BBZ Herisau

What BBZ Herisau does

BBZ Herisau (Berufsbildungszentrum Herisau) is a publicly funded cantonal vocational education institution in Herisau, Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland, operating since 1976. It delivers dual-track vocational education and training (VET) to approximately 15 trades spanning retail, healthcare, commercial, electrical, construction, forestry, woodwork, and manufacturing professions. The school serves apprentices from three cantons — Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and St. Gallen — and runs concurrent Berufsmaturität (BM1) and post-qualification (BM2) programs alongside a Brücke AR bridge program for youth transitioning into vocational training.

The core technology stack is conventional educational infrastructure rather than proprietary platforms: a PHP-based Terrific CMS for the institutional website (berufsschule.ch), WebUntis for scheduling, Moodle for learning management, Microsoft 365/Teams for communication, Matomo Analytics for privacy-focused web analytics, and a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy requiring students to use Windows 11 laptops. Web hosting is provided by Swiss provider cyon in Basel, and CDN services via Cloudflare/Unpkg. Notable non-software differentiators include the "Schnaufmodul" art installation by Monika Ebner (pressure-air kinetic piece reflecting room occupancy) and a virtual 360° tour of facilities. ISO 9001 quality management certification was renewed in November 2024.

The institution is not a commercial entity; it is operated by the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and funded through cantonal education budgets. No tuition is charged to residents of AI or AR cantons with at least two years of residency. Revenue from tuition is therefore effectively nil — the operating budget is the relevant economic measure but is not publicly disclosed. Customer acquisition occurs through direct enrollment via Microsoft Forms, subject-specific information events, and the institution's website; the school also runs a unique Switzerland-wide sports-education network partnership with Sportschule Appenzellerland that allows elite athletes to balance vocational schooling.

Name

BBZ Herisau

Legal name

Berufsbildungszentrum Herisau

Website

https://berufsschule.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BBZ Herisau is a publicly funded cantonal vocational school in Herisau, Switzerland, delivering dual-track apprenticeship education across 15+ trades plus Berufsmaturität and bridge programs to apprentices from three cantons (AR, AI, SG).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Apprenticeship training
• Professional education
• Vocational baccalaureate
• Career training

Headquarters

HQ city

Herisau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

BBZ Herisau is a publicly operated vocational school (Berufsbildungszentrum) that delivers foundational vocational training (Grundbildung) across approximately 15 trades, vocational baccalaureate programs (Berufsmaturität BM1 and BM2), and bridge-year programs (Brücke AR) for youth. It is funded by the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and serves as the canton's primary upper-secondary vocational education provider.

Product overview

BBZ Herisau operates as a unified vocational education center offering integrated programs under one institutional umbrella. The core portfolio consists of Grundbildung (apprenticeship-based vocational training across 15+ trades), Berufsmaturität programs (BM1 concurrent with apprenticeship, BM2 post-qualification), and Brücke AR (bridge programs for youth not yet ready for apprenticeships). These are supported by cross-cutting services including Beratung und Förderung (counseling and support), Förderangebote (BoOST enhancement courses), Allgemeinbildung, and Bewegungs- und Sportunterricht. Digital infrastructure is provided through BYOD policy with Windows 11 environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grundbildung (Foundational Vocational Training)
• Berufsmaturität BM1
• Berufsmaturität BM2
• Brücke AR Bridge-year program (Brücke AR) for youth who are not immediately placed in apprenticeships, providing transitional schooling and orientation into vocational pathways.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Weishaupt AG InnenausbauminorOthersLocal interior construction company that supports the school through prizes or sponsorship of student Vertiefungsarbeiten (independent specialization projects)
• Möbelbau Hugener AGminorOthersFurniture manufacturing company supporting student projects through prizes and project sponsorship
• M Mazenauer AGminorOthersCorporate supporter of student project work through prize donations
• Spitalverbund ARminorOthersRegional hospital group providing support for student healthcare-related projects and Vertiefungsarbeiten
• Hof Weissbad AGminorOthersHealthcare and hospitality facility supporting student projects through prizes
• Bäckerei Konditorei Gerig GmbHminorOthersBakery and confectionery business supporting student projects through prize donations
• Appenzeller Holzbau GmbHminorOthersWood construction company supporting student woodworking and construction projects
• Forstbetrieb Staatswald SGminorOthersState forestry operation in St.Gallen supporting forestry student projects
• Alters- und Pflegeheim QuisisanaminorOthersCare home providing support for student healthcare and social project work
• Frischknecht & Schiess GmbHminorOthersCompany supporting student projects through prize donations
• Sportschule AppenzellerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwitzerland-wide unique sports and education network partnership. BBZ serves as partner school where sports students attend regular classes while sports school manages training programs. Provides flexible scheduling, individualized support, and exam accommodations for elite youth athletes to balance intensive training with vocational education.
• Schweizer Jugend forscht (SJF)minorOthersFoundation promoting youth science and research. BBZ nominates talented students who participated successfully in SJF competitions for recognition and development opportunities.
• Gymnasium Appenzell AIminorOthersPartner institution providing self-study space for BM2 students as part of blended learning arrangement
• Kantonsschule Trogen ARminorOthersCantonal secondary school providing self-study facilities for BM2 students in the blended learning program network

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BZWU Bildungszentrum für Wirtschaft Weinfelden: Cantonal vocational school in Thurgau offering commercial and Berufsmaturität programs similar to BBZ's BM1/BM2 portfolio, competing for adult learners and commercial apprentices in the broader Eastern Switzerland region.
• Berufsfachschule Lenzburg (bfl): Cantonal vocational school in Aargau offering Grundbildung, BM, and bridge programs with similar trade mix to BBZ Herisau; relevant structural peer for program-portfolio benchmarking.
• BBB Berufsbildung Baden: Large cantonal Berufsbildung center in Aargau providing Grundbildung and Berufsmaturität across multiple trades; comparable institutional model and ISO-style quality orientation make it a structural benchmark for BBZ.
• BWS Winterthur: Berufsschule Winterthur offers apprenticeship schooling and Berufsmaturität across a similar multi-trade portfolio in a neighboring canton, sharing the same Swiss dual VET regulatory framework.
• Berufsbildungszentrum Biel-Bienne (CEFF): Bilingual (German/French) cantonal vocational school in Bern offering multi-trade apprenticeships and Berufsmaturität, structurally analogous to BBZ Herisau in scope and program mix.
• GIB St.Gallen: Gewerblich-industrielles Bildungszentrum St.Gallen is the cantonal vocational school directly adjacent in St.Gallen canton, offering comparable dual VET programs across commercial-industrial trades, healthcare, and construction — directly competing for apprentices in BBZ's primary catchment.

Regional players

• Gewerbliche Berufsschule Wetzikon (GBW): Vocational school serving Zurich's eastern region with a comparable commercial-industrial trade portfolio; adjacent geographically to BBZ's catchment and a partial substitute for some apprentice streams.

Emerging players

• WISS Wirtschaftsinformatikschule Schweiz: Private vocational school offering ICT-focused apprenticeships and Berufsmaturität; competes with BBZ's commercial/ICT adjacent offerings but operates under a more agile private-sector model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/bbz-herisau

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 BBZ Herisau