SOB Bregenz

What SOB Bregenz does

SOB Bregenz (legal name: Schule für Sozialbetreuungsberufe) is a private vocational school in Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Austria, founded in 1956 and operated under the secular institute Werk der Frohbotschaft. The school delivers state-recognized Austrian qualifications in social care professions across three integrated tracks: Altenarbeit (elderly care) at the Fach-Sozialbetreuer:in and Diplom-Sozialbetreuer:in levels, Familienarbeit (family work) at the Diplom-Sozialbetreuer:in level, and an integrated Pflegeassistenz (nursing assistance) qualification embedded in both programs. The curriculum follows a dual structure of two days of classroom theory and three days of practical internship per week, with extended (gedehnte) part-time formats available for working adults, a one-year Vorbereitungslehrgang ('Young Sixteen') preparatory course, and a Nachqualifizierung requalification track for employed nursing assistants. The school also runs an EU-accredited Erasmus+ program sending 6–10 students annually to Dublin, Ireland for international internships.

The institution is funded primarily through Austrian public education funding rather than direct tuition, charging only nominal administrative fees (€95/year) and examination fees (€95–€130). Students apply directly via the school's website (sozialberufe.net), with enrollment driven by annual open days, digital marketing, and student testimonials. Technology infrastructure is standard for a vocational school: a WordPress CMS website, the Sokrates learning management system, WebUntis for timetabling, and a ~2,200-item on-site library with online catalog access. Marketing and outreach rely on the institutional website, Facebook, Instagram, X, and an Aktuelles blog documenting school events. The school is governed by its 1947-founded sponsor Werk der Frohbotschaft and currently led by Direktorin Susanne Schelling-Schnitzer (since 2020), with a specialized teaching faculty of qualified nurses, social pedagogues, and academics.

Name

SOB Bregenz

Legal name

Schule für Sozialbetreuungsberufe

Website

https://sozialberufe.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOB Bregenz is a private vocational school in Bregenz, Austria (founded 1956), training certified social care professionals in elderly care, family work, and nursing assistance through a dual theory-and-internship model for the Vorarlberg regional workforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dornbirn

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Educational Institution Funding: SOB Bregenz operates as a publicly funded vocational school (Schule für Sozialbetreuungsberufe). Revenue is derived from public/government educational funding rather than direct tuition fees from students. The institution charges nominal administrative fees (95€ per school year) and examination fees (approximately 95-130€) to cover operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SOB Bregenz is a vocational school that trains qualified social care professionals (Sozialbetreuer:innen) through structured programs in Altenarbeit (elderly care) and Familienarbeit (family work), each available at Fach- and Diplom-level qualifications. Programs combine classroom theory with mandatory practical placements (typically 2 days theory / 3 days internship per week) and integrate a Pflegeassistenz (nursing assistance) certification. The school is publicly funded and charges only nominal administrative and examination fees.

Product overview

SOB Bregenz is a vocational school for social care professions in Bregenz, Austria, run by the Werk der Frohbotschaft. Its educational portfolio consists of two core training tracks — Altenarbeit (Elderly Care) and Familienarbeit (Family Work) — each available at the Fach-Sozialbetreuer:in (specialist) level and the Diplom-Sozialbetreuer:in (diploma) level. Both programs integrate a Pflegeassistenz (Nursing Assistance) qualification. Entry-level preparation is offered via the 'Young Sixteen' Vorbereitungslehrgang, and continuing requalification for already-qualified nursing assistants is available through the Nachqualifizierung program. The school also participates in the EU-accredited Erasmus+ program for international placements in Dublin, Ireland. Supporting infrastructure includes an on-site library of approximately 2,200 media items. The institution does not offer a software product; all offerings are vocational education programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Altenarbeit (Elderly Care) - Vollzeit (Full-time) Full-time vocational training program (Fach-Sozialbetreuer:in) in elderly care, lasting 4 semesters (2 school years), combining 2 days of theory with 3 days of practical placements per week. It is designed for school-leavers and career starters seeking the certified Fach-Sozialbetreuer:in qualification in elderly care.
• Altenarbeit (Elderly Care) - Gedehnte Form (Extended Part-time) Extended part-time vocational training in elderly care (Fach-Sozialbetreuer:in) over 4 semesters with reduced weekly hours (30 hours/week), designed for working adults, parents, and others who cannot attend full-time. It enables study alongside employment or family responsibilities.
• Diplom-Sozialbetreuer:in Altenarbeit (Diploma in Elderly Care) Advanced diploma-level program (3 semesters / 1.5 school years full-time, or extended for working professionals) for already-qualified Fach-Sozialbetreuer:innen in elderly care, leading to the full Diplom-Sozialbetreuer:in qualification. Includes integrated Pflegeassistenz certification.
• Familienarbeit (Family Work) - Vollzeit (Full-time) Full-time vocational training program (Diplom-Sozialbetreuer:in) in family work, lasting 6 semesters (3 school years). Covers family support, child welfare, disability care, and socio-pedagogical fields such as open youth work, school-age care, and residential group work, with integrated Pflegeassistenz (nursing assistance) qualification.
• Vorbereitungslehrgang Young Sixteen (Preparation Course) One-year dual preparatory course for students aged 16+ who do not yet meet the entry requirements for the main SOB programs. It is structured with 2 days of theory and 3 days of practical placement per week, and successful completion qualifies students to enter SOB social care training.
• Nachqualifizierung (Requalification Program) Requalification program for qualified nursing assistants (Pflegeassistent:innen) to obtain the full Sozialbetreuer:in qualification in elderly care or family work. Available in full-time and extended (part-time) formats, designed to be completed while remaining employed. Financing can be supported through vCare or the AMS Pflegestipendium.
• Erasmus+ International Placements EU-accredited Erasmus+ program enabling SOB students to undertake mandatory international work placements in Dublin, Ireland, in childcare centers, special needs socio-pedagogical institutions, and facilities for people with disabilities. Participation is part of the Altenarbeit and Familienarbeit training pathways.
• Pflegeassistenz (Nursing Assistance) - Integrated Qualification Integrated nursing assistance qualification (Pflegeassistenz) embedded in both the Altenarbeit and Familienarbeit programs, including 720 practical placement hours in long-term care, acute care, and home nursing, culminating in a commission-based examination. It cannot be completed independently.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates qualify as certified social care professionals (Fach-Sozialbetreuer:in or Diplom-Sozialbetreuer:in) with integrated Pflegeassistenz certification, directly employable in the Austrian healthcare and social services sector.

