Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB)

What Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB) does

Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB) is the state-owned Landesbetrieb (public-sector entity) responsible for all public vocational education and training in Hamburg, Germany, founded on January 1, 2007 and operating under the Authority for Schools, Family and Vocational Training (BSFB) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. HIBB directly operates 29 state vocational schools and supervises 24 additional alternative vocational schools under independent sponsorship, delivering programs across vocational preparation, dual vocational training (covering 240+ recognized training occupations), school-based vocational training, higher education entrance qualifications, and continuing vocational education. In the 2025 school year the institution serves approximately 45,300 students through 2,591 teachers and 3,050 total staff, making it Hamburg's largest state-owned employer in education.

HIBB's core operations are organized into four Geschäftsbereiche (business units): School Development/Steering and Consulting, Design of Educational Pathways and Transitions, Personnel and Finance, and Extracurricular Vocational Training and Continuing Education. Its product portfolio spans Berufsvorbereitung (vocational preparation), dual and school-based Berufsausbildung, Berufliches Gymnasium/Fachoberschulen for higher education entrance qualifications, advanced Fachschulen for Technik and Sozialpädagogik, the unified generalist nursing training (Pflegeausbildung), and support services including the Information Centre (IZ-HIBB), the Counselling Centre for Vocational Schools (BZBS), the Centre for School and Youth Information (ZSJ, formed in 2024 by merger of the School and Youth Information Centres), and the Professional Recognition Department for foreign qualifications. International activities include Global Learning Partnerships with five Hamburg vocational schools linked to African counterparts, an International Mobility service supporting trainees working abroad, and advisory services for foreign ministries transferring the dual training model.

HIBB is entirely publicly funded through Hamburg's state budget via BSFB, with reported annual turnover of approximately EUR 461 million in 2024. There is no commercial pricing model: all educational services are provided free of charge to students. Revenue is supplemented by European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus) co-financing for specific projects, notably BAM (January 2025 to April 2028) and dual & inklusiv (August 2025 to July 2028). The underlying technology stack is administrative rather than proprietary, with one recently introduced educational technology product—the Social Media Lab—built on simulation software licensed from Prevency GmbH (Wuppertal). Certifications include AZAV (Certqua) for employment services funding eligibility and HmbBITVO accessibility compliance verified January 2026.

Name

Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB)

Legal name

Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB)

Website

https://hibb.hamburg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB) is Hamburg's state-owned public institute that operates 29 vocational schools serving 45,300 students across 240+ training occupations, funded by the Hamburg state budget through the BSFB authority.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (6112), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vocational Evaluation & Career Assessment (Transition-Age) (EDAKANAC), College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

Keywords

• Vocational education and training
• State vocational schools
• Dual apprenticeship programs
• Continuing vocational education
• Professional qualification recognition

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Sector Funding: HIBB is a state-owned company (Landesbetrieb) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, funded through the Authority for Schools, Family and Vocational Training (BSFB). Annual turnover was approximately EUR 461 million in 2024. Revenue comes from public budget allocations, not commercial sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HIBB governs and delivers vocational education and training across 29 state vocational schools in Hamburg, serving approximately 45,300 students. It offers dual vocational training in 240+ recognised occupations, school-based Berufsfachschulen programmes, vocational preparation pathways, Fachschulen for advanced technical and social-pedagogical qualifications, and higher education entrance qualifications. Supporting services include career counselling (BZBS), information services for newly arrived youth (IZ-HIBB), professional recognition of foreign qualifications, and ESF Plus-funded inclusion projects (BAM and dual & inklusiv).

Product overview

The Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB) operates as a state-owned company managing 29 vocational schools in Hamburg, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational pathways from vocational preparation through to continuing education. The core offerings include Dual Vocational Training (duale Berufsausbildung) in over 240 occupations, school-based vocational training (schulische Berufsausbildung) through Berufsfachschulen, and preparation programs. HIBB provides specialized Fachschulen for advanced technical and social education, nursing training with the unified generalist approach, and higher education entrance qualification pathways through Berufliches Gymnasium, Fachoberschulen, and Berufsoberschulen. Supporting services include the Information Centre for newly arrived youth, the Counseling Centre for Vocational Schools (BZBS), and the professional recognition service for foreign qualifications. International programs encompass Global Learning Partnerships with African schools and VET International advisory services for countries interested in dual training systems. ESF Plus-funded projects like BAM and dual & inklusiv support inclusive vocational education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Duale Berufsausbildung (Dual Vocational Training) The core dual training system combining company-based practical training with school-based theoretical education across 240+ recognised training occupations in Hamburg. Targets school-leavers entering vocational training and Hamburg companies offering apprenticeship positions.

