ver.di Forum Nord

What ver.di Forum Nord does

ver.di-Forum Nord gGmbH is a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH) registered in Kiel, Germany, that operates as a regional educational institution (Bildungsträger) within the ver.di (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft) trade-union network. It delivers specialist training and qualification services for workplace employee representation bodies across northern Germany — primarily Works Councils (Betriebsräte), Staff Councils (Personalräte), Severely Disabled Employees' Representatives (SBV), Youth and Apprentice Representatives (JAV), and Church Employee Representations (MAV) — covering Betriebsverfassungsgesetz (BetrVG), personnel representation laws, collective bargaining law, working time, data protection, digitalization, and EU AI regulation. The core product is multi-day residential seminars priced €625-€1,200 (with accommodation and meals charged separately at €200-€1,300), supplemented by day-rate seminars, online seminars (including the free 'Ein Blick durchs Schlüsselloch' series), customized inhouse training, moderated retreats, and professional conferences (Fachtagungen). An upcoming digital portal, Mein Forum Nord, is intended to handle booking, self-check-in, and document distribution.

The business model is a fee-for-service professional education model delivered via direct-to-consumer engagement: more than 6,000 works council and staff council members attend its programs annually, with customers booking individual seats, employer-funded training (Schulungsanspruch), or bespoke in-house contracts (e.g., the Deutsche Post AG / DHL program). Seminar pricing is published on the website and ranges across tiered curriculums (BR 1-4 foundational series, MBG Schleswig-Holstein modules, leadership K1-K2 tracks for council chairs, and specialized tariff/labor law modules). The go-to-market relies on the ver.di distribution network for referrals, supplemented by owned website search, email newsletters, downloads (Musterschreiben, Bildungsplaner), and social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn).

Operationally, training is delivered at 16+ curated venues across Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern — including coastal sites on the North and Baltic Seas — plus the dedicated ver.di Bildungszentrum Undeloh residential facility and online channels. The organization is privately held by ver.di structures (no external PE/VC), with Diana Zimmermann as Chair of the Supervisory Board and Thies Bielenberg as Managing Director; the Bildungsreferenten team and seminar-organization staff (11-50 employees total) constitute the delivery backbone. The stated differentiator is practice-led curriculum ('Aus der Praxis für die Praxis') backed by the ver.di union's institutional reputation in labor and co-determination law.

Name

ver.di Forum Nord

Legal name

ver.di-Forum Nord gGmbH

Website

https://verdi-forum.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ver.di-Forum Nord is a Kiel-based non-profit educational institution that delivers labor-law, co-determination, and works-council training seminars to employee representation bodies (Betriebsräte, Personalräte, JAV, SBV, MAV) across northern Germany, serving 6,000+ participants annually across multiple residential and online venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Training (Labor Law and Co-determination)

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Educational Support Services (61171), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Legal & Compliance Conferences (MPAGAGAI)

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seminar fees and training services: Revenue generated through seminar registration fees, accommodation and meal costs charged separately, and inhouse training contracts with organizations. Seminar fees range from €625 to €1,200 depending on duration and content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ver.di-Forum Nord delivers continuing-education seminars, in-house training, and professional conferences for elected employee representatives in Germany — primarily Betriebsräte (works councils), Personalräte (staff councils), SBV, JAV, and MAV. Offerings span foundational to advanced curricula on Betriebsverfassungsgesetz (BetrVG), public-sector personnel law, collective bargaining, working time, data protection, AI regulation, and leadership skills, delivered at venues across northern Germany and online.

