Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH

What Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH does

Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH (WiKU) is a privately-held German GmbH founded in February 1986 and headquartered at Nordring 43, 59423 Unna, North Rhine-Westphalia. It operates as the largest continuing education and vocational training institution in Kreis Unna, serving more than 100,000 people over 40+ years through a portfolio that spans vocational preparation (BvB, Jugendwerkstatt), apprenticeship support (BaE kooperativ, AsA flex, Ausbildungswege NRW), continuing education and retraining (Weiterbildung|Umschulung), German language courses (Integrationskurse, Berufssprachkurse), adult education (Werkschule), counseling services (Beratungsstellen), a state-recognized nursing school (Pflegeschule), a regional food bank (Tafel im Kreis Unna), and a commercial services division (Dienstleistungsagentur).

The organization operates through multiple wholly-owned subsidiaries (Werkhof Projekt gGmbH, Umwelt-Werkstatt Lünen-Selm gGmbH, S.I.G.N.A.L. gGmbH, Tafeln im Kreis Unna gGmbH, SPI gGmbH, ABUS gGmbH, Werkhof Service GmbH) and the in-house Werkstatt-Berufskolleg, delivering services across 15+ physical standorte in Unna, Bergkamen, Dortmund, Hamm, Lünen, Schwerte, and Selm, supplemented by an online counseling portal. Its underlying technology is light: no proprietary software platform, AZAV-certified curriculum across ~90 occupations and ~20 continuing-education fields, and CERTQUA quality-management certification.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through public-sector contracts and grants: performance-based commissions from Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcenter Kreis Unna, Jobcenter Dortmund, and Kommunales Jobcenter Hamm under SGB III and SGB II; co-financing from the European Social Fund (ESF/ESF Plus), BMAS, Bundesbildungsministerium, BMWSB, and Land NRW; and a smaller fee-for-service stream from the Dienstleistungsagentur providing building cleaning, facility management, catering, and grounds maintenance to municipal clients. End-user pricing is largely covered by Bildungsgutschein for vocational participants, with social services and Tafel food distribution offered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Name

Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH

Legal name

Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH

Website

https://werkstatt-im-kreis-unna.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH (WiKU) is a privately-held vocational training and employment services organization headquartered in Unna, Germany, delivering publicly funded vocational preparation, apprenticeship, retraining, language, counseling, nursing, and food-bank programs across Kreis Unna, Dortmund, and Hamm via 15+ locations and multiple subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Employment Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Employment integration programs
• Continuing education NRW
• Language integration courses
• Youth career counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Unna

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Employment Services Contracts: Core revenue is derived from government-funded contracts with Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcenter Kreis Unna, Jobcenter Dortmund, and Kommunales Jobcenter Hamm for vocational training, placement, and employment support services. These are performance-based public contracts under SGB III and SGB II frameworks.
2. EU and Federal/State Co-Funding (ESF): Numerous programs are co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF/ESF Plus), Bundesarbeitsministerium (BMAS), Bundesbildungsministerium, and Land NRW. These project-based grants fund specific programs such as 'My Turn – My Career', 'Chan!Ge', and BABQu.
3. Commercial Services Revenue: The Dienstleistungsagentur (commercial services division) generates revenue by providing building cleaning, facility management, catering, and grounds maintenance to municipal clients on the open market. Approximately 75 employees deliver these fee-for-service offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH (WiKU) is the largest vocational training and employment-promotion institution in the Kreis Unna region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Founded in February 1986, it delivers vocational preparation, apprenticeship support, continuing education and retraining, German language courses, social-pedagogical counseling, refugee integration support, a food bank (Tafel), and a commercial services division providing cleaning, catering, grounds maintenance and facility management. Services are primarily commissioned and funded by public-sector bodies including Agentur für Arbeit, Jobcenter, and municipal governments, with participants typically accessing training at no cost via a Bildungsgutschein.

