Bureau des métiers

What Bureau des métiers does

Bureau des Métiers (BM) is a private federation of employer associations founded in 1937 in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, representing companies in the second oeuvre (finishing trades) construction sector, including electrical, sanitary, metalwork, wood, glass, painting, plastering, and building technique trades. It operates as an umbrella organization for 12 member professional associations (AVEMECS, AVMPP, EIT.valais, Metaltec VS, tec-bat, AVCC, AVEN, AVIS, AVMR, JardinSuisse Valais, MCC Valais, SolValais), collectively serving 3,860 affiliated companies and 22,414 workers, with 76 staff across offices in Sion and Viège.

BM's core offering is an integrated platform spanning paritary social fund management (CAPAV pension fund with CHF 1.4 billion+ in assets at a 113.5% coverage rate, RESOR early retirement covering 38,000+ workers across 10 cantons, RETAVAL early retirement in Valais, AVS MEROBA compensation agency, AMCAB loss-of-earnings insurance, and family allowance funds), the myBM cloud-based digital suite (Portal, Enterprise, and App for time tracking, document archiving, payroll access, and ERP synchronization), vocational and continuing training through BM Campus and BM Learn, legal and HR advisory, salary calculation tools, and lobbying through the constructionvalais umbrella and constructionsuisse.

Revenue derives from three principal streams: recurring membership fees from affiliated associations and individual companies; commissions and fees on CHF 169 million in annual social fund contributions managed on behalf of member employers; and training course fees funded partly by paritary vocational training commissions. GTM is primarily direct engagement with member SMEs through the dual regional offices and self-service via the myBM platform, supplemented by industry events, open days, and skills championship promotion.

Name

Bureau des métiers

Legal name

Bureau des Métiers

Website

https://bureaudesmetiers.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bureau des Métiers is a 1937-founded Valais federation of construction-trade employer associations serving 3,860 affiliated SMEs through paritary social fund management (pension, early retirement, AVS), the myBM digital administrative suite, vocational training, and collective-bargaining representation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

HR Service Delivery, Case Management & Employee Self-Service (BPACAPAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ)

Keywords

• Construction trade services
• Social fund administration
• Employer association services
• Vocational training
• Pension fund management

Headquarters

HQ city

Sion

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social fund management and collection agency: BM acts as the largest Valais employer center, functioning as an AVS collection agency for MEROBA and managing multiple social insurance funds (2nd pillar pension CAPAV, family allowances, early retirement funds RETAVAL and RESOR). It processes CHF 169 million in contributions and conducts 596 AVS revisions annually. Revenue derives from commissions and fees for managing these pooled social funds.
2. Membership fees from affiliated associations and companies: Affiliated professional associations and individual companies pay membership fees to access BM services including legal advice, training, HR support, salary tools, and the myBM digital suite.
3. Training and professional development services: BM Campus offers initial and continuing professional training (Savoir-faire/Métiers and BM Learn/Savoir-être), with some funded by joint vocational training commissions. Revenue includes course fees and financing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bureau des métiers (BM) is a private federation of Valais employer associations serving the second oeuvre (finishing) construction trades. It provides an integrated platform of services including social security collection (AVS MEROBA, CAPAV pension, RETAVAL and RESOR early retirement, family allowances), legal and HR advisory, vocational training (BM Campus and BM Learn), and digital business management tools (myBM Suite). The organization represents 3,860 affiliated companies and 22,414 workers across the Valais canton.

Product overview

Bureau des métiers operates as a federation of Valais employer associations offering a unified platform of administrative services for construction SMEs. The core product is the myBM Suite, comprising three interconnected digital tools (myBM Portal, myBM Enterprise, and myBM App) that provide real-time time tracking, absence management, document archiving, payslip access, planning, and ERP synchronization. Supporting services include vocational training platforms (BM Campus, BM Learn), social security fund management (CAPAV, RESOR, RETAVAL, AVS MEROBA, AMCAB), legal advisory, salary calculation tools, eBadges for construction worksites, construction guarantees, translation services, and the Les Pros du Bâtiment artisan directory. The organization also publishes BM News as an information platform covering construction industry regulations and economic developments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• myBM Portal: Digital portal for SME administrative management including time tracking, absence management, document archiving, and salary slip consultation.
• myBM Enterprise
• myBM App
• BM Campus
• BM Learn

