Professional training is now clearly identified by companies and employees as one of the levers for developing skills. While the demand is real, the supply side is struggling to develop in an uncertain environment, both due to changes in legislation and the skills in demand. Here is an analysis and explanation from AURIS Finance experts, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
For the second edition of its barometer of professional training, the Lefebvre Dalloz compétences training organisation surveyed 1,000 active professionals (decision-makers, managers, and employees). The results are indisputable: almost all respondents (93%) say they are interested in training and see themselves as playing an active role in developing their skills. Respondents seem so convinced of the importance of training that 83% say they are willing to take training outside of working hours, while 72% say they are willing to invest money in training. The market is growing fast: with a turnover of €15.5 billion in 2022, training is a rapidly growing market: it now represents 1.05% of GDP, compared to 0.67% of GDP in 2018.
Strengthening legislation
However, organisations now face a number of challenges, not least the stricter regulations introduced since the 2018 reform. To clamp down on fraudulent practices, new regulations now provide a framework for the rules governing access to subcontracting on the CPF (Professional Training Account) platform, and for strengthening the control prerogatives of OPCOs and ATPros. Training organisations must strictly control their outsourcing agreements or risk losing their Qualiopi certification. Of the 125,000 training organisations registered in France, only 45,000 are Qualiopi certified. This certification is necessary to qualify for public funding and to be eligible for the CPF.
New skills required
Another pitfall for training groups is that their training modules are constantly being challenged. For example, in the space of a few months, the demand for training in generative artificial intelligence has far outstripped the demand for digital transformation modules. This new technology is growing much faster than university training courses. Because AI is still a science in the making, it is becoming very difficult for organisations to surround themselves with experts with recognised and validated skills.
Furthermore, within training organisations themselves, the use of AI is clearly recognised as a lever for developing new services. In the long term, AI could be used to personalise training courses and improve learner engagement with digital modules. For the time being, however, very few organisations have embraced this technology.
Future mergers
In the coming months, we may see strategic mergers between players in the professional training sector, allowing some to take advantage of new technological features and others to adapt to the regulations. Companies that already have Qualiopi certification and those that have introduced technological innovations will undoubtedly be the most targeted. Others will have to rethink their business model. At AURIS Finance, our experts are specialised by sector. Whether you are looking for a buyer or a new target, we are at your side.
