bfi Steiermark

What bfi Steiermark does

bfi Steiermark gGmbH is a non-profit vocational training and continuing education institution headquartered in Graz, Austria, operating as a gemeinnützige GmbH sponsored by the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Arbeiterkammer Steiermark (Chamber of Labour, Styria). The organization delivers approximately 3,000 seminars and courses across ten subject areas — including Health & Social Professions, IT & Media Design, Languages, Technology & Safety, Transport & Logistics, Economics & Management, Personal Development, Berufsreifeprüfung (vocational maturity), Werkmeisterschule (master craftsman schools), and HFH distance learning — through a regional network of 16 owned education centers spread across 13 Styrian districts. The institution serves individual learners, apprentices (notably through the federally funded Lehre mit Matura program), corporate clients, unemployed persons, migrants, and disadvantaged youth, reaching roughly 3,000 corporate customers via its Business Unit and training over 2,200 forklift participants per year at its dedicated driving safety center.

Underlying technology consists of a 'my bfi' personal customer portal for course and document management, a 'bfi Premium Trainer:innen-Pool' portal for managing external trainers' qualifications, evaluations, and billing, and an interactive 'Bildungskompass' (Education Compass) tool for educational pathway guidance. Digital delivery is supported through Microsoft Teams integration for online seminars, the Anton learning app (operated by Solocode GmbH) for basic education, and Matomo Analytics for website usage tracking. An AI-supported chatbot (bfi Seminarassistent) provides text-based responses to user queries about seminars. Payment processing is handled by PAYONE GmbH.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining: (i) public seminar and training fees paid by individual learners (with discount schemes like the AK-Bildungsscheck); (ii) customized corporate training services delivered through the Business Unit with dedicated account managers and key account management; and (iii) government-funded programs sourced from AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice), ESF (European Social Fund), Land Steiermark, the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research, the Sozialministeriumservice, and the Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF). Distribution is omnichannel, combining 16 regional education centers (direct sales and field account management for corporate clients) with self-serve online enrollment and AMS/funding-body referrals. Customers include individuals (apprentices, career changers, professionals), enterprises in Styria (~3,000 corporate accounts), and public sector programs serving unemployed and migrant populations.

Name

bfi Steiermark

Legal name

bfi Steiermark gGmbH

Website

https://bfi-stmk.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

bfi Steiermark is a non-profit vocational training and continuing education institution operating 16 education centers across Styria, Austria, sponsored by ÖGB and Arbeiterkammer. It delivers approximately 3,000 seminars annually across ten subject areas to individuals, corporate clients, apprentices, and public-sector program beneficiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Adult continuing education
• Professional certification programs
• Corporate training solutions
• Language integration courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Seminar and Training Fees: Course fees for public seminars, vocational training programs, and professional education. Prices vary by course duration and content. Some courses qualify for discount schemes (e.g., AK-Bildungsscheck for Austrian Chamber of Labour members). Payment methods include cash, instant bank transfer (EPS), credit card, and invoice.
2. Corporate Training Services: Customized firm training programs for organizations, including consultation, program composition, funding selection assistance, and organizational handling. Delivered on-site at client companies or at regional education centers.
3. Government-Funded Programs: Training programs funded through public sources including AMS (Employment Service Austria), ESF (European Social Fund), Land Steiermark, Bundesministerium für Frauen, and Sozialministeriumservice. Includes programs for unemployed persons, apprentices, and disadvantaged groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

bfi Steiermark delivers vocational training and continuing education across ten subject areas through 16 education centers in Styria. Offerings include Berufsreifeprüfung, Werkmeisterschule, Lehre mit Matura, HFH distance learning, language and integration courses, technology/safety training, and a portfolio of approximately 3,000 seminars. A Business Unit provides customized corporate training solutions, with delivery via in-person, online, and blended learning.

Product overview

bfi Steiermark is a vocational and continuing education institution operating 16 training centers across Styria, Austria. Rather than a unified software platform, it offers a portfolio of educational programs and services including seminar and course offerings across ten subject areas (Health & Social, IT & Media Design, Languages, Technology & Safety, Transport & Logistics, Economics & Management, Personal Development, Vocational Maturity/BRP, Werkmeister schools, and HFH distance learning). Core digital offerings include the 'my bfi' participant portal, the 'bfi Premium Trainer:innen-Pool' instructor management system, the 'bfi Bildungskompass' career guidance tool, and an AI-supported chatbot assistant. The organization also provides customized corporate training through its Business Unit and specialized programs like NEBA AusbildungsFit and German integration courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lehre mit Matura Program allowing apprentices in dual vocational training to also earn the Matura diploma alongside their apprenticeship, providing both a vocational qualification and university-entrance diploma. Fully funded by the federal ministry.
• Berufsreifeprüfung (BRP) Vocational maturity examination preparation program enabling adults without an upper-secondary diploma to qualify for university entrance or higher education.
• Werkmeisterschule Advanced technical training and master craftsman qualification program for foremen and master craftsmen across engineering disciplines (mechatronics, electrical, mechanical, etc.).
• HFH Fernstudium (Hamburger Fern-Hochschule) Distance-learning bachelor's and master's degree programs from the Hamburger Fern-Hochschule, offered locally through bfi Steiermark education centers in cooperation with HFH.
• Firmenschulungen / Business Unit Corporate Training Customized corporate training solutions for businesses including needs analysis, program design, funding selection assistance, and on-site or center-based delivery. Served by a dedicated Business Unit with key account management serving around 3,000 Styrian corporate customers.
• NEBA AusbildungsFit Vocational preparation program for young people that develops their readiness for apprenticeships, funded by the Sozialministeriumservice as part of the NEBA (Netzwerk Berufliche Assistenz) initiative for disadvantaged youth.
• Startpaket Deutsch & Integration German language and integration courses covering A1 through C1 levels for migrants and refugees, including values education, implemented in cooperation with the Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF).
• Basisbildung (Basic Education) Basic literacy and numeracy training for adults covering reading, writing, mathematics, and digital skills for adults who have not completed foundational schooling.
• Driving Safety Center / Forklift Training (Führen von Hubstaplern) Operator training for industrial trucks (forklifts / Hubstapler) delivered at the bfi driving safety center using modern Linde Material Handling equipment and virtual reality, training over 2,200 participants annually.
• Public Seminar Catalog (approx. 3,000 seminars across 10 subject areas) Full catalog of approximately 3,000 public seminars and courses spanning ten subject areas: Health & Social Professions, IT & Media Design, Languages, Technology & Safety, Transport & Logistics, Business & Management, Personal Development, Berufsreifeprüfung, Werkmeisterschule, and HFH distance learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,200 forklift participants trained annually at bfi driving safety center

