W/BZ Winkler Bildungszentrum

What W/BZ Winkler Bildungszentrum does

W/BZ Winkler Bildungszentrum GmbH is a vocational education and training provider headquartered in Villingen-Schwenningen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, founded in 1970. The firm delivers AZAV-certified Umschulungen (retraining), Weiterbildung (continuing education), and Ausbildungsmodelle (apprenticeship programmes) to job seekers, employed individuals, and local employer clients, with a regional focus on the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg area. Its course catalogue spans commercial, IT, SAP, healthcare, CAD/3D, and language subjects delivered in-person and through the VIONA virtual classroom platform, a live-instructor remote-learning product. The firm operates an Ausbildungsverbund (apprenticeship consortium) that aggregates SME apprentice training under a single accredited provider.

The company's business model rests on three revenue streams: (i) publicly-funded course fees reimbursed via Bildungsgutscheine issued by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, enabled by AZAV certification; (ii) employer-paid contracts, particularly for in-firm apprenticeship coordination and corporate upskilling; and (iii) individual self-payer enrolments in continuing-education modules. Delivery partnerships extend the catalogue: SAP S/4HANA training is sourced from IBB, and the firm participates in regional workforce initiatives such as the Po.Re.nu project coordinated with IHK Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg.

The operation is small, with approximately six employees under Geschäftsführer Wolfgang Fuhst, and is privately held as a GmbH with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or revenue figures. Recent activity — the 2024 Po.Re.nu participation, VIONA course extensions into new verticals, an IBB SAP partnership, and a 2025 interactive brochure refresh — points to incremental product-surface expansion rather than headcount or geographic scaling.

Name

W/BZ Winkler Bildungszentrum

Legal name

Winkler Bildungszentrum GmbH

Website

https://wbzgmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

W/BZ Winkler Bildungszentrum is an AZAV-certified vocational training provider in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, delivering retraining, continuing education, and apprenticeships via in-person and VIONA virtual classrooms to job seekers, individuals, and regional employers in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific Technical & Certification Prep (e.g., Construction, Manufacturing, Energy) (EDAGANAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Networking & Telecommunications (Routing/Switching, Wireless, VoIP) (EDABAFAG), Quality, Process Improvement & Lean/Six Sigma Certifications (EDAAANAC)

Keywords

• Vocational training programs
• Continuing education services
• IHK certification courses
• Online learning academy
• Apprenticeship training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Villingen-Schwenningen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retraining (Umschulung) Fees: Full vocational retraining programs (e.g., Industriemechaniker, Mechatroniker, Zerspanungsmechaniker) leading to IHK chamber examinations. Revenue generated through course fees paid by individuals, employers, or public funding bodies (Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcenter).
2. Continuing Education (Weiterbildung) Fees: Short to medium-length professional development courses (CNC, robotics, electronics, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc.) offered both in-person and online via VIONA platform. Revenue from course fees and public funding.
3. Online Academy Subscriptions/Fees: SAP certifications, language courses (English, German for specific sectors), and business/commercial training offered online through the Online Akademie, often with public funding support.
4. Apprenticeship Network (Ausbildungsverbund): Coordinated apprenticeship programs in cooperation with partner companies in the technical-manufacturing sector.
5. Public Funding Reimbursement (Bildungsgutschein): Course fees are frequently covered up to 100% by German public employment agencies (Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcenter) via Bildungsgutschein, Berufsförderungsdienst, or pension insurance providers, representing a major revenue channel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Winkler Bildungszentrum is a vocational education and training provider delivering AZAV-certified retraining programs (Umschulungen), continuing education courses (Weiterbildungen) in CNC, robotics, electronics and related trades, and a VIONA Online Academy covering SAP certifications, business and technical language courses, CAD/3D design, healthcare, and commercial specialist programs. Programs lead to IHK chamber qualifications and are delivered both in-person at the Villingen-Schwenningen campus and online via the VIONA virtual classroom. The center also operates an apprenticeship consortium (Ausbildungsverbund) and career orientation programs for school students.