Product overview

Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH is a vocational training and employment services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational and support programs. The organization operates as a unified platform combining training, career counseling, language learning, and social services. Key offerings include Berufsvorbereitende Bildungsmaßnahmen (BvB) vocational preparation programs, Ausbildung (apprenticeship programs including BaE kooperativ and assisted training AsA flex), Weiterbildung|Umschulung (continuing education and retraining programs covering areas like logistics, healthcare, and hospitality), Deutsch Lernen (German language courses including Berufssprachkurse and Integrationskurse), and Erwachsenenbildung (adult education including Werkschule). Supporting facilities include Berufskolleg (vocational college), Pflegeschule (care school for nursing), Beratungsstellen (counseling services including job, refugee, and asylum procedure counseling), Tafel im Kreis Unna (food bank), Gewerbliche Dienstleistungen (commercial services including building cleaning and catering), and Jugendhilfe (youth services). The organization also operates specialized projects such as MY TURN – MY CAREER (support for migrant women), Chan!Ge (poverty prevention), and BABQu (employment integration in Unna-Königsborn).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Werkstatt-Berufskolleg: Own vocational college offering secondary education and vocational training programs
• Dienstleistungsagentur

Products and services

• Berufsvorbereitende Bildungsmaßnahmen (BvB) Vocational preparation measures for young people who have not yet found an apprenticeship or are uncertain about career choices, offering practical workshop experience and internships.
• BvB-Pro / Werkstattjahr Production school approach offering vocational preparation with practical work on real orders in fields such as garden landscaping, logistics, metal work, and hospitality.
• BaE kooperativ (Kooperative Berufsausbildung) Cooperative vocational training delivered outside the company, partnered with local businesses across the Kreis Unna region, enabling youth to learn recognized professions.
• AsA flex (Assistierte Ausbildung) Assisted apprenticeship program providing support for young people and training companies during vocational education or entry qualifications.
• Ausbildungswege NRW Statewide coaching and placement program for unserved apprenticeship seekers and those at vocational colleges, running from January 2025 to December 2027, co-delivered with Kolping-Bildungszentren Westfalen.
• Weiterbildung | Umschulung Continuing education and retraining programs including qualifications in warehouse logistics, healthcare, kitchen operations, and care assistance, funded by the Federal Employment Agency through Bildungsgutschein.
• Deutsch Lernen (Sprachkurse) German language learning programs including Berufssprachkurse (occupational language courses), Azubi/Job-BSK, and Integrationskurse (integration courses) for migrants and refugees.
• Pflegeschule State-recognized nursing school offering training as Pflegefachfrau/-mann (generalist care professional) since 2010, combining theoretical and practical education.
• Beratungsstellen (Counseling Services) Comprehensive counseling services including Beratungsstelle Arbeit (job counseling), Regionale Flüchtlingsberatung (regional refugee counseling), and Asylverfahrensberatung (asylum procedure counseling) delivered across multiple stand-alone Beratungsstellen.
• Tafel im Kreis Unna (Food Bank) Food bank initiative collecting surplus food and distributing it free of charge to socially and economically disadvantaged people across approximately 3,000 beneficiaries in Kreis Unna.
• Gewerbliche Dienstleistungen (Commercial Services) Commercial services including building cleaning, garden landscaping, caretaking, transport, school/kitchen catering, and security services, employing approximately 75 staff and serving municipal clients on a fee-for-service basis.
• MY TURN – MY CAREER ESF Plus/BMAS co-funded coaching and empowerment project for migrant women with low qualifications, supporting them toward employment, training, or self-employment.
• Chan!Ge ESF Plus/BMAS co-funded project for poverty prevention and equal opportunities in Kreis Unna, offering counseling and coaching for families receiving Bürgergeld.
• BABQu BIWAQ-funded neighborhood-based project in Unna-Königsborn improving employability of long-term unemployed residents through coaching, health promotion, and local business support.
• Jugendberatung (Youth Counseling) Youth counseling service helping adolescents transition from school to career, part of state-funded youth social work by LWL-Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe.
• Jugendwerkstatt Youth workshop for 16-21 year olds who have finished school and are seeking an apprenticeship or unsure of their path, with entry possible at any time for up to 12 months.
• Werkschule Recognized continuing education institution under §14 ff Weiterbildungsgesetz NRW offering school-leaving certificate courses and non-vocational education.

