What Irfa Sud does

IRFA Sud (Institut Régional de Formation pour Adults) is a French associative professional training organization and Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) founded in 1974 and headquartered at 600 rue Favre de Saint Castor, Montpellier. It operates 10 permanent training sites across eight departments of the Occitanie region — Aude, Gard, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales, and Tarn, with two sites in Hérault — plus a dedicated distance learning center. The organization delivers 26 certified training programs (Titres Professionnels registered with France Compétences) across seven sectors: commerce and sales, key competencies, training and support, hygiene and cleanliness, insertion and career orientation, secretarial/accounting/management, and personal services, with credential levels ranging from CAP to BAC+2. Reported operational outcomes include a 95% exam pass rate, 93% trainee satisfaction, a 5% dropout rate, and a cumulative base of 50,000 trainees trained over the past decade.

The customer base comprises three primary segments: unemployed job seekers (funded principally through Région Occitanie's PRF program and OPCO schemes such as OPCO AKTO), employed professionals pursuing certification via CPF (Mon Compte Formation) or employer development plans, and employers (notably SMBs in cleaning, home care, and disability services) using apprenticeship contracts and professionalization programs for workforce recruitment and upskilling. Revenue is a diversified mix of regional public funding, CPF allocations, OPCO contributions, apprenticeship tax-financed contracts, and direct employer-billed training, with publicly disclosed transparent pricing on the Mon Compte Formation marketplace. Distribution relies on a direct enrollment model via the IRFA Sud website, weekly information sessions at training centers, Pôle Emploi and CAP Emploi referrals, and organized 'job dating' recruitment events.

The underlying technology stack is a WordPress-based training management platform with 24/7 e-learning access, virtual classrooms, and multimedia content delivery, supplemented by specialized pedagogical infrastructure including VR headsets, simulated 'pedagogical apartments' for home care training, technical cleanliness workshops, and Microsoft Office 365 environments; an 'AI Learning Pack' is offered as part of the curriculum. The organization holds QUALIOPI quality certification and the Certif'Région label, operates under SIRET 315 503 391 00460, and is governed as a non-profit association under social economy principles led by Directrice Générale Véronique BORIES with approximately 104 employees.

Name

Irfa Sud

Legal name

IRFA Sud

Website

https://www.irfasud.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

IRFA Sud is a French non-profit professional training organization and CFA founded in 1974, operating 10 sites across the Occitanie region and delivering 26 certified Titre Professionnel programs in commerce, accounting, home care, hygiene, and related sectors to job seekers, employed professionals, and employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpellier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Regional Public Funding: IRFA Sud receives funding from the Occitanie Region to provide free and paid training for unemployed job seekers through PRF (Professional Reintegration Training) programs
2. CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation): Training financed through employees' personal training accounts, with transparent pricing visible on the Mon Compte Formation government platform
3. OPCO Funding: Training funded through OPCO AKTO for hygiene and cleanliness sector employees, including professional development plans
4. Apprenticeship Contracts: Work-study programs where companies hire apprentices and training costs are covered through apprenticeship tax contributions
5. Employer-funded Training: Companies finance training for their employees through professional development plans (plan de développement des compétences)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Irfa Sud is an associative training organization (association loi 1901) operating as a Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) in the Occitanie region of France, founded in 1974. It delivers certified professional training and apprenticeship programs across 7 industry sectors through 10 permanent training sites spanning 8 departments, serving both individual learners and employers.

Product overview

IRFA Sud is a professional training organization (organisme de formation) and apprenticeship center (CFA) operating in the Occitanie region of France. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of certified professional training programs across seven main sectors: Commerce and Sales, Key Competencies, Training and Support, Hygiene and Cleanliness, Insertion and Career Orientation, Administration and Accounting, and Personal Services. Programs range from CAP (vocational) to BAC+2 (higher technician) levels, leading to official professional titles recognized by France Compétences. Training delivery modes include in-person instruction across 10 regional sites, hybrid (mix-learning) approaches combining classroom and distance learning, and full e-learning options. The organization also provides pre-qualifying programs (Projet Pro, LECTIO) for career orientation and literacy support, along with certification preparation (TOSA, CléA) for specific competencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers5 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

