SBW Aus- und Fortbildungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung mbH

What SBW Aus- und Fortbildungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung mbH does

SBW Aus- und Fortbildungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung mbH is a privately held German vocational education and training provider founded in 1996 and headquartered in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The company operates five physical training locations (Schwerin, Wismar, Ludwigslust, Hagenow, Parchim) serving the Westmecklenburg region, with a service portfolio spanning BAMF-authorized integration courses, vocational German language training (DeuFöV, ESF-BAMF), telc-certified language examinations, IHK-accredited vocational retraining (Umschulungen) across more than 25 occupational profiles, and modular career coaching (BILAKOM). Its proprietary VIONA (Virtuelle Online-Akademie) platform delivers more than 530 continuing education courses and 25 IHK-certified retraining programs via live remote instruction on Microsoft Teams, enabling participants to attend from home or any SBW location.

The business model is anchored in publicly funded voucher programs: SBW's primary revenue flows through Bildungsgutschein (education vouchers) and AVGS (activation and placement vouchers) issued by the Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenter for unemployed and job-seeking participants. A secondary stream comes from EU, federal, and state project funding (ESF, BAMF, BMAS, Land Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) for named programs such as JOBTURBO Mallorca, IbArUS, PROFIL, MobiPro-EU, and Vamos. A smaller corporate training stream serves employed individuals and regional employers, with 50-100% of course fees covered by employer contributions or subsidies depending on income level.

SBW's go-to-market is referral-driven via public employment services rather than commercial sales; customer acquisition depends on Jobcenter and Agentur für Arbeit caseworker referrals, regional job fair participation, and the company's website (sbwbildung.de). The company is managed by two Geschäftsführer, Stefanie Dreßler and André Harke, holds AZAV certification (since 2006, recertified 2015), and operates as a state-recognized adult education institution (Staatlich anerkannte Einrichtung der Weiterbildung) under multiple BAMF, ESF-BAMF, and DeuFöV authorizations. No revenue, headcount, or ownership structure data is publicly disclosed.

Name

SBW Aus- und Fortbildungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung mbH

Legal name

SBW Aus- und Fortbildungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung mbH

Website

https://sbwbildung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SBW is a privately held German vocational education provider in Westmecklenburg delivering integration courses, vocational language training, IHK-certified retraining, and telc examinations via five locations and its VIONA online academy, primarily funded by government Bildungsgutschein and AVGS vouchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Integration language courses
• Adult continuing education
• Vocational retraining programs
• Government-funded education

Headquarters

HQ city

Schwerin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded vocational training contracts: SBW conducts qualification programs for unemployed individuals and job seekers, financed through Bildungsgutschein and AVGS vouchers issued by the Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) and Jobcenter. These public contracts form the primary revenue stream.
2. EU, federal, and state project funding: SBW executes multiple EU, federal, and state-funded projects (ESF, BAMF, BMAS) such as JOBTURBO Mallorca, PROFIL, IbArUS, MobiPro-EU, and Vamos. These project grants and co-financing arrangements provide funding for specific workforce integration and language training programs.
3. Employer and corporate training fees: SBW offers vocational language training and continuing education for employed individuals and companies. Fees are partially covered by employer contributions or subsidies, with 50-100% cost coverage depending on employee income levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SBW is a state-recognized adult education institution delivering publicly funded vocational training, German language integration courses (BAMF-authorized), vocational retraining programs with IHK certification, modular coaching (BILAKOM), and telc language examinations across five locations in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and via the VIONA online academy. Its primary buyers are unemployed individuals, immigrants, and job seekers referred through Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenter vouchers, supplemented by employed individuals and regional employers.

Product overview

SBW is a vocational education and training provider operating primarily in Westmecklenburg (Schwerin, Wismar) with additional locations in Ludwigslust, Hagenow, and Parchim. The company offers a multi-product portfolio organized around: (1) Integrationskurse and Berufsbezogene Sprachförderung (DeuFöV) as BAMF-authorized language training for migrants; (2) VIONA as an innovative online academy delivering 530+ continuing education courses and 25 retraining programs with IHK certification via Microsoft Teams; (3) Coaching services including the BILAKOM modular coaching program; and (4) EU/state-funded projects like JOBTURBO Mallorca, IbArUS, and PROFIL. The company operates as a certified AZAV training provider since 2006/2015 and licensed telc examination center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIONA: Virtual Online Academy - an innovative online learning platform offering continuing education, advanced training, and retraining programs. VIONA provides live instruction via Microsoft Teams, enabling remote participation.
• PROFIL
• IbArUS
• JOBTURBO Mallorca / PortaMallorca
• BILAKOM