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Werk der FrohbotschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The Säkularinstitut 'Werk der Frohbotschaft' (secular institute founded 1947 in Vorarlberg) is the school's sponsor (Schulträger). Its members ('Frohbotinnen') prioritize education and care for vulnerable people. The institute founded the school in 1956 and continues to oversee and support its operations.
• Erasmus+ / European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Since 2016, SOB Bregenz has participated in the Erasmus+ program, sending 6–10 students annually for mandatory international internships. Since 2022, the school holds EU accreditation with guaranteed budget through 2027. The EU funds the program enabling students to undertake placements in Dublin, Ireland.
• Erasmus Partner Agency (Dublin)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016A partner agency selects and arranges internship placements in Dublin and provides on-site support to SOB students during their international placements. Students are housed with selected host families during their abroad period.
• SOB Schiefersederweg (Linz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOB Schiefersederweg in Linz hosted the Austria-wide networking meeting of SOB-Familienarbeit schools (April 9–10, 2026), bringing together representatives from all Austrian SOB family work programs for professional exchange on topics including trauma and mental health.
• ifs (Institut für Soziales Leben)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the theater event 'Paroli' at SOB Bregenz on October 7, 2025, featuring forum theater on the topic of domestic violence. The collaboration with ifs brought professional forum theater to the school community.
• Dublin, Ireland – Placement SitescoreOthersIrish facilities including childcare centers, 'special needs' socio-pedagogical institutions, and facilities for people with disabilities serve as internship destinations for SOB Bregenz students during their Erasmus+ placement in Dublin.
• vCareminorGTM or Marketing PartnervCare is referenced as a financing information resource for students seeking to fund their Nachqualifizierung (post-qualification) training, directing prospective students to available financial support options.
• AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAMS (Austrian Public Employment Service) offers the Pflegestipendium (care scholarship) as a financing option for students in social care training programs, referenced as a resource for Nachqualifizierung students.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SOB Schiefersederweg (Linz): Other Austrian Schule für Sozialbetreuungsberufe delivering the same Altenarbeit and Familienarbeit tracks under the federal social-care professions framework. Served as host for the nationwide SOB-Familienarbeit networking meeting in 2026, confirming direct comparability in curriculum and target student.

Broad incumbents

• WIFI Österreich: Chamber-of-Commerce-affiliated vocational training network with locations across Austria, including health and social-care courses. Operates as a broad incumbent rather than a specialist in the Sozialbetreuer:in credential SOB focuses on.
• Caritas Österreich: Austria's largest social-services nonprofit, operating its own Bildungswerk and training programs in eldercare, family support, and disability services — directly overlapping SOB's employment pipeline and adjacent to its training mandate.
• BFI Österreich (Berufsförderungsinstitut): Austria-wide vocational training provider offering Pflege- and Sozialbetreuungs-related courses alongside a much broader portfolio. Competes for the same adult-learner and career-changer pool but does not specialize in the regulated Sozialbetreuer:in qualification.
• Diakonie Österreich: Protestant-affiliated social-services federation running educational and requalification programs in Pflege and Sozialbetreuung. Comparable in mission scope and target learner outcomes, though geographically broader than SOB's Vorarlberg concentration.

Regional players

• SRH Hochschulen: German private education group operating universities and vocational academies, including health and social-care programs. Comparable as a vocational educator serving DACH-region healthcare workforces, though based in Germany and serving a different primary geography.
• DEKRA Akademie: Large German vocational education and requalification provider with Pflege and Sozialbetreuung tracks among its portfolio. Overlaps in target learner outcomes (career changers, requalification) but delivers through a German-centric, multi-site model rather than a single Austrian campus.
• F+U Rhein-Main-Neckar Akademie: German vocational training provider with healthcare, nursing-assistant, and social-care programs. Comparable in offering regulated Pflege-/Sozialbetreuungs-style credentials, but operating primarily in Germany rather than competing directly in Vorarlberg.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/sob_bregenz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SOB Bregenz