FAIRE ESS

What FAIRE ESS does

FAIRE ESS (Institut Régional du Travail Social) is a non-profit association governed under French Law 1901, headquartered in Montpellier and operating across the Occitanie region of France. It provides social work education and professional training through three physical campuses in Montpellier, Perpignan, and Carcassonne, serving 2,000+ students per year across 30+ programs covering 15+ diplomas and certifications (DE ASS, DE EJE, DE ES, DE ETS, CESF, CAFDES, DEIS, DEESS, MJPM/MAJ/DPF). The organization runs two apprenticeship centers (CFAIS for mainstream social work, CFAS for persons with disabilities), an inclusive projects division (OASIS Handicap, Synergie Handicap, Emploi Accompagné), a VAE service for experience validation, and a dedicated R&D pole established in September 2021. It also holds the national certification authority for the DEESS (Dirigeant d'Entreprise de l'Economie Sociale et Solidaire) diploma, distributed across 8 regions of France.

The business model is structured around French vocational training funding mechanics: revenue is generated primarily through OPCO (professional training funding bodies) contributions, apprenticeship tax, government subsidies, and employer participation (mandatory EUR 750 for levels 6 and 7). Continuing education and apprenticeship training are VAT-exempt under Article 261.4.4 of the French General Tax Code. Distribution is anchored in physical campuses with a self-serve online numerical portal for registration, payment, and blended distance/in-person learning. The company is led by Marie Meunier Polge (President) and Didier Vinches (Director General).

FAIRE ESS maintains a partnership ecosystem including OETH (disability employment), CAP Emploi, UNAFORIS, CEMEA, regional universities, and European COMCADES partners (Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg). It has obtained the Erasmus+ Quality Certification (2022) and the French national Professional Training Quality Certificate, and reports 85% student satisfaction and a 90% average success rate across programs.

Name

FAIRE ESS

Legal name

FAIRE ESS (Institut Régional du Travail Social)

Website

https://faire-ess.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FAIRE ESS is a French non-profit association providing social work education, professional training, apprenticeship, and VAE services through three campuses in Montpellier, Perpignan, and Carcassonne, serving 2,000+ students annually across 30+ diploma programs in the Occitanie region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Work Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Occupational Licensing Examination Authorities (EDADAFAD), In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

Keywords

• Social work education
• Professional training services
• Apprenticeship programs
• Vocational certification
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpellier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: FAIRE ESS generates revenue through professional training services in social work fields, funded primarily through OPCO (professional training funding bodies), government subsidies, and direct payment for training continuing education for employees.
2. Apprenticeship Programs: Training costs for apprenticeship contracts are financed through OPCO contributions. Employers pay towards training costs for levels 6 and 7. Training is free for apprentices with costs covered by apprenticeship tax.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FAIRE ESS is a non-profit professional training organization delivering social work and Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) education through initial training, apprenticeship (CFA), continuing education, and VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) pathways. It operates three campuses in the Occitanie region (Montpellier, Perpignan, Carcassonne) and offers more than 30 diploma and certification programs, including national qualifications such as DEESS, DEASS, DEEJE, CAFDES, and protective-guardianship certificates. The organization also acts as the national certifier for the DEESS diploma and runs inclusive employment projects for persons with disabilities.

Product overview

FAIRE ESS is a professional training organization for the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) offering a unified platform of educational services through multiple channels: initial training, apprenticeship (via two CFAs), continuing professional education, and VAE. The core offerings include the CFA de l'Intervention Sociale providing social work apprenticeship programs across Montpellier and Perpignan, the CFA Spécialisé for persons with disabilities, the IATS pole combining apprenticeship/inclusion/VAE services, and the R&D pole for research and certification development. Training programs cover diplomas from CAP to Master's level including DE AES, DE ME, DE TISF, DE ASS, DE EJE, DE ES, DE ETS, CESF, CAFDES, DEIS, and the national DEESS certification. The organization also operates IRTS Montpellier and IRTS Perpignan campuses, and is developing a digital campus for distance learning integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CFA de l'Intervention Sociale (CFAIS): Apprenticeship center for social intervention professions offering 14 training programs in Montpellier and Perpignan regions.
• CFAS (CFA Spécialisé)
• OASIS Handicap
• Projets Inclusifs
• DEESS (Dirigeant d'Entreprise de l'Economie Sociale et Solidaire)

