Workshop

What Workshop does

QBS Gewerkstatt gGmbH is a Bochum-based, non-profit (gemeinnützige GmbH) social enterprise founded in 1985 by Peter Lübbert that delivers qualification, education, employment and placement services for disadvantaged labor-market groups in the Ruhr area. Its portfolio combines EU and federal-funded programmes (ESF Plus, BMAS, BMFSFJ) such as JUVENTUS international youth placements, EmpowerHer refugee-women hospitality training with VR simulations, BO:StarQ family poverty support, DigiREACT, MigrEntrepreneur, NewFuture and Embrace UAM, with a closed-loop ecosystem of operating subsidiaries — BOGATA+Eßkapade (catering), agil+prompt (household services, ~80 staff, 800+ customers), WERA electrical recycling, quaz.ruhr, Urbanes Kulturteam Ruhr and Rosenberg Initiativ — that supply real workplaces and modest service revenue. The technology stack centres on VR-based training scenarios for hospitality roles, occupation-specific German-language modules, and emerging AI-supported tutoring and micro-credentialing; AZAV accreditation, EfbV and BImSchG approvals underpin the regulated, publicly funded revenue model. Go-to-market is sales-led through municipal and federal procurement plus partner referrals (Jobcenter Bochum, Agentur für Arbeit, ambulatory care providers), with end-customers split between public funders and private households.

Name

Workshop

Legal name

QBS Gewerkstatt gGmbH

Website

https://qbsgewerkstatt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

QBS Gewerkstatt gGmbH is a Bochum-based non-profit (gGmbH) founded in 1985 that delivers qualification, employment-integration and family-support programmes for disadvantaged groups in the Ruhr area, funded by ESF Plus, BMAS, BMFSFJ and local agencies and delivered via operating social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Labor Market Integration Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN), Study Skills, Executive Function & Academic Coaching (Small-Group) (EDANAHAC)

Keywords

• Vocational qualification services
• Employment integration programs
• Social enterprise operations
• Refugee labor market inclusion
• Household services business

Headquarters

HQ city

Bochum

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ESF Plus Project Funding: European Social Fund Plus funding for employment integration, qualification, and social integration projects including EmpowerHer, Juventus, BO:StarQ, DigiREACT, MigrEntrepreneur
2. Public Employment Services: Funding from Jobcenter Bochum and Agentur für Arbeit for Arbeitsgelegenheiten (AGH), coaching, and qualification programs for long-term unemployed
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue from household services (agil, prompt), electrical recycling (WERA), and café/restaurant operations (BOGATA, Eßkapade). Services billed to private customers and through care insurance (Pflegeversicherung)
4. Erasmus+ Programme Funding: European funding for international cooperation projects in vocational education and social inclusion

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Workshop (QBS Gewerkstatt gGmbH) is a non-profit social enterprise that designs and delivers qualification, further education, employment, and placement services for disadvantaged labor market groups such as long-term unemployed, refugees, migrants, and youth. It operates a network of operating social businesses (agil+prompt household services, WERA electrical recycling, BOGATA/Eßkapade catering) and runs EU-funded projects (JUVENTUS, EmpowerHer, BO:StarQ, DigiREACT, MigrEntrepreneur) that combine vocational training, language modules, and VR-based learning.

Product overview

QBS Gewerkstatt gGmbH is a non-profit social enterprise based in Bochum, Germany, operating as a loose federation of social businesses, employment projects, and community services rather than a unified technology product. The organization provides qualification, education, employment, and placement services for disadvantaged labor market groups through multiple distinct operational units and EU-funded projects. Key operating businesses include BOGATA/Eßkapade (catering), agil+prompt (household services with ~80 employees serving 800+ customers), and WERA (electrical recycling since 1996). EU project portfolio includes JUVENTUS (international youth employment exchanges), EmpowerHer (refugee women's integration via vocational training and VR), BO:StarQ (family poverty support), and Urbanes Kulturteam Ruhr (cultural participation and inclusion). Employment programs under Jobcenter/Employment Agency include JobStudio, Werkstattjahr, AGH work opportunities in upcycling and electrical recycling, and coaching services. The organization has been operating since 1985 under CEO Peter Lübbert.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• quaz.ruhr: Quartier management and community center services operated by QBS Gewerkstatt
• agil
• prompt
• WERa
• BOGATA + Eßkapade
• Rosenberg Initiativ
• Urbanes Kulturteam Ruhr gGmbH

