WorldSkills France

What WorldSkills France does

WorldSkills France is a non-profit association founded in 1990 (formerly known as Olympiades des métiers) and headquartered in Paris. It is the official French member of WorldSkills International and organizes the national vocational skills competition (currently in its 49th edition), as well as the French teams for the EuroSkills European competition and the WorldSkills World Championship. The organization runs competitions across 70+ trades spanning nine categories (Saveurs, Mobilité, Construction, Communication & Numérique, Industrie, Services, Hôtellerie-Restauration, Végétal, Arts) and serves roughly 800+ competitors per national edition, plus regional selection rounds across France. Following its July 2024 merger with Abilympics France, it also runs the Parcours+ inclusion program enabling people with disabilities to compete without age restrictions, with a French Abilympics team selected for Helsinki 2027.

The organization is not a technology vendor and does not sell products or services; its core outputs are events, competition infrastructure (Competition Information System / Espace Membres portal), and educational tools (Mission Future, pedagogical kits). Its business model is event-driven and funded through three main channels: the apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage) contributed by French companies, corporate sponsorship from Gold and principal partners (Airbus, Safran, Legrand, FANUC, RMC, OPCO 2i, CERATIZIT, Haas Automation, Loxam, Stanley Black & Decker, Coverguard), and institutional support from French government bodies (France 2030, DGEFP, MEDEF, Agefiph, Fondation Malakoff Humanis Handicap). It is governed by a president (Florence Poivey) and holds Qualiopi certification (2025) for training actions.

Its customers are effectively four constituencies: (1) youth competitors under ~22-25 years old seeking skills validation and career opportunities, (2) partner companies and OPCOs seeking talent pipelines and industry promotion, (3) educational institutions (lycées, CFAs) needing modern equipment and industry connections, and (4) people with disabilities participating in inclusive competitions. Distribution runs through public competition events, regional and member portals, broadcast media partnerships (RMC, Twitch, YouTube), and educational outreach. Notable recent outcomes include France ranking 3rd at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and 2nd at EuroSkills Gdansk 2023 (32 medals), confirming its position as a high-performing national member of the global WorldSkills network.

Name

WorldSkills France

Legal name

WorldSkills France

Website

https://worldskills-france.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

WorldSkills France is a Paris-based non-profit (founded 1990) that organizes national, European, and international vocational skills competitions across 70+ trades, serving youth competitors, partner employers (Airbus, Safran, Legrand), educational institutions, and disabled participants via the Parcours+ inclusion program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Skills Competitions

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

Keywords

• Vocational skills competitions
• Trades promotion programs
• Youth skills training
• Apprenticeship tax support
• Career discovery platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taxe d'apprentissage (Apprenticeship Tax): Companies contribute a portion of their apprenticeship tax to WorldSkills France to support vocational training and skills promotion.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Private companies (Airbus, Safran, Legrand, FANUC, and others) sponsor WorldSkills France competitions, teams, and events in exchange for branding visibility and association with youth skills development.
3. Institutional Funding and Grants: Government bodies and public institutions (France 2030, OPCO organizations, DGEFP) provide funding and support for competition organization and inclusion programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WorldSkills France organizes national, European, and international vocational skills competitions (the 49th national edition and global WorldSkills events) for young people under 25 across 70+ trades. The organization supports competitors with training resources, manages the French team for international competitions (WorldSkills, EuroSkills, Abilympics), and runs inclusion programs for people with disabilities. It also provides educational tools, pedagogical kits, and career discovery resources for students and educators.

Product overview

WorldSkills France is a non-profit organization that organizes national, European, and international skills competitions (formerly called Olympiades des métiers) to promote trades and professional excellence among young people. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio centered on competition programs including the National Competition, WorldSkills, EuroSkills, and the Parcours+ inclusion program. Supporting these core competitions are educational tools like Mission Future and pedagogical kits, trade discovery resources covering 70+ professions, and member services through the Espace Membres portal. The organization operates across 9 main trade categories: Saveurs, Mobilité, Construction, Communication & Numérique, Industrie, Services, Hôtellerie-Restauration, Végétal, and Arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Parcours+: Inclusion program enabling people with disabilities to compete in WorldSkills competitions
• WorldSkills France PLUS
• Challenge+
• Les Meilleurs Artisans de France