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ÖGB (Austrian Trade Union Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerÖGB is one of the supporting organizations (Trägerorganisationen) of bfi Steiermark gGmbH, along with Arbeiterkammer. As a founding/supporting organization, ÖGB helps shape the educational mission focused on workers and employees.
• Arbeiterkammer Steiermark (Chamber of Labour Styria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArbeiterkammer (AK) is a co-founder and supporting organization (Trägerorganisation) of bfi Steiermark gGmbH. The partnership includes joint programs like Berufsbildungsworkshops für Schüler:innen and AK-Bildungsscheck discount scheme for AK members.
• AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMS is a key public funding partner providing support for unemployed persons, apprenticeship training (ÜBA), and various employment integration programs. bfi operates AMS-funded programs including AusbildungsFit for youth and Beschäftigungsprojekte.
• Land Steiermark (State of Styria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand Steiermark co-funds educational programs through ESF (European Social Fund) and state budgets, supporting various vocational training and employment integration initiatives.
• Bundesministerium für Frauen, Wissenschaft und Forschung (Federal Ministry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Federal Ministry fully funds the 'Lehre mit Matura' (apprenticeship with Matura) program for apprentices, covering all course fees, materials, and examination costs.
• Sozialministeriumservice (Social Ministry Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports NEBA programs (AusbildungsFit, VOPS) for youth with disabilities or those distant from the labor market, funded through social ministry and ESF.
• Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerÖIF funds German language courses (Startpaket Deutsch & Integration) at levels A1 through C1, including integration and values education, implemented through ARGE consortium including bfi.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ibis acam Bildungs GmbH: Austrian private vocational training and adult education provider offering courses in IT, business, languages, and technical fields. A direct private-sector peer competing for the same individual and corporate training customers across Austrian states.
• WIFI Steiermark: Vocational training arm of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce operating in the same Styria region. Offers overlapping courses in IT, business, languages, technology, and management with comparable B2B and individual-learner models, making it the closest head-to-head competitor.
• BFI Niederösterreich: Sister bfi branch in Lower Austria offering the same multi-subject portfolio of adult education, vocational training, and corporate solutions. Useful benchmark for regional performance and funding capture within the bfi network.
• BFI Wien: Sister branch of the same Austrian bfi network serving Vienna. Operates the same continuing education, vocational training, exam preparation, and corporate training model under the shared bfi brand, providing direct comparison on scale and operating efficiency.
• BFI Kärnten: Sister bfi branch in Carinthia operating the same vocational training and adult education model with comparable public funding structure. Provides a like-for-like benchmark for a similarly-sized regional bfi subsidiary.

Others

• Donau-Universität Krems: Continuing education university in Lower Austria and existing partnership/peer institution. Offers postgraduate certificates and master's programs in management, technology, and health - overlapping with bfi Steiermark's HFH and Werkmeister offerings, and a partner for delivering higher-education programs.
• FH Joanneum: Regional University of Applied Sciences headquartered in Graz, Styria. Offers bachelor and master programs in IT, engineering, business, and health sciences that overlap with bfi Steiermark's subject portfolio and compete for the same Styrian adult-learner base.

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Austria: Global testing, inspection, and certification organization with Austrian vocational and safety training operations. Overlaps with bfi Steiermark in driver safety, logistics, and technical certifications as a broader international incumbent.
• WIFI Austria (WKO): National umbrella organization of WIFI training institutes under the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. Operates at greater scale and broader geographic reach than bfi Steiermark across all major Austrian states.
• TÜV Austria Holding AG: Larger Austrian testing, inspection, and certification body that also runs vocational and safety training (including transport/logistics and forklift programs that overlap directly with bfi Steiermark's offering). Acts as both a competitor and complementary certification body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bfisteiermark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bfi-steiermark
• Instagraminstagram.com/bfi.steiermark

Compliance2 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 bfi Steiermark