Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ

What Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ does

Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ is a public cantonal vocational school (kantonale Berufsfachschule) operated by the Canton of Zürich under the regulatory oversight of the Mittelschul- und Berufsbildungsamt (MBA), founded in 1970 and headquartered in Horgen, Switzerland. The school delivers dual vocational education in four federal tracks: Informatik (Berufslehre API and Informatikmittelschule IMS), Kaufmännische Ausbildung (Kauffrau/Kaufmann EFZ, EBA, and EFZ with BM1), Fachperson Betreuung Kinder, and Mediamatik, all culminating in Swiss federal certifications (EFZ/EBA). It serves over 2,200 apprentices (Lernende) across three campuses on both sides of Lake Zurich (Horgen See, Horgen Oberdorf, and Stäfa), with a fourth campus in Uetikon am See approved for construction in April 2026. The school is staffed by approximately 140 teachers and 25 administrative/operational personnel.

The product portfolio is modular: core vocational tracks are augmented by the proprietary bilingual ('bili') German/English instruction program, the integrated Berufsmaturität 1 (BM1) pathway enabling direct university of applied sciences access, Allgemeinbildender Unterricht (ABU), Förde...

Name

Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ

Legal name

Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ

Website

https://bzz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ is a public cantonal vocational school in Canton of Zürich serving over 2,200 apprentices across Informatik, Mediamatik, Kaufmännische Ausbildung, and Fachperson Betreuung Kinder tracks, with integrated Berufsmaturität and bilingual instruction pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Horgen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Cantonal Education Funding: BZZ is a publicly funded cantonal vocational school (kantonale Berufsfachschule) operated by the Canton of Zürich. The school is funded through cantonal education budgets. Students do not pay tuition fees for their vocational training. The school generates some revenue from training course fees (Förderkurse, Neptun Setup-Kurse at CHF 85), equipment/laptop setup services, and language certification exams (DELF, Cambridge, etc.).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ is a public cantonal vocational school that delivers dual vocational education and training (Berufsbildung) for apprentices in Canton of Zürich. It offers federally certified programs in Informatik (Computer Science), Mediamatik (Media Technology), Kaufmännische Ausbildung (Commercial), and Fachperson Betreuung Kinder (Childcare), combined with optional Berufsmaturität (vocational baccalaureate) and a proprietary bilingual (German/English) instruction track.

