OSZ Handel 1

What OSZ Handel 1 does

OSZ Handel 1 (Oberstufenzentrum Handel 1) is a publicly funded vocational upper secondary school (Oberstufenzentrum) located at Wrangelstr. 98 in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, operating under the Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family (Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie Berlin). The institution is a state entity organized into four academic departments covering wholesale and foreign trade management; bookselling, e-commerce, marketing communications, event management, and market/social research; retail, Fachoberschule, and welcome classes; and drugstore retail plus Berufsvorbereitende Bildungsmaßnahme. It serves approximately 700+ students across 11 vocational and educational pathways, including dual apprenticeship programs (Berufsschule), Fachoberschule leading to Fachhochschulreife, Doppelqualifikation (combined vocational diploma and university entrance qualification), three-year Berufsfachschule, the alternative Berliner Ausbildungsmodell (BAM), Integrierte Berufsausbildungsvorbereitung (IBA), and Willkommensklassen for newly arrived immigrant and refugee students.

The school delivers education through the German dual vocational training system, in which students split time between classroom instruction at OSZ Handel 1 and on-the-job apprenticeships at partner companies across retail, wholesale, e-commerce, marketing communications, event management, bookselling, and drugstore industries. Programs lead to IHK-certified qualifications recognized across Germany, with additional pathways to university of applied sciences entrance. The technology backbone consists of the iServ learning management and communication platform and WebUntis for substitution scheduling — commodity edtech tools with no proprietary AI or advanced automation disclosed.

The business model is direct public funding: the school charges no tuition, operates as a line item within the Berlin state education budget, and is not a commercial enterprise. Its employer partners — including IHK Berlin as examining body, BGA for wholesale/foreign trade, and dozens of named companies providing Ausbildungsplätze — function as apprenticeship hosts rather than paying customers. Headcount of 101–250 employees covers teaching staff, department leadership, secretariat, and administration. There are no private shareholders, no venture capital, no acquisitions, and no pricing model in the conventional commercial sense.

Name

OSZ Handel 1

Legal name

Oberstufenzentrum Handel 1

Website

https://oszhandel.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

OSZ Handel 1 is a publicly funded Berlin vocational upper secondary school (Oberstufenzentrum) offering dual apprenticeship training across 11 commercial programs — retail, wholesale/foreign trade, e-commerce, marketing communications, event management, bookselling, and drugstore — serving 700+ students under the Berlin Senate Department for Education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: OSZ Handel 1 is a publicly funded vocational upper secondary school (Oberstufenzentrum) in Berlin. It operates under the Berlin Senate Department for Education and is financed through public educational budgets. No tuition fees are charged to students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OSZ Handel 1 is a publicly funded vocational upper secondary school in Berlin that delivers dual vocational training programs in commercial disciplines such as retail, wholesale and foreign trade, e-commerce, marketing communications, event management, druggist, and bookselling. Students combine classroom instruction at the school's Kreuzberg campus with apprenticeship placements at IHK Berlin-recognised partner companies, culminating in IHK-certified qualifications. The school also offers Fachoberschule (FOS) pathways to university of applied sciences entrance qualifications, Doppelqualifikation dual qualification programs, integration classes (Willkommensklassen), and vocational preparation (IBA).

