Senior Experten Service
Senior Experten Service (SES) is a Bonn-based non-profit founded in 1983 that matches approximately 14,882 retired professionals as volunteer experts with organizations in developing countries and runs the VerAplus free mentoring program for German apprentices; it is funded by German federal ministries (BMZ, BMBF, BMFSFJ) and supported by four major employer associations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersBonn, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Senior Experten Service does
Senior Experten Service (SES) is a Bonn-based non-profit gGmbH founded in 1983 and Germany's largest volunteer organization for retired professionals and those on career breaks (Weltdienst 30+). It operates a two-sided model that matches approximately 14,882 registered volunteer experts — drawn from ~50 industries and 500+ professions, with an average age of 69 and 28% female participation — with organizations requesting expertise, primarily small and medium enterprises, public authorities, vocational institutions, and social/medical facilities in developing and emerging countries. SES also runs VerAplus (launched 2008), a nationwide free mentoring program pairing ~5,000 senior expert coaches with German apprentices (1,214 active tandems; 27,000+ apprentices helped since inception; 95% recommendation rate), and serves as a key implementing partner for the German-African Youth Cooperation (DAJW).
SES is institutionally embedded in the German development-cooperation system: it is supported by four major trustee associations (BDA, BDI, DIHK, ZDH) and is funded primarily through federal grants from the BMZ (international assignments), BMBF and BMFSFJ (VerAplus, under the Bildungsketten initiative), supplemented by donations and Förderverein membership fees (€50/year). All services are free for beneficiaries; international travel and assignment handling costs are covered by SES's public funding, while local clients bear board, lodging, and local transport. Distribution is relationship-based: 200+ international representatives in ~90 countries plus regional representatives in German states source demand and supply, and the VerAplus web portal (vera.ses-bonn.de) enables self-service registration by apprentices. Since 1983, SES has completed 60,000–70,000+ assignments across 170 countries.
The technology footprint is light and operational rather than productized: Matomo for web analytics and FundraisingBox for donation processing are the only named third-party tools; the organization's "platform" is its matching, preparation, deployment, and monitoring workflows supported by its regional and international representative networks. There is no API, no proprietary software product, and no disclosed AI capability. Recent strategic direction has emphasized domestic expansion through VerAplus, integration mentoring for international skilled workers (new IHK Nürnberg partnership, 2026), demographic broadening via Weltdienst 30+, and pan-European positioning through the election of Managing Director Marion Sodemann as Vice President of CESES in June 2026.
Senior Experten Service firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Senior Experten Service
- Legal name
- Senior Expert Service (SES) gGmbH
- Website
- https://www.ses-bonn.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Senior Experten Service (SES) is a Bonn-based non-profit founded in 1983 that matches approximately 14,882 retired professionals as volunteer experts with organizations in developing countries and runs the VerAplus free mentoring program for German apprentices; it is funded by German federal ministries (BMZ, BMBF, BMFSFJ) and supported by four major employer associations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Senior Experten Service industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL)
Keywords
Where Senior Experten Service is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bonn
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Senior Experten Service business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Public Funding / Government Grants: SES receives government funding primarily from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for international assignments, and from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) / Federal Ministry for Family Affairs (BMFSFJ) for the VerAplus domestic program. These public funds cover international travel costs, project handling costs, insurance, and assignment preparation.
- Donations: SES accepts donations from individuals and companies. Donations are used where most needed, particularly for assignments with clients with small budgets and operations in education, health, and social affairs. The organization's support association (Förderverein) also collects membership fees (€50/year) and larger donations (three- to four-digit contributions) that directly fund SES assignments.
- Förderverein (Support Association) Membership Fees: The 'Verein zur Förderung des Senior Experten Service e.V.' manages membership fees (€50/year) and donations in the five-figure range annually. These funds are used for assignments with clients with small budgets and for public awareness campaigns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free assignment services for organizations in need |
| Freemium | Annual | Free VerAplus mentoring for Auszubildende (apprentices) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Senior Experten Service product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Senior Experten Service (SES) is a non-profit organization that recruits, prepares, and deploys retired professional volunteers to deliver free knowledge-transfer assignments. The international arm places ~14,882 experts across ~50 industries and 500+ professions into organizations in developing and emerging countries. The domestic VerAplus program pairs German apprentices (Auszubildende) with senior expert mentors on a 1:1 basis to prevent training dropouts and strengthen vocational training outcomes. Weltdienst 30+ extends deployment eligibility to professionals aged 30+ on career breaks.
Product overview
Senior Expert Service (SES) operates as a non-profit organization (gGmbH) facilitating knowledge transfer through two primary programs: the core SES international assignment program connecting retired professionals with organizations worldwide, and VerAplus (Verbesserung von Ausbildungserfolgen), a nationwide mentoring program pairing apprentices with retired expert mentors. SES also manages Weltdienst 30+, a division for professionals aged 30+ in career breaks. The organization coordinates assignments in 170 countries with over 14,000 registered experts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VerAplus: A nationwide mentoring program connecting apprentices with retired volunteer experts for one-on-one support. Funded by BMBFSFJ as part of the Bildungsketten initiative. Has supported over 27,000 apprentices since 2008.
- Weltdienst 30+
Products and services
- SES International Assignments (Ausland)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 27,000 apprentices helped since 2008 through VerAplus
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Senior Experten Service
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Senior Experten Service technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Senior Experten Service partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BDA (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände)coreBDA is one of the four Träger (trustee/umbrella organizations) of SES. As the umbrella organization of German employers, BDA provides institutional support and helps connect SES with the employer community.
- BDI (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie)coreBDI is one of the four Träger (trustee organizations) of SES. As the Federation of German Industries, BDI represents industrial employers and supports SES's mission.
