BWO Wiehl

Name

BWO Wiehl

Legal name

BWO Bilden. Wirken. Oberberg. GmbH

Website

https://bwo-wiehl.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation and Sheltered Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Sheltered workshop operations
• Disability employment programs
• Contract manufacturing services
• Handcrafted artisan products

Headquarters

HQ city

Wiehl

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vocational rehabilitation funding (Kostenträger-Finanzierung): Core services for people with disabilities (training, employment, care) are funded by rehabilitation cost bearers (Kostenträger) under SGB IX. Not all services are covered by these funding streams, necessitating additional revenue.
2. Production and manufacturing services: BWO generates revenue through industrial manufacturing contracts with external companies. Services include assembly, packaging, metalworking, paper processing, laundry, gardening and landscaping. Customers include major regional industrial firms. Per the AGB, customers can credit 50% of the labor portion of invoices against their compensation levy (Ausgleichsabgabe) under § 160 SGB IX.
3. Handcrafted and artisan product sales: BWO sells handcrafted goods produced by employees with disabilities: basket weaving, woodwork, art cards, wood manufacturing, plaster art products. Products sold at BWO reception, at markets, and directly at production sites.
4. Donations and charitable contributions: BWO accepts donations to fund services not covered by cost bearers, such as barrier-free equipment and supplementary measures. Donations above €300 receive a donation receipt.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BWO Wiehl is a legally recognized workshop for people with disabilities (Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen) that delivers vocational rehabilitation, sheltered employment, therapeutic care, and inclusion services for adults with cognitive disabilities under § 225 SGB IX. It complements these workshop services with contract manufacturing (assembly, metalworking, paper processing, laundry, landscaping) for regional industrial customers, and direct retail of handcrafted Eigenprodukte (wicker, wood, art, gypsum). Operations span three locations in the Oberbergischer Kreis and serve approximately 740 people with disabilities and ~50 industrial partners.

Product overview

BWO Bilden. Wirken. Oberberg. GmbH is a recognized workshop facility for people with disabilities operating three locations (Faulmert, Bomig, and Lichtenberg) since 1972. The organization offers a portfolio of workshop services (Berufliche Bildung, Heilpädagogische Arbeitsgruppen, Inklusionsdienst, Betriepliches Eingliederungsmanagement) and production services (Montage und Verpackung, Metallbearbeitung, Papierweiterverarbeitung, Garten- und Landschaftsbau, Wäscherei- und Heißmangel). Additionally, the company produces and sells handcrafted Eigenprodukte (own products) including Korbflechterei wickerwork, Holzwerkstatt Faulmert woodwork, Kunstfalter art, Holzmanufaktur Lichtenberg wood products, and FormenVielfalt gypsum crafts. These products are sold at the administration office and local markets, supporting the social mission of enabling people with disabilities to participate in working life while providing quality products and services to industrial, commercial, and private customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Berufliche Bildung (Vocational Training / Berufsbildungsbereich)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of continuous operation since 1972
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lebenspfade Oberberg e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebenspfade Oberberg e.V. is the founder, main shareholder (Hauptgesellschafter), and parent organization of BWO, HBW GmbH, and SHO gGmbH. The association provides overarching governance and connects the three disability services organizations.
• HBW GmbH (Heimat. Begleitung. Wohnen.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBW GmbH is an affiliated organization under Lebenspfade Oberberg e.V., providing residential and assisted living services for people with disabilities. HBW and BWO share joint management (Jens Kämper is Geschäftsführer of both) and collaborate on providing comprehensive disability services.
• SHO gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHO gGmbH is the third organization under Lebenspfade Oberberg e.V. Since 2025, Jens Kämper also serves as Geschäftsführer of SHO gGmbH. The three organizations form a comprehensive disability services network.
• A.S. Création Tapeten AGminorOthersIndustrial manufacturing partner for BWO production services.
• ABUS Kransysteme GmbHminorOthersIndustrial manufacturing partner for BWO production services.
• BPW Bergische Achsen KGminorOthersMajor industrial partner hosting BWO training visits and production work.
• Otto Fuchs KGminorOthersIndustrial manufacturing partner for BWO production services.
• GKD (Gesellschaft für Krankenhausdienstleistungen mbH)minorOthersGKD Gummersbach hired BWO employee Belinda Kocabas for groundskeeping after she completed a BWO internship and Betriebsintegrierter Arbeitsplatz (BiAp). This represents an inclusion partnership where BWO facilitates transition to the general labor market.
• Berg GmbH & Co. KGminorOthersIndustrial manufacturing partner.
• Bergische Agentur für Kulturlandschaft (BAK) / Biologische Station Oberberg (BSO)minorOthersEnvironmental education partner. BWO Beschäftigte are trained as environmental assistants through BSO/BAK programs. BSO/BAK collaborates with BWO on inclusive nature hikes during Bergische Wanderwochen.
• Institut für Weiterbildung in der Kranken- & Altenpflege gGmbH (IWK Waldbröl)minorOthersEducational partner for Heilerziehungspfleger Ausbildung. BWO cooperates with IWK for the school-based portion of the training program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• SBH West (Stiftung für blinde und behinderte Menschen): SBH West is a regional WfbM operator in North Rhine-Westphalia providing vocational rehabilitation and sheltered employment. Comparable to BWO in regulatory framework, participant profile, and industrial-services model, though serves a different NRW sub-region.
• Werkstätten Rhein-Berg (Leverkusen/Rhein-Berg): A neighboring WfbM operator in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, where the BWO Managing Director Jens Kämper completed his recognition year. Operates under the same § 225 SGB IX framework serving the adjacent region to BWO with comparable workshop services.