Product overview

OSZ Handel 1 (Oberstufenzentrum Handel 1) is a vocational upper secondary school in Berlin offering a comprehensive portfolio of dual vocational training programs and educational pathways. The institution operates four departments organized by industry sector, providing Berufsschule (vocational school) programs in retail, wholesale/e-commerce, marketing communications, event management, druggist, bookselling, and market research. Beyond standard apprenticeship programs, the school offers pathways to Fachhochschulreife through Fachoberschule (FOS) and Doppelqualifikation (dual qualification) programs, enabling students to gain both vocational qualifications and university entrance credentials. Additional programs include 3-year Berufsfachschule (vocational college), Berliner Ausbildungsmodell (BAM) alternative training, Integrierte Berufsausbildungsvorbereitung (IBA) for training preparation, and Willkommensklassen for immigrant integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kaufmann/-frau im Einzelhandel u. Verkäufer/-in (Retail and Sales Program) Dual vocational training program for retail merchants and salespersons in areas such as textiles, sporting goods, watches/jewelry, newspapers/magazines/books, and tobacco products. Students attend vocational school while completing apprenticeships at IHK-recognised retail partner companies.
• Kaufmann/-frau im Groß- und Außenhandelsmanagement (Wholesale and Foreign Trade Management) Dual training program for wholesale and foreign trade management careers, available as standard vocational training, dual qualification (combined with Fachhochschulreife), or through the Berliner Ausbildungsmodell (BAM) alternative training pathway.
• Kaufmann/-frau im E-Commerce (E-Commerce Merchant) Vocational program preparing students for online retail, digital marketing, and e-commerce business operations. Students complete the dual training combining school-based learning with practical apprenticeships at e-commerce partner companies.
• Kaufmann/-frau für Marketingkommunikation (Marketing Communication) Program covering marketing strategy, market research, communication campaigns, media planning, and production for advertising and marketing agencies. Apprentices complete dual training with school-based learning and on-the-job training at marketing departments and communications agencies.
• Veranstaltungskaufmann/-frau (Event Management) Training for event planning, coordination, and management of concerts, parties, corporate events, weddings, trade shows, and conferences. Students complete dual training through the school and apprenticeships at event agencies and venues.
• Drogist/-in (Druggist) Vocational program for the drugstore and detailing industry, covering beauty, health, and personal care retail. Apprentices train in dual mode with schools and drugstore employers.
• Buchhändler/-in (Bookseller) Training program for book retail and publishing industry careers. Students attend vocational school and complete apprenticeships at bookshops and publishing houses, including industry exposure visits such as Buchhandlung Schropp.
• Fachangestellte für Markt- und Sozialforschung (Market and Social Research Assistant) Program preparing students for market research, data collection, and social research analysis roles. Apprentices complete dual training with market and social research employers.
• Fachoberschule (FOS) - Upper Secondary Vocational School One-year and two-year programs leading to Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification), combining classroom instruction with practical training phases at partner companies.
• Doppelqualifikation (Dual Qualification) Combined vocational training and Fachhochschulreife qualification program, allowing students to earn both a vocational diploma and university entrance qualification through retail or wholesale/foreign trade tracks.
• 3-jährige Berufsfachschule (3-Year Vocational College) Full-time three-year vocational college program providing comprehensive professional training leading to a vocational qualification.
• Berliner Ausbildungsmodell (BAM) - Berlin Training Model Alternative training model combining practical company-based training with school-based learning for wholesale/foreign trade or retail sectors, providing an alternative pathway to standard dual vocational training.
• Integrierte Berufsausbildungsvorbereitung (IBA) - Integrated Vocational Training Preparation Preparation program for vocational training, supporting students in developing skills and qualifications needed to enter formal apprenticeship programs in commercial fields.
• Willkommensklassen (Welcome Classes) Integration classes for immigrant and refugee students to learn German language and prepare for vocational training at the school or other Berlin vocational institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students receive IHK-recognized vocational qualifications in commercial fields, enabling direct employment or university pathway.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• INSALCO (Instituto Chileno-Alemán de Capacitación)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2023INSALCO in Santiago de Chile, a Chilean-German training institute, partnered with OSZ Handel 1 for an international exchange of dual education expertise. Teacher Madita Angress from OSZ Handel 1 completed a practical training placement at INSALCO, and teachers from both institutions exchanged methodologies for vocational education. The partnership supports the internationalization of dual vocational training.
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2022The school hosted the traveling exhibition 'Frieden machen' (Make Peace) from December 2022 to January 2023. The bpb provided the exhibition materials, and the SOR group at the school organized and managed the exhibition for students and staff. The exhibition covered topics of civilian peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international peacekeeping.