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Werkhof Projekt gGmbHcoreOthersSubsidiary of WiKU group providing vocational training, the Fairkauf-Hof secondhand store, and the Werkhof-Service (ABO Kiste subscription vegetable box). Multiple locations in Dortmund.
• Umwelt-Werkstatt Lünen-Selm gGmbHcoreOthersSubsidiary of WiKU group operating vocational training, garden/landscape services, and production schools in Lünen and Selm.
• S.I.G.N.A.L. gGmbH SchwertecoreOthersSubsidiary of WiKU group providing social services and youth support in Schwerte.
• Tafeln im Kreis Unna gGmbHcoreOthersSubsidiary operating the food bank network across the Kreis Unna, serving ~3,000 people with rescued food and meals.
• Sozialpädagogische Initiative (SPI) gGmbHcoreOthersSubsidiary of WiKU group providing social-pedagogical services in Unna.
• Werkhof Service GmbHminorOthersSubsidiary operating the ABO Kiste (subscription vegetable box) delivery service in Dortmund.
• ABUS gGmbHminorOthersListed as part of the WiKU group.
• Multikulturelles Forum e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for Beratungsstelle Arbeit at Lünen and Bergkamen locations, providing multilingual counseling services.
• Kolping-Bildungszentren WestfalenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the Ausbildungswege NRW program in Hamm, co-delivering coaching and vocational support services.
• LWL-Landschaftsverband Westfalen-LippecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLandesgeförderte Jugendsozialarbeit (state-funded youth social work) — the Beratungsstelle Jugend is part of LWL's state-funded youth social work program, providing referral pathway for school-to-career transition support.
• Kreisstadt UnnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in the BABQu project (BIWAQ-funded) for social-quarter development in Unna-Königsborn. Also partner in Chan!Ge project.
• IN VIA Unna e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in BABQu (BIWAQ), providing social coaching for residents in Unna-Königsborn.
• Sparkassen im Kreis UnnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting the Tafel food bank operations, alongside over 100 volunteer helpers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kolping-Bildungswerk: Catholic-affiliated vocational training and employment-promotion network in Germany; comparable as a co-delivery partner in NRW (WiKU already partners with Kolping-Bildungszentren Westfalen on Ausbildungswege NRW) and offers near-identical program portfolio.
• Euro-Schulen (ESO Education Group): German provider of Integrationskurse, Berufssprachkurse, and vocational preparation for jobseekers and migrants; same funding stack (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Jobcenter, ESF) and overlapping product set including language and youth-preparation programs.
• BBQ Bildung und Berufliche Qualifizierung: AZAV-certified private vocational training group in Germany delivering retraining, coaching, and language courses to unemployed and migrant populations with multi-funder public contracts — a near-perfect functional analogue.
• Grone Bildungszentren: Nationwide vocational training provider specializing in retraining, language courses, and supported employment for disadvantaged groups, including refugees. Operates a similar gGmbH/non-profit structure and is funded through comparable BA/ESF mechanisms.
• bfz (Berufliche Fortbildungszentren der Bayerischen Wirtschaft): Major German vocational training, retraining, and employment-promotion provider jointly run with employers and chambers; multi-state footprint with comparable AZAV-funded program portfolio covering BvB, AsA, BaE, and Integrationskurse.
• DEKRA Akademie: A leading German AZAV-certified vocational training and retraining provider delivering Utschulungen and integration services to jobseekers and migrants. Directly comparable in funding model (BA Bildungsgutschein + ESF), service mix, and target population.
• Bildungswerk der Nordrhein-Westfälischen Wirtschaft (bnw): NRW-based vocational training and labor-market integration provider run jointly with employers and chambers; directly comparable regional presence and operates the same AZAV-funded re/integration programs as WiKU.

Regional players

• Tafel Deutschland: National umbrella for Germany's 950+ food banks; WiKU's subsidiary Tafeln im Kreis Unna is an affiliated member serving ~3,000 beneficiaries — directly comparable unit-level food bank operation, though Tafel Deutschland spans the whole country.

Broad incumbents

• DAA Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie: Large national adult and continuing education organization (DAA) offering vocational retraining, language courses, and adult education; broader portfolio than WiKU but overlapping core programs funded under SGB III/SGB II/ESF mechanisms.
• Caritasverband (German Caritas Association): Largest German social-services confederation offering employment counseling, refugee programs, and Tafel-style food banks; comparable in social-services mission and welfare-program funding base, though far broader than WiKU's vocational scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WerkstattUnna
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/werkstatt-im-kreis-unna-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/werkstattunna

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Werkstatt im Kreis Unna GmbH