Products and services

• Integrationskurse (Integration Courses) State-subsidized German language and orientation courses for immigrants, including variants for illiteracy, second-language learners, young adults, women, and parents. Funded by BAMF (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge) and targeted at newly arrived immigrants and refugees in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
• Berufsbezogene Deutschsprachförderung (DeuFöV) Vocational German language training for job seekers, migrants, and refugees, combining German instruction with career integration measures from the Federal Employment Agency. Delivered at A2, B1, B2, and C1 levels for commercial, technical, and healthcare sector pathways.
• VIONA (Virtuelle Online-Akademie) Innovative online academy delivering vocational retraining (Umschulung), continuing education (Weiterbildung), and professional development via live online instruction through Microsoft Teams. Offers 530 training courses, 8 advancement courses to Fachwirt level, and 25 IHK-certified retraining programs, accessible from home or SBW locations.
• BILAKOM Coaching AZAV-certified modular coaching program for career integration, combining individual and group coaching with optional language support. Three modules: competency assessment (40 hours), application coaching (45 hours), and language competency improvement (60 hours). Funded via activation and placement vouchers (AVGS).
• Umschulungen (Vocational Retraining) Vocational retraining programs with IHK certification covering roles such as tax clerk, IT application development, IT systems integration, healthcare manager, retail manager, industrial clerk, personnel services clerk, office management clerk, real estate clerk, media designer (digital/print), warehouse logistics specialist, and security specialist. Up to 100% funding possible via Bildungsgutschein.
• telc-Sprachprüfungen (telc Language Examinations) Licensed telc examination center offering standardized language certifications at A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 levels, including specialized exams for healthcare (Pflege), DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer), and LID (Leben in Deutschland). Examinations conducted at Schwerin, Wismar, and Ludwigslust locations.
• Deutsch für den Beruf (AVGS) Career-focused German language training under §45 SGB III for unemployed/job-seeking persons with migration background. Modular structure with 13 modules at A2–C1 levels across commercial, technical, and healthcare tracks, combined with job market integration support.
• Erfolgreich zum DTZ (DTZ Exam Preparation) Intensive exam preparation course for the DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) at A2/B1 level. Covers listening, reading, writing, and speaking components across 100 instruction hours, priced at €4.99 per hour.
• ECDL-Prüfungszentrum (ECDL Examination Center) European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) examination center at Schwerin and Wismar locations, offering standardized computer literacy certifications.
• JOBTURBO Mallorca EU-funded international vocational training project enabling young adults aged 18–30 registered with Jobcenter to gain work experience abroad in Mallorca. Combines intensive preparation, overseas internship, and follow-up support. Funded under the JUVENTUS program by BMAS and ESF Plus.
• IbArUS Joint project with IHK Schwerin providing company sensitization and consultation on hiring refugees, plus outreach information and counseling for refugee job seekers in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district. Project period July 2022 – June 2024.
• PROFIL Project supporting integration course participants through low-threshold language support before, during, and after integration courses. Three components: pre-integration support, concurrent support, and post-course sustainability measures. Project period July 2019 – November 2022.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 100% of training costs can be covered through public funding programs (Bildungsgutschein, AVGS).
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Schwerin (IHK Schwerin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022SBW and IHK Schwerin form a project consortium to jointly implement the IbArUS project (July 2022 – June 2024), focused on sensitizing and advising companies on hiring refugees and providing outreach counseling to refugee job seekers in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district. Both partners contribute expertise in vocational training, employer networks, and labor market integration.
• Agentur für Wirtschaft (Schwerin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBW partners with the Agentur für Wirtschaft (Agency for Economics) in Schwerin to jointly operate the JOBTURBO Mallorca project, providing young unemployed adults (18–30) with international vocational training experiences on Mallorca to improve their domestic labor market prospects.
• Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)coreOthersBAMF is the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees that grants SBW its authorizations to conduct integration language courses (since 2006), ESF-BAMF vocational language programs (since 2010), and DeuFöV national vocational language promotion (since 2017). BAMF funding and regulatory oversight enables SBW to deliver publicly subsidized language integration programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• alfatraining Bildungszentrum: AZAV-certified vocational training provider delivering full-time retraining (Umschulung) and continuing education across multiple German cities, with a strong online/live remote delivery model. Highly comparable to SBW's VIONA-based online academy approach.
• DEKRA Akademie: National vocational training provider offering AZAV-certified retraining, language courses, and integration programs via a network of locations. Closely overlaps SBW's core product set (Umschulungen, Integrationskurse, coaching) but at significantly larger scale.
• WBS TRAINING: One of Germany's largest private vocational training and retraining providers, AZAV-certified, delivering Bildungsgutschein and AVGS-funded programs online and at multiple locations. Directly comparable to SBW in business model, voucher reliance, and integrated online academy delivery.
• bbw Bildungswerk der Wirtschaft: Employer-affiliated vocational training network providing retraining, continuing education, and integration programs under SGB III and BAMF frameworks. Comparable in curriculum depth (IHK certifications) and employer-facing services.
• DAA Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie: Large non-profit education provider offering AZAV-certified vocational retraining, integration courses, and coaching through hundreds of locations across Germany. Comparable in certificate-driven, publicly funded continuing education model.
• bfw Bildungszentrum (Berufsfortbildungswerk): Major German vocational training provider with AZAV certification, delivering publicly funded retraining, continuing education, and language/integration courses. Highly comparable in funding model (SGB III, BAMF) and target customer (job seekers via voucher).

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland Akademie: Part of the TÜV Rheinland group, offering vocational retraining, continuing education, and certification with AZAV authorization. Overlaps with SBW's retraining and certification portfolio but as one segment within a much broader inspection and certification business.

Regional players

• Arbeit und Leben Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State-level adult education and workforce integration provider, often delivering publicly funded integration and language programs similar to SBW. Typical regional competitor for BAMF and ESF-funded contracts in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
• Volkshochschule Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State-affiliated adult education centers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offering subsidized general and vocational language courses. Direct regional competitor for integration and language training participants.
• IHK Bildungszentrum Schwerin: The local chamber of industry's own training arm in Schwerin, offering IHK-certified continuing education and qualifications. Directly competes with SBW in the same regional market and even partners with SBW on the IbArUS project.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sbw-aus--und-fortbildungsgesellschaft-f%C3%BCr-wirtschaft-und-verwaltung-mbh

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SBW Aus- und Fortbildungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Verwaltung mbH