Products and services

• Compétition Nationale des Métiers The national skills competition where young people compete in various trades and professions across multiple categories including construction, industry, digital, services, mobility, flavors, hospitality, plants, and arts. Free participation for competitors.
• WorldSkills Competition (World Championship) International competition program where French competitors selected through national competition represent France at the WorldSkills global competition across multiple trades.
• EuroSkills Competition European skills competition program where French competitors participate against other European nations.
• Parcours+ (Inclusion Program) Inclusion program enabling people with disabilities to compete in skills competitions without age restrictions, with pathway to Abilympics international competition. Supported by Agefiph and Fondation Malakoff Humanis Handicap.
• Mission Future

Quantifiable outcome

• France ranked 3rd globally at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and 2nd in Europe at EuroSkills Gdansk 2023 with 32 medals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Elles bougentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnership signed at Global Industrie trade show to strengthen gender mix in trades. Aims to encourage young girls to pursue technical, scientific, and industrial careers through role model connections and awareness events.
• AirbuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner (Partenaire or) of WorldSkills France. Airbus supports vocational competitions in aerospace and industrial manufacturing trades, providing visibility and equipment for competitor preparation.
• SafrancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner supporting aerospace maintenance and related trades. Safran recruits competitors, offers internships and apprenticeships, and provides resources for competition preparation.
• LegrandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHistorical partner for over 20 years, supporting electrical and network trades competitions. Provides free equipment and materials for competitor preparation, donates competition infrastructure to training centers.
• FANUCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner specializing in robotics and automation trades. Supports competitors in robotic integration and industrial automation trades.
• RMCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner6-year media partnership producing 'Les Meilleurs Artisans de France' TV show featuring WorldSkills experts and competitor showcases. RMC provides broadcast platform for trades promotion.
• AgefiphcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner for inclusion of people with disabilities in competitions. Supports Parcours+ program enabling disabled competitors to participate without age limits. Funds accessibility adaptations.
• Fondation Malakoff Humanis HandicapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged partner supporting Parcours+ through 2027. Funds inclusion initiatives for disabled competitors participating in Abilympics pathway.
• OPCO 2icoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrincipal partner for industrial competitions, capitalizing on WorldSkills to promote industrial trades with 'Avec l'Industrie' brand covering 29 professional branches. Organizes INDUZ talk-show and immersive industry village.
• CCCA-BTPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner representing construction and building trades. Supports building and construction trade competitions.
• MEDEFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor employer federation supporting vocational training and competition recognition at national level.
• CERATIZITminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner specializing in cutting tools and machining trades. Supports manufacturing and machining competitions.
• Haas AutomationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner for CNC machining trades. Provides equipment and support for turning and milling competitions.
• LoxamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner for construction and equipment trades. Supports building and construction competitions.
• Stanley Black & Decker (Stanley, DeWalt, Facom)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner supplying hand tools and power tools for various trade competitions.
• CoverguardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSafety equipment partner providing protective gear for competition participants.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WorldSkills UK: UK national member organization of WorldSkills International. Runs the parallel national skills competition, employer partnerships and team-UK selection process, making it the closest functional mirror to WorldSkills France in another market.
• SkillsUSA: US nonprofit that organizes vocational skills championships for American students and connects them to industry. Highly comparable mission and competition-driven GTM, though structured independently from the WorldSkills International federation.
• WorldSkills Spain: Spanish national member of WorldSkills International with comparable national competition, employer sponsorship model and team selection process.
• WorldSkills Italy: Italian national member organization of WorldSkills International, mirroring WorldSkills France's structure of regional competitions, employer partnerships and EuroSkills/WorldSkills team preparation.
• WorldSkills Germany: German national member organization of WorldSkills International. Comparable scale, employer sponsorship model and trade coverage, frequently competing with France for European podium positions.
• Abilympics International: International federation for vocational skills competitions for people with disabilities. Directly comparable to WorldSkills France's Parcours+ program (which absorbed the former Abilympics France in July 2024).
• WorldSkills International: Global federation that governs the WorldSkills movement of which WorldSkills France is the official French member. Operates the biennial WorldSkills world championship and sets the rules, trade definitions and member accreditation that WorldSkills France implements nationally.
• EuroSkills: European regional competition platform where WorldSkills France's competitors participate (e.g., EuroSkills Gdansk 2023). Directly comparable as a regional skills-competition organizer feeding into the WorldSkills ecosystem.
• WorldSkills Australia: Australian national member organization of WorldSkills International, running national competitions, employer partnerships and team selection. Comparable structure, governance and competition cadence.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics France: French national organization running year-round inclusive sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in promoting inclusion through competitive showcase, though focused on sport rather than vocational trades.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cofom1
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• TikToktiktok.com/@worldskillsfr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/worldskills-france

Compliance1 record

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 WorldSkills France