- DIHK (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag)coreDIHK is one of the four Träger organizations of SES and serves as the umbrella for German Chambers of Commerce and Industry. DIHK helps connect SES with companies and institutions across Germany.
- ZDH (Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks)coreZDH is one of the four Träger organizations of SES, representing the German skilled trades and crafts sector. Particularly relevant for the VerAplus program supporting apprenticeship training in the trades.
- IHK Nürnberg (Industrie- und Handelskammer Nürnberg für Mittelfranken)minorNew cooperation in 2026 for integration mentoring of international skilled workers (Integrationsmentoring für internationale Fachkräfte), connecting SES experts with IHK member companies.
- ICATHI (Instituto de Capacitación para el Trabajo del Estado de Hidalgo, Mexico)minorSES's Mexican representative Gerhard Loecken signed a cooperation agreement with ICATHI (the State Institute for Labor Training in Hidalgo, Mexico) to support vocational training activities.
- DAJW (Deutsch-Afrikanisches Jugendwerk)coreSES is a key implementing partner for the DAJW (German-African Youth Cooperation), bringing its professional expertise, expert network, and international assignment experience to youth exchange and cooperation programs.
- CESES (Confederation of European Senior Expert Services)coreSES's Managing Director Marion Sodemann was elected Vice President of CESES in June 2026. CESES is the European confederation of senior expert service organizations, representing the network at the European level.
- Initiative BildungskettencoreThe Bildungketten initiative (funded by BMBF) supports the VerAplus program as part of Germany's strategy to prevent apprenticeship dropout and strengthen vocational training. Partners include BIBB, BMFSFJ, and various implementing organizations.
- Facility Care AGminorFacility Care AG supports VerAplus as a corporate partner. The company's board member Bernd Schlockermann publicly endorses the program as a means to strengthen skilled trades through intergenerational knowledge transfer.
- BIBB (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung)minorBIBB is a partner of the VerAplus program and the Initiative Bildungsketten, contributing expertise in vocational education and training.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Senior Experten Service competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal enterprise for international development cooperation, also funded by BMZ. While SES operates on a volunteer model and GIZ is a paid consultancy, both serve the same German government development-cooperation agenda and often co-deploy in the same emerging-market contexts.
- JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): Japan's governmental agency for international development cooperation. While much larger and paid-consultancy based, JICA operates in the same senior-expert-deployment category as SES for development assignments across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- Peace Corps: US government volunteer-sending agency placing American volunteers in developing countries. While SES targets senior professionals and Peace Corps targets recent graduates, both operate government-funded volunteer-deployment models for development cooperation.
- Senior Experts Resource Group (SERG) / DED (former German Development Service): Historical German development volunteer service now folded into GIZ. Operated under the same BMZ funding umbrella as SES with overlapping mission of placing German professionals in development contexts, and shares alumni networks with SES.
Direct peers
- IESC (International Executive Service Corps): US non-profit that recruits experienced American business executives as volunteer advisors for private-sector development in emerging markets. Closely comparable model — retired executive volunteers, donor-funded, private-enterprise focus — though operating from a US base.
- Expertise France: France's national agency for international technical expertise, the closest structural analog to SES internationally. Mobilizes senior French experts for development assignments with similar governmental funding patterns and similar beneficiary organizations in emerging markets.
- CESES (Confederation of European Senior Expert Services): Brussels-based federation of national senior-expert service organizations that SES is a member of and whose Vice Presidency SES's Managing Director now holds. Directly comparable mission of mobilizing retired professionals for cross-border knowledge transfer within Europe.
- VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas): UK-based international development charity sending skilled professionals as volunteers to developing countries. Comparable volunteer-led, government-and-donor-funded model for capacity-building assignments in education, health, and livelihoods across Africa and Asia.
Emerging players
- Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP / Volunteer Ireland): Ireland's senior-volunteer placement program within the broader Volunteer Ireland network. Smaller-scale analog mobilizing retirees for community and international assignments, with similar target demographic and volunteer-led delivery model.
- Fondation de France — Programme Senior Force: French philanthropic foundation that, like SES, channels senior professional expertise toward social-purpose assignments including international development and youth mentoring. Comparable in mobilizing retirees for structured volunteer assignments, with partial geographic overlap in francophone Africa.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Senior Experten Service social profiles
Digital presenceSenior Experten Service financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Senior Experten Service leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Senior Experten Service funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Senior Experten Service M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Senior Experten Service
What does Senior Experten Service do?
Senior Experten Service (SES) is a non-profit organization that recruits, prepares, and deploys retired professional volunteers to deliver free knowledge-transfer assignments. The international arm places ~14,882 experts across ~50 industries and 500+ professions into organizations in developing and emerging countries. The domestic VerAplus program pairs German apprentices (Auszubildende) with senior expert mentors on a 1:1 basis to prevent training dropouts and strengthen vocational training outcomes. Weltdienst 30+ extends deployment eligibility to professionals aged 30+ on career breaks.
Is Senior Experten Service a public or private company?
Senior Experten Service is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Senior Experten Service founded?
Senior Experten Service was founded in 1983. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Senior Experten Service based?
Senior Experten Service is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Senior Experten Service make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Public Funding / Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations and Förderverein (Support Association) Membership Fees.
Who are Senior Experten Service's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), Peace Corps and Senior Experts Resource Group (SERG) / DED (former German Development Service). Direct peers are IESC (International Executive Service Corps), Expertise France, CESES (Confederation of European Senior Expert Services) and VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). Emerging players are Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP / Volunteer Ireland) and Fondation de France — Programme Senior Force.
Does Senior Experten Service have an API?
No public API is recorded for Senior Experten Service.
What industry is Senior Experten Service in?
Senior Experten Service's product category is Nonprofit Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAMAL, Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8742.