Direct peers

• Diakonie Werkstätten: Diakonie Germany runs numerous WfbM facilities under § 225 SGB IX, providing vocational training, sheltered employment, and integration services for people with disabilities. Closely comparable in regulatory structure, mission, and revenue model (Kostenträger + production services).
• Caritas Werkstätten (e.g., Caritas Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen): Caritas operates a large network of WfbM workshops across Germany providing vocational rehabilitation and sheltered employment under § 225 SGB IX. Same regulatory status, same participant profile (often with acquired disabilities), and same funding structure as BWO.
• Lebenshilfe Werkstatt (local chapters, e.g., Lebenshilfe Köln/Bonn/Oberberg): Lebenshilfe is the largest federation of disability service providers in Germany, operating numerous Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen with the same § 225 SGB IX status and comparable vocational training, sheltered employment, and inclusion service models. Operates in the same regulatory framework and serves overlapping participant profiles.
• AWO Werkstätten (Arbeiterwohlfahrt): AWO operates a national network of WfbM workshops with the same § 225 SGB IX recognition, providing vocational rehabilitation and sheltered employment for people with disabilities. Directly comparable in size, mission, and operating model to BWO.

Broad incumbents

• LVR-Inklusionsamt (Landschaftsverband Rheinland): The LVR is the regional authority that awarded BWO the 2023 BEM-Preis and administers the Inklusionsamt framework for disability employment in the Rhineland. As a broad incumbent, LVR sets the regulatory and funding context in which BWO operates and funds complementary programs.

Emerging players

• auticon GmbH: auticon is a German IT consultancy that primarily employs autistic adults as technology consultants. Targets the same regulatory inclusion mandate (§ 160 SGB IX Ausgleichsabgabe) and competes for the same inclusion-driven corporate customers, but in a higher-value-added service category.
• Specialisterne Deutschland: Specialisterne focuses on employing people with autism and cognitive disabilities in IT, testing, and data services. Operates as a social enterprise within the broader Werkstatt/inclusion ecosystem and competes for some of the same employer-customers seeking to meet disability employment quotas.

Others

• Integrationsamt / Agentur für Arbeit (regional offices): Not a direct competitor but the public-sector counterpart that co-funds BWO's vocational rehabilitation through Kostenträger mechanisms and the Eingliederungshilfe framework. Acts as a referral channel for participants and a regulatory counterpart rather than a peer service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 BWO Wiehl