Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kreis Segeberg

What Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kreis Segeberg does

Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kreis Segeberg (WKS), legally Wirtschaftsentwicklungsgesellschaft des Kreises Segeberg mbH, is the publicly mandated economic development corporation for the Kreis Segeberg district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Founded in 2011 and wholly owned by the Kreis Segeberg district government, WKS operates as a gemeinwohlorientierte (public-benefit) subsidiary headquartered at Kurhausstraße 1, Bad Segeberg (HRB 7192 KI). The organization functions as the district's single point of accountability for business advisory, commercial land development, tourism management, skilled workforce programs, and startup support. Its beneficiary base spans regional SMEs and Mittelstand businesses, craft trades (Handwerk), job seekers, women re-entering the workforce (historically via FRAU & BERUF), student entrepreneurs, and the 95 municipalities within the district.

WKS delivers its mandate through an event- and community-led operating model rather than a commercial product. Core formats include the annual Segeberger Wirtschaftstag (~200 participants), the touring ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT on Tour workshop series (3 events per topic cycle hosted at local companies), Praktikum Hansebelt internship initiatives, Start-Up Challenge SH regional finals, and direct advisory consultations on site selection, settlement, and workforce. Tourism management for the district is co-financed by three Active Regions and aligned with ARGE Binnenlandtourismus (up to €10M in funding 2025–2029). The organization sits within multiple alliance structures: VdW.SH (15 economic development agencies, ~300 staff, 280 ha marketable commercial land), Metropolregion Hamburg, Hansebelt, and Nordgate.

WKS does not sell commercial products and operates no proprietary technology platform. It is funded almost exclusively through public appropriations from Kreis Segeberg and co-funding from EU, federal, and state programs (ESF, EFRE, IGP). Annual financial statements show consistent operating deficits — €1,025,411 in 2024, €988,871 in 2023, €847,556 in 2022 — reflecting the gap between public funding and the full cost of mandate execution. Current leadership comprises Geschäftsführer Clemens Hermann (Managing Director) and Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender Hans-Joachim Grote (Chairman of the Supervisory Board). Strategic focus is shifting heavily toward capitalizing on the A20 motorway extension (groundbreaking May 2026) and the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, with CIMA-commissioned studies projecting 20–25% additional commercial land demand by 2030.

Name

Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kreis Segeberg

Legal name

Wirtschaftsentwicklungsgesellschaft des Kreises Segeberg mbH

Website

https://wks-se.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kreis Segeberg (WKS) is the publicly mandated economic development corporation for Kreis Segeberg in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, wholly owned by the district government. It advises regional SMEs, manages commercial land and tourism programs, and delivers workforce and startup initiatives funded by public appropriations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Segeberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public funding and government appropriations: As a publicly owned subsidiary (gemeinwohlorientierte Tochter) of Kreis Segeberg, WKS is primarily funded through public funds, government appropriations, and municipal budget allocations. Revenue is not generated from commercial product/service sales. Annual reports consistently show net losses (e.g., 2024: €1,025,411 loss carried forward), indicating reliance on ongoing public funding.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WKS is the publicly mandated economic development agency for Kreis Segeberg, providing free advisory to companies on site selection, settlement, skilled workforce and founding questions; convening the regional economy through the Segeberger Wirtschaftstag annual forum and the ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT on Tour workshop series; managing district-level tourism promotion and commercial land development; and supporting workforce and startup initiatives such as Start-Up Challenge SH.