Product overview

Winkler Bildungszentrum GmbH (W/BZ) is a vocational and continuing education provider founded in 1970, offering a multi-format portfolio centered on three core pillars: Umschulungen (vocational retraining with IHK certification), WBZ Academy (short-form technical Weiterbildung such as CNC, robotics, and electronics), and the Online Akademie VIONA (virtual online delivery). The Online Akademie encompasses distinct program verticals: SAP S/4HANA professional certification (partnered with IBB), business and technical language programs (English/German from A1 to C1), CAD/3D design training (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor, Cinema 4D, Blender), healthcare and social programs (Betreuungskraft, medical secretary, dental practice management with CGM Z1 and TURBOMED), and commercial specialist programs (Qualitätsmanagement, DATEV accounting, IHK-certified Fachwirt pathways). Additional offerings include the Ausbildungsverbund apprenticeship consortium, Berufsorientierung career orientation for youth, and the Po.Re.nu regional workforce project. Programs are delivered in-person at its Villingen-Schwenningen campus and flexibly via the VIONA online academy platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIONA: Online academy platform for remote learning and virtual classroom training.
• WBZ Academy

Products and services

• Umschulungen (Vocational Retraining Programs)

Quantifiable outcome

• Programs can be fully funded (up to 100%) via public subsidies including Bildungsgutschein, reducing financial barrier for participants

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Po.Re.nu (Potenziale der Region nutzen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development initiative aimed at developing methods for skilled worker retention, recruiting new employees, and retaining existing staff. A social-partnership-driven project addressing regional labor market challenges.
• IHK Schwarzwald-Baar-HeubergcoreTechnology or IntegrationExternal examination center for IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) professional qualifications. All retraining programs prepare participants for IHK examinations administered by this regional chamber.
• Partner Companies (local manufacturing firms)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClose cooperation with partner companies in the region enables customized training programs and practical training placements. Companies benefit from workforce qualification aligned with their specific needs.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency) / JobcentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs an AZAV-certified provider, Winkler Bildungszentrum receives participant referrals and full/partial funding via Bildungsgutschein from the Employment Agency and Jobcenter for eligible job seekers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Akademie GmbH: National vocational retraining, continuing education, and AZAV-funded programs across technical, commercial, and transport sectors. Overlaps with W/BZ's metalworking, electronics, and Qualitätsmanagement offerings.
• DAA Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie GmbH: One of Germany's largest nationwide providers of vocational retraining, continuing education, and integration courses. Operates hundreds of locations and is an AZAV-certified direct competitor for publicly-funded Umschulungen.
• TÜV Rheinland Akademie GmbH: Large continuing education arm of TÜV Rheinland offering technical, quality management, and commercial certifications. Directly competes for TÜV QM, Fachwirt, and corporate upskilling programs.
• bfw Berufsfortbildungswerk Gemeinnützige GmbH: Large Germany-wide vocational training provider (part of the bfw Group) focused on technical-industrial retraining and integration. Direct competitor for AZAV-funded Umschulungen in metal and mechatronics trades.

Direct peers

• maxQ. im bfw – Unternehmen für Bildung: Vocational retraining and continuing education brand within the bfw Group with regional centers offering metalworking, mechatronics, and commercial programs. Closely mirrors W/BZ's program mix and AZAV funding model.
• IBB Institut für Berufliche Bildung AG: Major Germany-wide vocational retraining and continuing education provider with strong SAP and IT training offerings. Listed as a partner of W/BZ for SAP delivery; competes for the same AZAV-funded retraining population nationwide.
• GFN GmbH: Germany-wide IT and commercial training provider with AZAV-certified Umschulungen and Weiterbildungen, including SAP programs. Direct competitor in the publicly-funded digital and commercial upskilling space served by W/BZ's Online Akademie.
• BBQ Berufliche Bildung gGmbH: One of the largest vocational training and retraining providers in Baden-Württemberg, offering Umschulungen, AZAV-certified continuing education, and integration programs. Most directly comparable regional competitor to W/BZ in scope and customer base.
• F+U Unternehmensgruppe gGmbH: German private continuing education group offering commercial, IT, and language programs with strong AZAV/Bildungsgutschein exposure. Comparable in online delivery model and course mix outside technical-mechanical trades.

Regional players

• IHK Bildungszentrum Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg: Local Chamber of Industry and Commerce that administers the IHK examinations W/BZ prepares students for. Operates its own training programs and is both a referral partner and a partial competitor in the same Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/w-bz-winkler-bildungszentrum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 W/BZ Winkler Bildungszentrum