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2019, nearly 1,400 trainees in Hamburg participated in international mobility/work abroad opportunities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Universität der Bundeswehr (University of the Bundeswehr)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024HIBB/BS 17 cooperated with the University of the Bundeswehr on the KoDiA project (Kompetenzen in der digitalen Arbeitswelt), which resulted in the Social Media Lab simulation software. This cooperation won the 2024 Employer Prize for Education.
• Engagement Global gGmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015HIBB has been working with Engagement Global gGmbH since 2015 as part of the BMZ country initiative. The common goal is to integrate ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) into the learning fields of vocational schools in line with the Orientation Framework for Global Development Education.
• Hamburger Sozialbehörde (Hamburg Social Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hamburg Social Authority co-finances the BAM project and co-finances the d & i project. It is also involved in the Youth Employment Agency (JBA) structure. The BAM project supports the Hamburg skilled workers strategy and the Hamburg State Action Plan for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Arbeitsagentur Hamburg (Employment Agency Hamburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Employment Agency Hamburg participates in the BAM project via co-financing or staff release. It co-manages mobility for third countries with HIBB. The Employment Agency's data drives training market statistics and HIBB's annual reporting.
• Jobcenter.team.arbeit.hamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJobcenter.team.arbeit.hamburg participates in the BAM project via co-financing or staff release and is part of the Hamburg Youth Employment Agency (JBA) multi-agency structure supporting young adults receiving basic income support.
• Arbeit und Leben Hamburg (Mobility Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIBB cooperates with the mobility agency of Arbeit und Leben Hamburg to support and counsel trainees, interested students of technical schools, teachers, instructors, and companies on international mobility and internships abroad.
• TVET HamburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTVET Hamburg is referenced as a related platform for international vocational education cooperation. HIBB draws on a pool of experts from all Hamburg vocational schools, which currently offer 240 training occupations, for international counselling activities.
• Berufliche Schulen BS 08, BS 13, BS 15, BS 22, BS 25 (Implementation schools for Global Learning)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive vocational schools in Hamburg are involved in implementation projects building and maintaining school partnerships with African countries as part of Global Learning Partnerships. BS 15 and BS 25 received the Federal President's Award for Global Learning twice. These schools form the core of HIBB's Education for Sustainable Development (BBNE/ESD) network.
• Hamburg Chamber of Commerce (Handelskammer Hamburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hamburg Chamber of Commerce works closely with HIBB on final examinations in the context of dual training. It is a key partner in the Hamburg training market, contributing to the annual training market statistics and signing ceremonies.
• Handwerkskammer Hamburg (Hamburg Chamber of Crafts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Handwerkskammer Hamburg is a key partner in the Hamburg training market (Ausbildungspartner). It has over 1,120 open apprenticeship positions listed in 2026 and operates the Hamburg Lehrstellenbörse. It supports female apprentices with a comprehensive mentoring and coaching programme.
• Staatliche Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik FSP2 (BS21)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSP2 (BS21) at Max-Brauer-Allee 134 is the location where the AQUA compensation measure (adaptation period) for childcare workers with foreign qualifications takes place, in cooperation with HIBB's Professional Recognition Department.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB): Germany's federal VET research and policy institute, providing national coordination, research, and policy advice for the dual training system. Directly comparable to HIBB in terms of mandate (VET governance and quality assurance) but operates nationally rather than at a single state level.

Regional players

• Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Unterricht und Kultus: Bavaria's state ministry responsible for school and vocational education governance, overseeing Bavaria's network of Berufsschulen. Directly comparable to HIBB in function (state-level vocational school governance) but operates in a different German state with a different administrative structure.
• Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie Berlin: Berlin's state education administration overseeing both general and vocational schools in Berlin. Directly comparable to HIBB's role as state-level vocational education authority, but for Berlin rather than Hamburg.
• Die Senatorin für Kinder und Bildung Bremen: Bremen's state education authority responsible for vocational schools and training pathways. A direct city-state peer to HIBB given both operate at city-state level in Germany with similar VET governance mandates.

Others

• Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK) Hamburg: Local Chamber of Commerce that conducts final examinations and certifies dual vocational training in industry and commerce occupations. A core partner of HIBB in the Hamburg training market and a key stakeholder in the dual training ecosystem.
• Handwerkskammer Hamburg: Local Chamber of Crafts that conducts final examinations for craft trades, manages the apprenticeship placement platform (Lehrstellenbörse), and offers mentoring programs. A core training partner of HIBB and key stakeholder in the Hamburg dual training market.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Germany's federal employment agency that operates the Hamburg Youth Employment Agency (JBA) jointly with HIBB. Comparable as an institutional partner in youth employment and training market coordination, with co-financing and joint service delivery roles.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): Germany's federal agency for international development cooperation, which runs extensive TVET programs worldwide, including exporting the German dual training model. Comparable to HIBB's VET International advisory services and Global Learning Partnerships but operates federally and globally.

Emerging players

• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private university focused on working professionals, with a strong vocational and applied focus. Comparable to HIBB's Fachschulen and Berufsoberschule segments in offering advanced vocational education and career-focused pathways.

Broad incumbents

• SRH Holding (SRH Hochschulen): Private education operator running universities, vocational schools, and training centers across Germany. Operates in the same vocational and higher education space as HIBB but as a private, commercial provider with a broader portfolio of educational services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hamburger-institut-fuer-berufliche-bildung
• Instagraminstagram.com/hibbhamburg

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung (HIBB)