Product overview

Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kreis Segeberg (WKS) is a publicly-oriented economic development corporation owned by the Kreis Segeberg district. It does not offer a commercial software product or SaaS platform. Its services are entirely non-product, non-API offerings: advisory consulting for businesses on location and settlement decisions, event facilitation (Segeberger Wirtschaftstag annual forum, ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT on Tour workshop series), programs supporting skilled labor (Azubi initiatives, FRAU & BERUF career counseling), startup support, tourism management, and sustainable commercial-area development. No individual branded product, module, or software offering was identified in the source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Advisory on Site Selection and Settlement Free, in-person advisory service for companies in Kreis Segeberg on site selection, expansion, settlement questions, financing and funding programs, and business development — delivered by WKS advisors at the Bad Segeberg headquarters and at mobile locations across the district.
• Segeberger Wirtschaftstag (Annual Economic Forum) Flagship annual conference serving as the central forum for business, politics and society in Kreis Segeberg; the 2025 edition drew approximately 200 participants and combined expert presentations, panel discussions and networking.
• ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT on Tour Touring workshop series (3 events per topic cycle) held at local company sites across multiple towns in Kreis Segeberg, covering topics such as AI/RPA, ESG, inter-generational work, leadership and expansion to Denmark; combines expert presentations, optional company tours and peer exchange.
• Start-Up Challenge SH Regional Final (Kreis Segeberg) Regional round of the statewide Start-Up Challenge SH student entrepreneurship competition, organized by WKS together with FH Kiel and BBZ Bad Segeberg, with business plan coaching and jury participation for student teams from the 11th-grade commercial track.
• FRAU & BERUF Career Counseling (Segeberg) Women's career counseling and re-entry program for the Segeberg district providing ~180+ first consultations per year; operated under WKS trusteeship for 26 years and transferred to WEP Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft des Kreises Pinneberg mbH starting January 2025 due to changed funding criteria.
• Tourismusmanagement Kreis Segeberg District tourism management hosted by WKS since 2022, co-financed and co-promoted by three Active Regions (Holsteiner Auenland, Alsterland, Holsteins Herz); covers tourism strategy, cycling/active tourism promotion, and inland tourism development with up to €10M in ARGE Binnenlandtourismus funding available 2025–2029.
• Commercial Land Development Coordination (Großenaspe Joint Zone) WKS-coordinated inter-municipal development of a 75-hectare joint commercial and industrial zone in Großenaspe, in cooperation with Gemeinde Großenaspe, Stadt Neumünster and Kreis Segeberg, with renewable energy focus and potential electrolyser project.
• Praktikum Hansebelt (Cross-Regional Internship Initiative) Cross-regional cooperation project with the economic development agencies of Kreise Herzogtum Lauenburg, Ostholstein, Stormarn and Hansestadt Lübeck to promote internships in the Hansebelt region, with WKS representing Kreis Segeberg.