Products and services

• JUVENTUS - International Youth Employment Program ESF Plus funded program supporting young unemployed people (18-30) through international work placements in EU countries; combines preparation, abroad internship, and follow-up coaching to improve labor market integration.
• EmpowerHer Erasmus+ project empowering refugee women through vocational training in hospitality, occupation-specific German language courses, and peer-to-peer learning, including VR-based training scenarios for front desk, kitchen, and housekeeping roles.
• DigiREACT Erasmus+ project focused on digital skills development and training in vocational education and integration work.
• JobStudio Employment integration program under the German Federal Employment Agency providing job counseling and placement services for job seekers.
• Werkstattjahr NRW Production school program in North Rhine-Westphalia offering vocational training for young people to prepare them for the labor market.
• BO:StarQ - Startchancen im Quartier ESF Plus funded project providing holistic family counseling and support for poverty-affected Bochum families; includes mobile outreach via the StarQMach-Mobil and operates from the Quartierstreff Kastanie community center.
• #getinvolved European project focused on integration and participation of migrants and refugees.
• MigrEntrepreneur Project supporting migrant entrepreneurship and business development.
• AGH Upcycling Work opportunity program under Jobcenter Bochum offering upcycling and creative reuse activities for long-term unemployed individuals.
• AGH Coaching Four-month coaching program available to all AGH participants, providing two hours per week of professional coaching support during the work opportunity period.
• WERA - Elektro-Recycling Business Unit Electrical recycling business operating since 1996, certified under EfbV standard and BImschG approved since 1999; provides employment and qualification opportunities for long-term unemployed.
• BOGATA + Eßkapade Catering and Restaurant Operating catering and restaurant businesses providing employment opportunities for the target group of disadvantaged labor market participants.
• agil + prompt Household Services Household services business with over 800 customers and approximately 80 employees; agil serves well-situated private households while prompt serves socially-needy clients including elderly, disabled, and care-needing individuals. Services include cleaning, laundry, ironing, window cleaning, and meal preparation.
• Urbanes Kulturteam Ruhr Independent non-profit cultural organization part of the QBS Gewerkstatt network, focusing on cultural participation, social inclusion, community empowerment, and intercultural dialogue through creative, educational and participatory approaches; currently involved in the Embrace UAM project for unaccompanied minor refugees.
• Rosenberg Initiativ Employment and integration initiative operating in Bochum, focused on supporting job seekers and integration into the labor market.
• quaz.ruhr Operating business unit within the QBS Gewerkstatt network, providing quartile management and community center services, and cooperating with QUAZ Bochum (Qualifizierungs- und Aktivierungszentrum).
• AGH Elektrorecycling Work opportunity program in electrical recycling for long-term unemployed, running continuously since 2002 under Jobcenter Bochum, with BImschG approval and EfbV certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful placement of participants in primary labor market
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stadt BochumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in BO:StarQ family support project, providing local implementation and coordination with city services
• Jobcenter BochumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and cooperation partner for AGH (Arbeitsgelegenheiten) programmes in electrical recycling and coaching services for long-term unemployed
• Agentur für ArbeitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Employment Agency partner for JobStudio, Werkstattjahr, and other qualification projects for job seekers
• BEST - Berufsförderungsinstitut WienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian vocational training institute hosting EmpowerHer LTTA activities in Vienna, September 2025
• Embrace UAM Partnerorganisationen (Deutschland, Italien, Griechenland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cooperation with partner organizations in Germany, Italy, and Greece for integration and support of unaccompanied minor refugees
• Ambulante Pflegedienste (Ambulatory Care Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperating care service providers through which prompt household services can be billed via care insurance (Pflegeversicherung)
• QUAZ BochumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality Assurance Center for integration work hosting conferences and EU delegation visits

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• bfz (Berufliche Fortbildungszentren der Bayerischen Wirtschaft): Germany-wide vocational training and employment-integration provider delivering AZAV-certified qualification and activation programs for job seekers. Directly comparable in funding mix (Bundesagentur, ESF, BMAS) and target segments (long-term unemployed, migrants).
• Kolping Bildungswerk: Catholic-affiliated non-profit providing vocational qualification, youth integration, and social enterprise programs nationwide. Highly comparable in combining training with social-economy operating businesses and family support services.
• DEKRA Akademie: Major commercial vocational training and labor-market integration provider operating across Germany. Comparable in delivering publicly funded retraining and qualification programs, though with a more corporate/employer-skills focus than QBS's social-enterprise model.
• Internationaler Bund (IB): Large German non-profit (IB e.V.) offering vocational qualification, youth mobility, refugee integration, and social enterprise services. Closely comparable model to QBS Gewerkstatt across qualification-to-placement pathways and EU project delivery, though at much larger national scale.
• bbw gGmbH (Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft): Non-profit vocational training provider within the bayerischer Arbeitgeberverband network. Comparable mission around qualification, further education, and employment integration for disadvantaged groups, with overlapping AZAV-accredited program portfolio.
• BBQ Bildung GmbH: Vocational training and labor-market integration provider focused on activation, qualification, and digital upskilling for job seekers. Comparable funding mix (Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit, ESF, BMAS) and target population.

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Deutschland: Protestant welfare federation delivering social, vocational, and refugee integration services nationwide. Highly comparable target groups (long-term unemployed, refugees, families in need) under a similar non-profit, faith-affiliated umbrella model.
• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare association with extensive employment, refugee, and family-support programs. Overlaps with QBS's BO:StarQ and EmpowerHer-style activities, but as part of a much broader social services portfolio.
• AWO Bundesverband: National workers' welfare association operating qualification, family support, and integration programs across Germany. Comparable segments (poverty-affected families, refugees, unemployed) but with significantly larger geographic and operational scale.

Regional players

• Volkshochschule Bochum: Local municipal adult education center in Bochum offering qualification, language, and integration courses. Directly comparable geographically and in mission scope, competing for the same municipal and ESF-funded participant pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61586725071986
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gewerkstatt-ggmbh

Compliance4 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 Workshop