Product overview

Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ is a cantonal vocational school with a modular educational portfolio comprising dual vocational training programs (Apprenticeships), full-time school programs, and supplementary support services. Core offerings include Informatik (API/IMS), Kauffrau/Kaufmann (EBA/EFZ/EFZ+BM1), Fachperson Betreuung Kinder, and Mediamatik programs - each concluding with Swiss federal certifications (EFZ/EBA). These are complemented by the bilingual instruction program ('bili'), vocational baccalaureate (BM1), general education (ABU), and specialized support services including remedial courses, learning commons, counseling, media library, and physical education. The modular architecture allows students to customize their training with add-on programs like BM1, bilingual instruction, or examination preparation courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Berufslehre Informatik (API) - Apprenticeship in Computer Science Four-year vocational training program in computer science specializing in application development, concluding with a Swiss Federal Certificate of Proficiency (EFZ). Includes modules in informatics competencies, general education (ABU), and optional vocational baccalaureate (BM1). Delivered to apprentices aged approximately 15-20.
• Informatikmittelschule (IMS) - Computer Science Secondary School Three-year full-time school program in computer science with one additional year of practical work experience, leading to federal vocational diploma and university-entrance qualification. Combines BZZ instruction with Kantonsschule Hottingen.
• Kauffrau/Kaufmann EFZ - Commercial Employee Federal Diploma Three-year dual vocational education in commercial fields, the most popular apprenticeship in Switzerland. Prepares students for administrative work across various industries, concluding with EFZ certification.
• Kauffrau/Kaufmann EBA - Commercial Employee Basic Certificate Two-year basic vocational training in commercial fields, concluding with Swiss Federal Certificate of Proficiency (EBA). Provides entry into the commercial profession with option to continue to EFZ.
• Kauffrau/Kaufmann EFZ mit BM1 - Commercial Employee with Vocational Baccalaureate Three-year dual vocational education combined with vocational baccalaureate (BM1), requiring passing an entrance examination. Enables direct access to universities of applied sciences upon completion.
• Fachfrau/Fachmann Betreuung Kinder EFZ - Childcare Specialist
• Mediamatiker/in EFZ - Media Technician Four-year vocational training in media and multimedia, concluding with EFZ certification. Students work at the intersection of design, informatics, marketing, and communication, processing raw data including images, films, music, texts, and audio.
• Bilingualer Unterricht ('bili') - Bilingual Instruction Program Bilingual teaching program offering instruction in both German and English for students in Informatik, Mediamatik, and Fachperson Betreuung Kinder programs. Focuses on subject matter rather than language itself, with natural language acquisition through professional contexts. Students receive a certificate of attendance and an Advanced bili profile on their EFZ.
• Berufsmaturität 1 (BM1) - Vocational Baccalaureate Type Economics Vocational baccalaureate program combined with EFZ training, providing direct access to universities of applied sciences. Offered as integrated or additive program depending on the vocational track.
• Förderkurse - Remedial/Support Courses Support courses supplementing mandatory instruction, enabling knowledge deepening or preparation for international certificates. Offerings include BM2 preparation, Cambridge English, DELF French, and fitness courses. Most are free; BM2 preparation courses charge approximately CHF 40-60 for materials.
• Neptun BZZ Setup Course Professional laptop setup course for new students, covering WiFi access, Microsoft Office, security settings, and essential school functions. Costs CHF 85, lasts approximately 2.5 hours, conducted before school year start.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13 BZZ learners won medals at SwissSkills 2025, including 2 gold medals (Tina Pletka, Mediamatics; Robin Markant, IT Software Solutions for Business) and 1 silver medal (David Krügel, Mediamatics)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kantonsschule Hottingen (KSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBZZ partners with Kantonsschule Hottingen for the Informatikmittelschule (IMS) program. IMS students attend BZZ for informatics specialist instruction (25/24 modules) while the KSH delivers the 'Geschäftsprozesse im eigenen Berufsumfeld beschreiben' (254) module and provides general secondary education. The two schools coordinate schedules to allow students to complete a 3-year school-based program followed by 1 year of practical workplace experience.
• ZLI (Zürcher Lehrbetriebsverband Informatik)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerZLI provides the überbetriebliche Kurse (üK) for informatics students at BZZ. These compulsory practical training courses supplement the theoretical school instruction. ZLI operates the ÜK-Zentrum (training center) where BZZ informatics apprentices attend their practical modules alongside apprentices from other schools.
• sfgz (Berufsschule für Gestaltung Zürich)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMediamatik students at BZZ attend the Berufsschule für Gestaltung Zürich (sfgz) for the Design/Gestaltung component of their specialist instruction (Fachkundeunterricht Design/Gestaltung). This cross-institutional arrangement allows BZZ to offer the full Mediamatik curriculum by leveraging sfgz's design education expertise.
• Berufsmaturitätsschule Zürich (BMS Zürich)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFachperson Betreuung Kinder students pursuing the integrated Berufsmaturität 1 attend their BM1 coursework at the Berufsmaturitätsschule Zürich (BMS Zürich). BZZ provides the FaBe specialist instruction while BMS Zürich delivers the Berufsmaturität curriculum. Schedules are coordinated between the two schools. For FaBe BM1 flex, students attend Berufsfachschule Winterthur (BFS) and BMSW Winterthur.
• IGKG SchweizcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIGKG Schweiz organizes the überbetriebliche Kurse (üK) for Kauffrau/Kaufmann EBA students. These mandatory practical training courses supplement Berufsschulunterricht and are conducted outside of school hours. IGKG Switzerland is the umbrella organization for commercial vocational training.
• BIKAS Branchen (Bildung Kaufleute Schweiz)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBIKAS Branchen organizes the überbetriebliche Kurse (üK) for Kauffrau/Kaufmann EFZ students. Different industry sectors manage their respective üK programs under the BIKAS umbrella, providing practical training that complements the theoretical education at BZZ.
• OdA Sozialberufe Zürich (Organisation der Arbeitswelt Sozialberufe)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOdA Sozialberufe Zürich provides the überbetriebliche Kurse (üK) for Fachperson Betreuung Kinder students. These compulsory practical courses are delivered outside of Berufsschulunterricht and provide foundational practical skills for childcare work, supplementing the specialist instruction at BZZ.
• Savoir Social (Schweizerische Dachverband für die Berufsbildung im Sozialbereich)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSavoir Social is the Swiss umbrella organization for vocational training in the social sector. It develops and maintains the training ordinances (Bildungspläne, Bildungsverordnungen) for FaBe and related professions. BZZ follows Savoir Social's national framework for the FaBe curriculum.
• ICT-Berufsbildung SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICT-Berufsbildung is the national body responsible for ICT vocational education in Switzerland. It develops the modular curriculum (Modulbaukasten) and defines Handlungskompetenzen for Informatiker EFZ and Mediamatiker EFZ. BZZ uses ICT-Berufsbildung's module framework and learning plans for its informatics and mediamatik programs.
• Mittelschul- und Berufsbildungsamt (MBA) des Kantons ZürichcoreOthersThe MBA is the cantonal authority that oversees all Berufsschulen in Canton Zürich. It assigns students to BZZ, approves apprenticeship contracts, supervises Qualifikationsverfahren (QV) examinations, manages the ZAP (Zentrale Aufnahmeprüfung) for BM1 admission, and provides regulatory oversight for the school's operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Ecole professionnelle commerciale CPC Genève: Cantonal commercial vocational school in Geneva offering Kaufleute and related programs. Comparable in Swiss dual vocational model structure and curriculum but serves the French-speaking Geneva region rather than Zürich.
• BWS Bülach: Vocational school in Bülach (Canton of Zürich) offering commercial, IT, and additional vocational tracks. Direct geographic peer within Canton of Zürich with overlapping program offerings competing for the same cantonal apprentice pool.
• GBS St.Gallen (Gewerbliche Berufsschule St.Gallen): Cantonal vocational school in St.Gallen offering commercial and IT vocational programs. Comparable in the Swiss dual vocational education model and program mix but serves Eastern Switzerland rather than the Zürich catchment.