Products and services

• CFA de l'Intervention Sociale (CFAIS) Apprenticeship training center providing 14 eligible social work training programs through work-study contracts (alternating theory and practice) across Montpellier and Perpignan territories. Targets apprentices seeking professional certification in social intervention (AES, MA, ME, TISF, MS, BTS SP3S, ASS, EJE, ES, ETS, CESF, CAFDES).
• CFA Spécialisé (CFAS)

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CEMEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEMEA (Centres d'Entraînement aux Méthodes d'Education Active) partners with FAIRE ESS for certain apprenticeship programs, particularly in Perpignan for the Accompagnant Éducatif et Social and in Montpellier for Moniteur Educateur training.
• UNAFORISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNAFORIS (national union of social work training institutions) for research-action projects such as the accessibility study for social work training institutions commissioned by OETH.
• OETHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOETH (Obligation d'Emploi des Travailleurs Handicapés) partnership focuses on developing experimental projects for OETH employment, animating and supporting employers in the sector towards accessible jobs for professionals with disabilities. Includes research-action on training accessibility.
• Regional UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAIRE ESS maintains close ties with university partners, with training programs integrated into higher education. The organization strengthens articulations with professional needs while being connected to university partners.
• CAP EmploicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialized placement network for persons with disabilities, partnered with Synergie Handicap for apprenticeship contracts, providing job placement and support services.
• European Partners (COMCADES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project COMCADES (Compétences spécifiques des Cadres entrepreneurs de l'Economie Sociale) involves French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Belgian, and Luxembourgish employers to develop specific competencies for social economy executives with European mobility.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AFORMAC: AFORMAC is a French association offering initial training, apprenticeship, and continuing education across social work, healthcare, and early childhood professions at multiple regional campuses. Directly comparable to FAIRE ESS in mission, multi-pathway delivery, and association status.
• IRTS Hauts-de-France: Another French regional institute for social work training (IRTS) delivering the same diplomas (DEASS, DEES, DEEJE, DEETS) via initial and apprenticeship tracks. Closest structural parallel to FAIRE ESS's IRTS Montpellier/Perpignan campuses, differing mainly by geography.
• ARFIS (Association Régionale de Formation à l'Intervention Sociale): ARFIS is a Lyon-based non-profit delivering social work initial and continuing education across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Directly comparable pathway mix (initial training, apprenticeship, VAE) and association governance model.
• ARIFTS (Association Régionale pour l'Institut de Formation en Travail Social): ARIFTS in Pays de la Loire delivers the same social-work diploma catalog with apprenticeship and continuing education, with a comparable multi-campus structure to FAIRE ESS but serving western France.
• EPSS (École Pratique de Service Social): EPSS is a Paris-based non-profit social work training school offering DEASS, DEES, and continuing education. Comparable diploma portfolio and association status; differs by single-campus Paris focus versus FAIRE ESS's regional Occitanie footprint.

Broad incumbents

• UNAFORIS: National federation of social-work training institutions in France. Functions as a coordination/advocacy umbrella whose members include FAIRE ESS; serves as both peer and ecosystem anchor for the same diploma portfolio.
• AFPA: AFPA is France's largest national vocational training operator delivering apprenticeship, continuing education, and VAE across many sectors including social services. A broader incumbent that competes for OPCO funding and learner demand even though social work is not its core focus.
• CNAM (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers): CNAM offers accredited continuing education including social-sector diplomas and VAE pathways. Larger public institution with overlapping diploma credentials (including CAFDES-type programs), positioning it as a broad incumbent competing for the same professional learner pool.

Regional players

• ITS Pierre Fourier: ITS Pierre Fourier is a Catholic non-profit social work training school in eastern France offering comparable diploma programs (DEES, DEASS, DEEJE) and apprenticeship tracks — a strong direct peer with regional rather than nationwide footprint.

Emerging players

• OASIS Handicap (national network): Fédération des Centres de Ressource et de Formation au Travail social hosts adapted training programs for persons with disabilities, overlapping with FAIRE ESS's CFAS/OASIS Handicap offerings — a relevant peer in the disability-inclusion training niche.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/faire_ess
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/28615342

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries7 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 FAIRE ESS