What Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft does

Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft (bsw) is a non-profit educational group headquartered in Dresden, Germany, delivering vocational training, continuing education, and workforce qualification programs across Saxony. Founded in 1990/1991, it operates a multi-entity structure comprising the sponsoring association (bsw e.V.), the non-profit limited company (bsw gGmbH), and a wholly-owned service subsidiary (bsw - Beratung, Service & Weiterbildung GmbH) focused on executive qualification. The organization runs 15 locations across Saxony, including 9 training centers and academies, 17 replacement schools (Ersatzschulen), and 9 additional service units, operating on behalf of Saxon economic and industry associations.

Its portfolio spans vocational apprenticeships in metal/electrical, commercial, healthcare, home economics, and logistics sectors; continuing education and professional development seminars for employed professionals; retraining (Umschulung) and partial qualifications for job seekers; integration courses for immigrants; and specialist conferences (bsw-Tagungen) such as the Sächsischer Industriemeistertag and Personalleiterforum. The Online-Akademie Sachsen platform and IT Seminare Sachsen sub-brand provide digital and IT-specific course delivery, while a public Kurskalender functions as a self-service course discovery and registration portal.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining fee-based corporate training and seminars, contracted apprenticeship and Verbundausbildung programs for Saxon SMEs, and publicly funded (AZAV-accredited) employment promotion and integration programs. The entity holds DIN ISO 9001 quality management certification and AZAV accreditation, both of which are prerequisites for participating in German publicly funded training programs. Go-to-market is sales-led through regional offices and account management, supplemented by self-service online channels; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Customer segments include Saxon SMEs, job seekers, students and apprentices, and immigrants/refugees, with no named end-customer logos disclosed.

Name

Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft

Legal name

Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft gGmbH

Website

https://bsw-ggmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft is a Saxony-based non-profit educational group offering vocational apprenticeships, continuing education, retraining, and integration courses for SMEs, job seekers, students, and immigrants across 15 locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Continuing education
• Workforce development
• Apprenticeship programs
• Language integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Dresden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Continuing Education and Training Services: Fee-based vocational training, seminars, and professional development courses for companies and individuals. Services include customized qualification programs, coaching, and specialized training across commercial, technical, and healthcare sectors.
2. Vocational Training and Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship programs in metal/electrical, commercial, healthcare, home economics, and logistics sectors for young people and career changers.
3. Publicly Funded Programs: Government-funded integration courses and employment support programs (AZAV certified), potentially receiving public subsidies for qualifying participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft (bsw) is a non-profit educational institution that delivers vocational training, continuing education, and workforce qualification programs across Saxony. Its portfolio spans apprenticeship programs in industrial/commercial/healthcare sectors, professional retraining and qualification for job seekers, customized corporate training and talent acquisition services for SMEs, and integration/language courses for immigrants, delivered through physical training centers, replacement schools, and an online learning platform.

Product overview

The Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft (bsw) operates as a multi-entity educational group comprising three organizations: bsw e.V. (association for entrepreneur and leadership development), bsw gGmbH (non-profit for civic education), and bsw - Beratung, Service & Weiterbildung GmbH (consulting and continuing education). Their product portfolio is structured around vocational training and professional development services, combining face-to-face seminars, online learning through the Online-Akademie Sachsen platform, IT-specific training via IT Seminare Sachsen, and professional conferences (bsw-Tagungen). The Kurskalender (course calendar) serves as the central platform for course discovery and registration. Services span continuing education for employed professionals, retraining programs for job seekers, vocational apprenticeships for students, and integration courses for immigrants, all delivered across 15 locations with 9 educational centers and academies throughout Saxony.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• bsw: Primary brand for the Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft educational and training services.

Products and services

• Weiterbildung (Continuing Education)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Saxon Economic and Industry AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates on behalf of Saxon economic and industry associations to develop appropriate education and service offerings. This core partnership shapes the organization's mission and ensures alignment with regional workforce needs.
• Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe association (e.V.) promotes continuing education for entrepreneurs, managers, and specialists, as well as exchange between schools and businesses. Foundation member supporting the non-profit mission.
• Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft gGmbHcoreOthersThe non-profit limited company (gGmbH) is a non-profit educational institution whose statutory purpose is the promotion of civic, social, economic, and scientific-technical education for young and adult citizens in Europe.
• bsw - Beratung, Service & Weiterbildung GmbHcoreOthersSubsidiary company specializing in qualification of successful executives, with focus on methodological, social, and personal competencies alongside technical knowledge.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• DEKRA Akademie: One of Germany's largest private vocational training and continuing education providers, offering apprenticeships, retraining, and AZAV-certified programs across multiple Bundesländer—directly comparable to bsw's core offerings, but with a broader geographic footprint.
• WBS Training: National for-profit vocational retraining and continuing education provider with AZAV certification, offering Umschulung and geförderte Weiterbildung programs that overlap directly with bsw's job-seeker services.
• bfw Bildungswerk der Wirtschaft: National association-affiliated vocational training provider offering AZAV-certified retraining, apprenticeships, and continuing education—same business model and target audience as bsw, but at multi-state scale.
• SBH Nordost (Steinbeis Bildungswerk): Vocational training and education provider in eastern Germany covering apprenticeships, continuing education, and workforce development—competes directly with bsw for Saxon SMEs and learners.

Regional players

• Bildungswerk der Thüringer Wirtschaft: Closely analogous Wirtschaftsverbände-affiliated educational institution serving Thuringia—same ownership model, same product mix, same eastern German demographic context, making it a near-perfect structural twin of bsw.
• Bildungswerk der Wirtschaft Berlin und Brandenburg (bbw): Industry-association-affiliated vocational training provider serving Berlin and Brandenburg with a very similar mission and structure to bsw—directly comparable model in an adjacent eastern German region.
• DATEV Bildungswerk: Industry-association-affiliated training provider specializing in commercial and IT training for tax advisors and SMEs—comparable niche overlap with bsw's kaufmännische and IT Seminare offerings, though with a narrower sector focus.

Broad incumbents

• IHK Bildungszentrum (Chambers of Commerce Training Centers): Chamber of Commerce-affiliated training centers across Germany delivering apprenticeships, continuing education, and certifications for SME members—overlaps significantly with bsw's kaufmännische and gewerblich-technische programs.
• TÜV Rheinland Akademie: Part of the broader TÜV Rheinland group, offering professional training and certifications across technical, commercial, and management domains—overlaps with bsw's continuing education portfolio but operates as part of a much larger testing/certification conglomerate.
• Handwerkskammer Bildungszentren: Craftsmen's chamber-operated training centers providing technical apprenticeships and Meister qualification programs—a public-sector alternative to bsw's metal/electrical and technical training lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bildungswerkdersaechsischenwirtschaft
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/bildungswerk-der-s%C3%A4chsischen-wirtschaft-ggmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/bsw_sachsen

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft