of representativeness for sector-level social dialogue. Mandated to represent model agencies within the unified collective agreement framework.
• FFAM (Fédération Française des Agences de Mannequins)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023FFAM (French Federation of Model Agencies) joined SYNPASE in 2023 to participate in branch negotiations and represent its members. A tripartite convention with SYNPASE and SYNAM ensures both organizations can represent model agencies in the consolidated collective agreement.
• AMAT (Matériauthèque éco-responsable de l'évènement)minorOthers · 1 January 2019AMAT is an eco-responsible material library for events, providing SYNPASE members with free access to a curated selection of reusable, recyclable, or non-toxic materials across five categories: flooring, walls and ceilings, lighting and furniture, signage, and sets and accessories.
• Prestataires Solidaires PlatformminorOthers · 1 January 2019A mutual aid/solidarity platform for service providers in the events sector, referenced on SYNPASE's site as a resource for members facing economic challenges.
• Collectif des organisations professionnelles de la filière événementiellemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019SYNPASE co-founded and participates in the 'Collectif' grouping together Coésio, Créalians, France Congrès et Événements, La Clé – Collective des Lieux Événementiels, TRAITEURS DE FRANCE, L'ÉVÉNEMENT, SYNPASE, and UNIMEV. The collective was showcased at Heavent Paris 2023 around a day dedicated to employment, and collectively addresses industry challenges and policy positions.
• AudienscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Audiens is the social protection group for the culture, communication, and media sectors in France. SYNPASE works with Audiens to provide members with information on health insurance, social protection, pension schemes, and employer obligations for intermittent workers. Audiens also organizes the 'Tour de France de la Protection sociale' with SYNPASE support, and provides a network of negotiated health benefits including the Sévéane healthcare network.
• Sévéane Healthcare NetworkminorOthers · 1 January 2018Sévéane is a healthcare provider network chosen by Audiens, offering negotiated rates with opticians (3,460 partners), hearing aid specialists (1,540), and dentists (4,540) across France. Available to Audiens-insured employees of member companies.
• APAVE (Approved training organization)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018APAVE is one of two organizations approved by SYNPASE to deliver CIMED certification training (technician competent in inspection of temporary structures and equipment) — CIMED 1 (demountable stands), CIMED 2 (stages), CIMED 3 (beams and grids), CIMED 4 (scaffolding, walkways, control towers). Contact: Sylvain Calmels.
• DIVERSIS (Approved training organization)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018DIVERSIS is one of two organizations approved by SYNPASE to deliver CIMED certification training for technicians competent in inspection of temporary structures and equipment. Contact: Richard Gil.
• CNAM (Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016SYNPASE negotiated and signed a Convention Nationale d'Objectifs (CNO) with CNAM in 2018 (renewed 2023–2028) enabling member companies (<200 employees, code risque 923AD) to receive financial aid for occupational health and safety actions, including training, equipment investment, and prevention measures. The agreement covers risks such as manual handling, work at height, dangerous substances, and general working conditions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Créaliens: Federation of event creation professionals in France; fellow member of the Collectif filière événementielle alongside SYNPASE, addressing similar technical service and live performance issues.
• UNIMEV: Union Française des Métiers de l'Événement, the leading French trade association for event professionals. Co-member with SYNPASE of the Collectif des organisations professionnelles de la filière événementielle, representing an adjacent (and partly overlapping) event-sector employer base.
• France Congrès et Événements: Professional federation of convention and event venues in France; member of the same Collectif as SYNPASE, addressing overlapping industry issues around venues, hospitality, and event services.
• FICAM Pro: Fédération des Industries du Cinéma, de l'Audiovisuel et du Multimédia, representing technical service providers in audiovisual production. Co-negotiator with SYNPASE of the unified Convention Collective n°3252 for creation and event enterprises.
• L'ÉVÉNEMENT: Trade association for event agencies in France, also part of the Collectif filière événementielle and the unified CC n°3252 negotiations alongside SYNPASE.
• TRAITEURS DE FRANCE: Federation of event caterers in France, also part of the Collectif filière événementielle. Shares with SYNPASE the negotiation of industry-wide labor and procurement frameworks for the event sector.
• La Clé - Collective des Lieux Événementiels: Collective of event venues in France, part of the same Collectif as SYNPASE. Represents venue-side stakeholders with overlapping membership in the event services ecosystem.
• Coésio: French event-sector federation also participating in the Collectif filière événementielle. Represents event service providers with overlapping value propositions to SYNPASE members.

Emerging players

• SMA (Syndicat des Musiques Actuelles): French federation representing contemporary music venues and producers, an adjacent live-performance employer group that occasionally intersects with SYNPASE on social-dialogue and certification matters.

Others

• Audiens: Social protection group for culture, communication, and media sectors in France; a Core partner of SYNPASE since 2018, providing health, pension, and training benefits to SYNPASE member employees. Comparable as an ecosystem actor serving the same constituency rather than as a competing union.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synpase

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 SYNPASE