Quantifiable outcome

• FRAU & BERUF program served approximately 180+ first consultations per year over 26 years, with growing consultation numbers and a strong referral rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• MBG Schleswig-Holstein (Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026The state's investment company (Beteiligungsgesellschaft des Landes) provides expertise for the ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT 2026 ESG workshop, presenting on sustainable business practices, corporate governance, and financing implications of ESG criteria for SMEs.
• CIMA Beratung + Management GmbHmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 4 September 2025Commissioned by WKS to conduct a commercial land potential analysis (Gewerbeflächenpotenzialanalyse) for Kreis Segeberg. Findings show a 20-25% additional demand for commercial land due to Fehmarnbelt and A20 developments. Also conducted a study on commercial land monitoring for the Metropolregion Hamburg.
• Gemeinde Großenaspe, Stadt Neumünster, Kreis Segeberg (Joint development cooperation)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2025Three-way inter-municipal cooperation for the development of a 75-hectare commercial and industrial zone in Großenaspe. Supported by Schleswig-Holstein state ministries (MEKUN, MIKWS, MWVATT), TenneT (grid operator), and SH Netz. A major electrolyser developer has expressed concrete interest in the site.
• ARGE Binnenlandtourismus Schleswig-Holstein e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2024WKS participates in this association promoting inland tourism in Schleswig-Holstein. The ARGE aims to deploy up to €10 million in funding (2025-2029) for tourism projects by public entities in the inland areas. Led by Günter Schmidt as chairman.
• Metropolregion Hamburg (MRH)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 2024WKS participates in the Metropolregion Hamburg's commercial land monitoring initiative. Kreis Segeberg's data is submitted to the MRH Gewerbeflächenmonitoring report (2022/2023), which tracks commercial land supply and demand across the metropolitan region.
• Netzwerk Inklusion im Kreis Segeberg 4.0minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2024Cooperation network for inclusive employment. WKS co-organized the 'ARBEIT.AUFFALLEND.ANDERS' event (October 2024) on inclusive workplaces under the patronage of Dr. Philipp Murmann, President of UVNord.
• DEGES Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 August 2024Federal highway planning and construction company responsible for the A20 project. WKS collaborates with DEGES on communicating the economic benefits of the A20 extension and participates in public information events.
• VdW.SH – Verband der Wirtschaftsförderungen Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2024WKS is a member of VdW.SH, a strong alliance of 15 Schleswig-Holstein economic development agencies. The association presents a joint performance record including 65 commercial land sales (>75 ha), >2,500 jobs secured annually, 450 events with 20,000+ participants, and >2,000 business/startup consultations per year.
• FH Kiel (Fachhochschule Kiel)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 16 January 2023Initiator of the Start-Up Challenge SH competition for student entrepreneurs. WKS organized the regional final in Kreis Segeberg in cooperation with FH Kiel and BBZ Bad Segeberg. FH Kiel hosts the grand finale.
• BBZ Bad Segeberg (Berufsbildungszentrum Bad Segeberg)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 16 January 2023Host venue and co-organizer of the Start-Up Challenge SH regional final in Kreis Segeberg. Participated with 6 groups of 11th-grade students from the commercial track. WKS Unternehmensbetreuer Till Gottstein supported business plan coaching and served on the jury.
• Praktikum Hansebelt (multi-district internship initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2022Cooperation project with economic development agencies of Kreise Herzogtum Lauenburg, Ostholstein, Stormarn, and Hansestadt Lübeck to promote internships in the Hansebelt region. WKS participates as Kreis Segeberg's representative in this cross-regional initiative.
• Active Regions: Holsteiner Auenland, Alsterland, Holsteins HerzcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 July 2022Three Active Regions co-finance and co-promote the Tourismusmanagement Kreis Segeberg, hosted at WKS since 2022. These EU/state-funded regional development associations provide marketing support and project funding for tourism development in Kreis Segeberg.
• Jobcenter Kreis SegebergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2022Collaborates with WKS on labor market topics including part-time training, demographic trends, and workforce integration. Co-hosted events on megatrends in the labor market (2022) and inclusive employment.
• Kreishandwerkerschaft MittelholsteincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Long-standing cooperation partner in the ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT on Tour event series and other workforce development initiatives. Co-organizes the annual touring workshop format and provides connections to the skilled trades sector across Mittelholstein.
• Erfolgswerkstatt-Nord GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-organizer of the ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT on Tour format alongside WKS and Kreishandwerkerschaft. Provides educational and training expertise for business development events across Kreis Segeberg.
• Wir für Segeberg (Unternehmerverein Bad Segeberg)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017The entrepreneur association of Bad Segeberg supports WKS in organizing the ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT events and other initiatives. Its chair, Marlis Stagat, also serves as Managing Director of Erfolgswerkstatt-Nord GmbH.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Lübeck GmbH: Municipal economic development company for the Hanseatic City of Lübeck, also part of the Hansebelt region. Operates with the same public-benefit GmbH structure, business advisory and commercial-land mandate, and overlapping partner network (Praktikum Hansebelt).
• KielRegion GmbH: Regional economic development GmbH covering the Kiel area in Schleswig-Holstein. Comparable in structure and function, co-member of VdW.SH, and serves an analogous mix of SMEs, municipalities, and workforce programs.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH: Public-benefit GmbH providing business settlement, location marketing, and workforce services for the State of Berlin. Same legal form and mandate as WKS, but serving a far larger metropolitan economy and budget.
• Hamburg Invest Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Standortentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH: Official economic development agency for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Closely comparable in mandate (location marketing, business settlement, real estate advisory) and public GmbH structure, but at city-state scale and budget.
• WEP Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft des Kreises Pinneberg mbH: Municipal economic development GmbH for neighboring Kreis Pinneberg in Schleswig-Holstein. Directly comparable in legal form (public-benefit GmbH), mandate (business advisory, commercial land, workforce), and region. Notably, WEP took over the FRAU & BERUF program from WKS in 2025, evidencing direct operational overlap.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH (WFB): Municipal economic development GmbH for the City-State of Bremen. Directly comparable in GmbH structure, business advisory and commercial-land mandate, and public-funding model.

Regional players

• Metropolregion Hamburg: Cross-state coordination body for the Hamburg metropolitan region, of which WKS is a contributing member (e.g., Gewerbeflächenmonitoring). Comparable in coordinating role across districts, but with a broader geographic remit and higher political profile than a single-district agency.

Broad incumbents

• Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg GmbH (WFBB): State-level economic development agency for Brandenburg. Comparable in GmbH structure and mandate (location marketing, business settlement, cluster development), but operates at federal-state scale rather than a single district.
• IHK zu Kiel: Regional chamber of industry and commerce serving Schleswig-Holstein. Overlaps with WKS in business representation, networking events, and SME advisory, but operates under a statutory mandate with broader remit (training, certification, advocacy) rather than a district-specific economic-development focus.

Others

• Handwerkskammer Schleswig-Holstein: Statutory trades chamber for crafts and skilled trades in Schleswig-Holstein. Cooperates with WKS on workforce programs (ZUKUNFTSWERKSTATT, Kreishandwerkerschaft Mittelholstein), making it an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WirtschaftSEntwicklung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wirtschaftsentwicklungkreissegeberg-wks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kreis Segeberg