• Bundesverband des Groß- und Außenhandels (BGA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 November 2022BGA participated in the Ausbilder*innentag des Groß- und Außenhandels 2022, representing employers in wholesale and foreign trade. The association collaborates with the school on curriculum development, apprenticeship placement, and industry alignment for the Kaufmann/-frau im Groß- und Außenhandelsmanagement program.
• Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit CouragecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSZ Handel 1 is an active member of the 'Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit Courage' network. The school organizes annual SOR action days focused on diversity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination, involving over 700 students. The school's SOR team coordinates cultural events, readings, workshops, and excursions related to social justice, democracy, and historical education.
• Schulverein (School Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Schulverein (school association) provides financial support for school activities and excursions. It funded the Nikolaikirche guided tour for students, enabling cultural and historical educational outings that would otherwise be inaccessible to some students.
• Jugendberufsagentur (JBA) BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJBA Berlin provides youth career support services in collaboration with the school, helping students with career orientation and transition from school to vocational training.
• Berlin braucht Dich!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer orientation initiative partnered with the school to provide students with information about vocational training opportunities in Berlin.
• Demokratie und Vielfalt (devi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative for democracy and diversity that works with the school on projects related to civic education and diversity.
• Stiftung SPI Programmagentur – Jugendsozialarbeit an Berliner SchulencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSPI provides youth social work services at the school, offering psychosocial support, counseling, and crisis intervention for students.
• Kulturagenten-ProgrammminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural program that connects the school with cultural institutions and artistic projects, supporting cultural education initiatives.
• IHK Berlin (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIHK Berlin is the examining body for vocational qualifications. The school works closely with IHK Berlin on examination standards, curriculum alignment for dual training programs, and certification for apprentices in wholesale, retail, e-commerce, marketing, and event management fields.
• Jugendbildungsstätte Haus KreisaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe youth education center Haus Kreisau (Krzyżowa) in Poland collaborated with the school on a reading event featuring Cornelia Schönwald and Meike Völker about the Kreisau resistance circle and Helmuth James von Moltke. The center provides educational programs on European resistance movements and democratic values.
• Gesellschaft für jüdisch-christliche Zusammenarbeit (GcjZ) BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGcjZ Berlin partnered with the school for the reading event 'Cornelia Schönwald liest Helmuth James und Freya von Moltke,' supporting the school's democracy and anti-racism education program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Louise-Schroeder-Schule / OSZ Bürowirtschaft II Berlin: Second Berlin OSZ for Bürowirtschaft, providing dual vocational training in commercial/administrative fields. Direct comparable on structure (state-funded OSZ, dual training, IHK certification) and customer base (Berlin school-leavers) with overlapping program themes.
• OSZ Banken und Versicherungen Berlin: Berlin OSZ specializing in banking and insurance vocational training. Direct peer: same Oberstufenzentrum structure, same Senate funding, same dual-training model, and adjacent commercial-sector focus serving Berlin school-leavers.
• OSZ Bürowirtschaft I (Friedrich-List-Schule): Berlin Oberstufenzentrum focused on office/business vocational education (Bürowirtschaft). Closest direct peer: another publicly funded Berlin OSZ offering dual vocational training in commercial disciplines to the same school-leaver segment in the same city.
• Max-Bill-Schule (OSZ Planen, Bauen, Gestalten): Berlin OSZ covering design, media, and construction vocational pathways. Direct structural peer: same OSZ model, public funding, and Berlin dual-training student base, but with a different commercial-discipline portfolio.
• OSZ Lotis Berlin: Berlin OSZ for logistics and tourism vocational training. Direct structural peer — same OSZ governance, Senate funding, dual-training model, and Berlin student base, with an adjacent rather than overlapping commercial-discipline focus.

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Akademie: Large private vocational and continuing-education provider in Germany. Adjacent rather than directly comparable (private, paid, continuing-education focus vs. OSZ Handel 1's state-funded initial vocational school role), but competes for the same pool of commercial-sector trainees and apprenticeship partner employers.
• bfw – Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft: Major private vocational training network across Germany, with significant overlap in commercial and trade training. Broader incumbent in the vocational training space, offering both initial and continuing education; competes for the same employer-training partnerships and the same trainee audience.

Regional players

• Berufsbildende Schulen Hamburg (state vocational school system): Hamburg's state-administered vocational schools delivering dual vocational training across commercial and trade disciplines. Comparable on model (state-funded Berufsschule with dual training and IHK-aligned qualifications), serving a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about OSZ Handel 1