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GIHP Occitanie LRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Comprehensive disability training partnership where GIHP provides employment opportunities for trained assistants while IRFA Sud delivers the professional qualification program including 2-month preparatory phase and 12-month apprenticeship contract.
• UniformationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 September 2024Partnership with Uniformation professional fund for financing POEC (Preparatory Occupational Qualification) training in home care services, providing unemployed individuals access to professionalization contracts upon completion.
• GRETAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroupement d'EOO in charge of the 'Projet Pro' pre-qualifying device, working as part of IRFA Sud group alongside OFIAQ, Fondespierre and Passerelles for skills development programs.
• OFIAQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the groupement supporting the 'Projet Pro' pre-qualifying training device alongside GRETA, Fondespierre and Passerelles.
• FondespierreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the groupement delivering 'Projet Pro' pre-qualifying training with information sessions hosted at Fondespierre locations.
• PasserellesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the groupement supporting 'Projet Pro' pre-qualifying training programs for professional integration.
• Roussillon MénageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPerpignan-based cleaning company that recruits trained staff from IRFA Sud programs, having hired multiple collaborators from their training courses.
• A2BKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCleaning services company confiding annual training of future employees through professionalization contracts, with operations in Toulouse and Montpellier areas.
• A vos côtés MontpellierminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome care company with dual partnership hosting IRFA Sud trainees and receiving skills development training for existing employees, recruiting 30 IRFA Sud trainees annually.
• ADMRminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome services network employing IRFA Sud trained assistants, providing work placements and job opportunities for trainees completing POEC and professional qualification programs.
• AgefiphminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssociation managing disability employment aid, providing information and resources for disabled workers accessing training and professional integration support.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GRETA: GRETA is the national network of public continuing education training centers under Éducation nationale, already a documented partner of IRFA Sud (Projet Pro groupement). It is the closest direct peer in mission, funding model, and target audience — adults seeking certified professional qualifications.
• AFTRAL: AFTRAL is one of France's largest CFAs, specializing in transport, logistics, and supply chain apprenticeship training with national CFA delivery. Comparable as a large CFA peer operating across multiple French regions with apprenticeship contracts as a core delivery mode, though its sector focus differs.
• IFOCOP: IFOCOP is a private associative training organization specializing in BAC+2 Titre Professionnel programs (Gestionnaire de paie, Comptable, Assistant RH) — directly mirroring several of IRFA Sud's flagship certifications. Comparable in delivery model, target learner, and CPF-funding exposure.
• INFA: INFA is a French associative training organization offering certified programs in personal services, cleaning/hygiene, and insertion — direct overlap with IRFA Sud's portfolio (Services à la personne, Hygiène et propreté). Comparable in associative governance, sector focus, and regional delivery model.
• CNFDI: CNFDI is a French distance-learning training organization offering certified professional programs (Titres Professionnels) accessible nationwide via e-learning — directly comparable to IRFA Sud's distance learning arm with similar CPF marketplace distribution and certified title focus.

Broad incumbents

• Cegos: Cegos is France's largest private corporate training provider, offering professional development programs across management, soft skills, and certified vocational tracks. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the French continuing professional training market, though its center of gravity is corporate/commercial training rather than insertion-focused vocational certification.
• AFPA: AFPA is France's national public vocational training agency offering certified Titre Professionnels across sectors like cleaning, home care, accounting, and industry. It is the broadest incumbent comparator for IRFA Sud given its national scale and overlapping program mix, though AFPA operates as a state operator rather than an associative structure.
• CCI France (Réseau des CCI Formation): CCI France operates a national network of chamber-of-commerce training centers delivering certified programs in commerce, sales, accounting, and management — directly overlapping with IRFA Sud's catalog (Conseiller de vente, Employé commercial, Comptable assistant). Comparable as a regional-network incumbent with public-funder relationships.

Emerging players

• ManpowerGroup Solutions / formation: ManpowerGroup's training and reskilling arm in France combines staffing, professional insertion, and certified training programs for job seekers and employer clients. Comparable as a scaled player bridging insertion, employer-funded training, and certified titles — a partial overlap with IRFA Sud's model, though staffing-led rather than CFA-led.

Regional players

• ADMR Formation: ADMR is both a customer/partner of IRFA Sud and an in-house training provider for home care services nationwide. Comparable for the personal services segment specifically, though ADMR's training function primarily serves its own franchise network rather than operating as an open-enrollment CFA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Irfa Sud