Direct peers

• Kaufmännische Berufsschule Zürich (KBZ): Another major cantonal vocational school in Zürich focused on commercial/business education (Kaufleute EFZ/EBA/BM1). Directly comparable as a cantonal Berufsfachschule serving the same Canton of Zürich with overlapping commercial vocational programs competing for the same apprentice talent pool.
• BBB Berufsbildung Baden: Vocational education center in Baden (also Canton of Zürich) offering commercial, IT, and additional vocational programs. Direct competitor for cantonal student assignments and employer apprenticeship relationships within Canton of Zürich.
• Berufsschule Winterthur (BFS): Cantonal vocational school in nearby Winterthur offering dual vocational programs including Fachperson Betreuung Kinder EFZ with BM1 (where BZZ's FaBe BM1 flex students attend). Direct peer within Canton of Zürich serving the same broader market with similar program mix.

Emerging players

• WKS KV Bildung: Swiss commercial vocational education provider offering Kaufleute and BM1 programs across multiple locations including Zürich. Comparable in commercial vocational curriculum but operates as a private multi-site provider with lighter cantonal integration.

Broad incumbents

• Juventus Schulen: Private vocational school group based in Zürich offering commercial (KV), ICT, and additional vocational education programs. Comparable as a vocational education provider in the Zürich region but operating as a broader private network across multiple campuses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bzz-bildung

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Bildungszentrum Zürichsee BZZ