Product overview

ver.di Forum Nord is a regional non-profit educational provider (Bildungsträger) affiliated with ver.di, offering a comprehensive portfolio of seminar, training, and conference services for workplace representation bodies. The core offering consists of in-person and online seminars covering labor law (Arbeitsrecht), Betriebsverfassungsrecht, collective bargaining law (Tarifrecht), working time regulations, data protection and digitalization, and specialized topics such as AI regulation. Target audiences include Works Councils (Betriebsräte), Staff Councils (Personalräte), severely disabled persons' representatives (SBV), Youth and Apprentice Representatives (JAV), Church Staff Councils (MAV), and election committees. The service model includes multi-day residential seminars at venues across North Germany (North Sea and Baltic Sea coast), day seminars, online seminars, moderated retreats, in-house training, and professional conferences. A digital customer portal (Mein Forum Nord) is under development for seminar management and self-service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mein Forum Nord: A personal portal for registered users to manage seminar bookings, reservations, and access personalized information.
• Forum plus
• Ein Blick durchs Schlüsselloch

Products and services

• Seminare für Betriebsräte (Works Council Seminars)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 Betriebs- und Personalräte trained annually

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ver.di BildungswerkecoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerver.di-Forum Nord is part of the ver.di Bildungswerke network of educational institutions affiliated with the ver.di trade union. This partnership provides access to a comprehensive network of training providers across Germany and enables the 'Bildung aus einer Hand' (education from a single source) concept, allowing customers to find appropriate training through various ver.di Bildungswerke locations nationwide.
• ver.di-Landesbezirk NordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration with ver.di Landesbezirk Nord, the regional union structure covering Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg. The organization supports union secretaries and staff in their work and jointly advances educational topics under the 'Bildung aus einer Hand' motto together with ver.di Nord's educational department.
• ver.di Bildungszentrum UndelohcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe ver.di Bildungszentrum Undeloh serves as an additional seminar venue location, offering residential training facilities. The venue is referenced for BR 1 seminars and other training programs, providing accommodation and conference facilities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• BWS Bildungswerk der Sächsischen Wirtschaft: Regional non-union-affiliated provider of works council and HR training in Saxony; comparable in training format (residential + online) and participant persona, though smaller and more regional.
• FFD Fachakademie für Fortbildung und Dienstleistung: Specialized provider of works council seminars and certified training (registered with German federal certification body); directly comparable product offering with similar pricing tier and BR/PR focus.

Broad incumbents

• DGB Bildungswerk: Federation-level education arm of the DGB trade union confederation; provides cross-union worker education and conference management, broader than Forum Nord's regional scope but highly comparable on works council training mission.
• Arbeit und Leben: Joint DGB/employer-association continuing education provider offering works council seminars and broader civic/vocational training; comparable on the BR/PR seminar portfolio and direct competitor for public sector participant budgets.

Regional players

• IG Metall Bildungszentrum: Education arm of IG Metall trade union providing industry-specific works council training primarily in metalworking sectors; comparable on training mission and labor-law content, though less directly competitive due to industry focus.

Direct peers

• ver.di Bildungswerk Bayern: Another ver.di Bildungswerke regional training provider for works councils and staff councils in Bavaria; directly comparable as it delivers the same co-determination training mandate under the same network.
• W.A.F. Institut für Betriebsräte: National private training provider specializing in works council qualification; competes head-to-head with Forum Nord's BR seminars and pricing structure (€600-€1,200 range) across Germany.
• ifb – Institut zur Fortbildung von Betriebsräten: Private-sector leader in works council training in Germany; directly competes with ver.di Forum Nord for Betriebsrat seminar attendance across all German regions and overlaps heavily on the BR 1-4 foundational curriculum.
• ver.di Bildungswerk Hessen: Sister regional Bildungswerk within the same ver.di Bildungswerke network covering Hessen; offers essentially the same works council seminar portfolio in a different German region, making it the most direct comparable.

Others

• Hans-Böckler-Stiftung: Confederation-affiliated foundation that funds and disseminates research on co-determination and supports works council training initiatives; not a direct seminar competitor but a key ecosystem enabler shaping the same audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ver.di-forumnord1762
• Facebookfacebook.com/verdi.forum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ver.di-forum-nord
• Instagraminstagram.com/ver.di_forum_nord
• Xx.com/forumnord

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 ver.di Forum Nord