Products and services

• myBM Suite A comprehensive suite of digital tools for SME management in the construction sector, comprising myBM Portal, myBM Enterprise, and myBM App for real-time time tracking, absence management, secure document archiving, payslip consultation, planning, and ERP synchronization.
• myBM Portal Client-facing web portal allowing businesses to access administrative services, document management, and company information in a unified online space.
• myBM Enterprise Business management tool for construction SMEs providing time and travel entry, absence management, secure document and photos archiving, payslip access, and planning features.
• myBM App Mobile application for construction workers to track time and manage work-related information on the go.
• BM Campus Educational platform providing initial and continuing vocational training for construction trades, with offerings covering woodworking, building techniques, electricity, metalwork, and painting.
• BM Learn Soft skills and personal development training label offering five thematic universes covering different stages of professional careers for construction industry professionals.
• Salary Calculator Online salary calculation tool for construction industry workers to estimate wages based on applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• eBadges Electronic badge system for construction workers on public worksites, mandatory since October 2025 for combating undeclared work and unfair competition.
• CAPAV (Pension Fund) Pension fund for the building trades in Canton Valais managing over CHF 1.4 billion in assets and providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
• RESOR (Early Retirement Fund) Early retirement fund for French-speaking Swiss second-work trades managing retirement for 10 cantons with over 38,000 insured workers.
• RETAVAL (Early Retirement Fund) Early retirement fund for building technique and envelope trades in Valais with over 9,300 insured workers and approximately 900 affiliated companies.
• AVS MEROBA Social security collection agency for second-work trades handling AVS contributions and related social insurance matters.
• AMCAB Loss of earnings insurance for illness covering construction workers in Valais.
• Legal Services Legal advisory service providing support on labor law, collective agreements, social insurance, and contractual relationships for member companies.
• Construction Guarantees and Bonds Surety and guarantee services for construction projects, connecting members with trusted service providers.
• Room Rental Meeting room rental services at Bureau des Métiers facilities for member companies and external events.
• Translation Services Professional translation services for member companies needing documentation in multiple languages.
• Les Pros du Bâtiment Online directory of trusted Valais artisans and construction professionals for clients seeking reliable service providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• CHF 1,435,942,297 in CAPAV pension fund balance sheet at year-end 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• constructionvalaiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Founded in 2003, constructionvalais is the umbrella organization bringing together all actors in the Valais construction sector (main oeuvre and second oeuvre) as well as specialized mandate holders. It is a strategic relay for Bureau des Métiers at both cantonal and national levels, and is a member of constructionsuisse. BM actively participates in lobbying through this structure.
• Unia ValaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade union social partner for collective bargaining and CCT negotiations. Unia Valais awarded the 'Râpe d'Or' to three BM member associations, and BM member associations awarded Unia the 'Boussole du Partenariat social'. Annual social dialogue maintained through collective agreements.
• SynacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade union social partner in collective bargaining, notably for the new national CCT for tilers (carrelage) and early retirement RESOR.
• CeruniqcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployers' association for the tiling/carrelage trade; co-signed the new national collective agreement introducing early retirement at age 62 from end of 2027.
• Swiss Federal Office for Buildings (OFROU / bundesamt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on chimney height regulations and federal building standards. BM disseminates SEN and federal guidelines to member companies.
• Cantonal Labor Protection Service (Valais)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBM works with the cantonal service on undeclared work prevention (eBadge system) and labor law compliance. The cantonal service reported 487 undeclared work infractions in 2025, down from 667 in 2024.
• Professional schools (Ecoles professionnelles de Sion, tec-bat)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBM collaborates with cantonal professional schools for apprenticeship programs, open days, and skills championships. Hosts open days and coordinates apprenticeship placement in trades.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• constructionromande: Romandie-level umbrella organization for construction employers, paralleling BM's role but at the Western Swiss regional level. Directly comparable in membership federation, lobbying, and social-fund administration across multiple cantons.
• Holzbau Schweiz: Swiss carpentry and timber construction trade association, mirroring BM's affiliated wood-trade associations (e.g., AVEMECS). Operates comparable social fund, training (Polybau), and collective bargaining services for Swiss wood construction SMEs.
• EIT.swiss: Swiss electrical trade association, directly comparable to BM's affiliated electrical/second-oeuvre associations. Provides parallel services — vocational training, social funds, collective bargaining, and HR/legal support to electrical SMEs.
• suissetec: Swiss trade association for plumbing, heating, and HVAC contractors — a direct trade-level peer to BM's affiliated associations. Operates the same combined model of professional representation, social fund management (e.g., Stiftung FAR), training, and HR/legal advisory.

Broad incumbents

• Swissmem: Swiss employer association for the MEM (machinery, electrical, metals) industries — comparable in operating a federation with social fund administration, training services, and HR/legal advisory for industrial SMEs.
• Schweizerischer Baumeisterverband (SBV): National umbrella for the Swiss construction industry, representing main and second oeuvre contractors across Switzerland. Broader scope than BM but operates the same employer-association/federation model with social fund and policy mandates.

Regional players

• Centre Patronal (CPMB): Vaud-based employer federation offering HR advisory, legal services, training, and social-insurance support to SMEs — directly comparable to BM's service portfolio. Operates in a different canton with a broader cross-industry mandate.
• Fédération des Entreprises Romandes (FER): Geneva-based federation of Romandie employers, comparable in providing member services (HR, legal, training) and political representation, though with a broader cross-industry scope than BM's construction focus.
• Gewerbe Stadt Bern: Bern regional trade/craft association providing representation, training, and member services for SMEs — a cantonal-level peer to BM's federation-of-associations model in a different Swiss region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bureaudesmetiers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bureau-des-m%C3%A9tiers/?originalSubdomain=ch
• Instagraminstagram.com/bm.bureaudesmetiers

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Bureau des métiers