GBS Gewerbliches Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum St. Gallen

What GBS Gewerbliches Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum St. Gallen does

GBS Gewerbliches Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum St. Gallen is a public, cantonally operated vocational education institution in St. Gallen, Switzerland, providing basic vocational training (Grundbildung) across approximately 50 commercial and industrial occupations, federal vocational baccalaureate (Berufsmaturität) programs, bridging programs for youth aged 15–21, and continuing education (Weiterbildung) up to Höhere Fachschule (HF) diploma level. It operates two specialized sub-brands — Baukaderschule St.Gallen (construction planning, building technology, construction production, facility management, building automation) and Schule für Gestaltung St.Gallen (industrial design, interactive media design, visual design) — and delivers non-formal courses spanning design, technology, and construction topics. The institution's technology stack is conventional education IT: Moodle LMS, Microsoft 365 with Authenticator MFA, TYPO3 CMS, WebUntis for timetabling, and a student portal (myGBS), all operated under a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy.

The business model combines recurring subscription-style revenue from multi-semester HF programs and Berufsmaturität tracks with one-time course fees for short non-formal courses (CHF 85–720 depending on program and group size). Distribution is direct-to-consumer: students enroll via the institution's website, information events (Infoanlässe), and social media channels. The institution reaches ~4,600 weekly students from 15 Swiss cantons and the Principality of Liechtenstein, completes ~700 federal vocational baccalaureates annually, and serves ~1,600 continuing-education participants per year. Approximately 85% of lecturers come directly from active professional practice, supporting the institution's positioning around industry-aligned curricula.

GBS sustains an international exchange network ('move on') with 15+ European partner schools and participates in Erasmus+ strategic projects including THINK!digital, Kosmopolis, CS-21, Commercialpolis, and VETskillinG. Outcomes are strong: reported figures include near 100% post-graduation employment for HF graduates, 87% career advancement, and amortization of HF tuition within ~4 years. As a non-profit cantonal institution, GBS is not privately funded or venture-backed; its competitive position rests on federally recognized credentials, practitioner faculty, and breadth across ~50 trades that no single private competitor in Eastern Switzerland matches.

Name

GBS Gewerbliches Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum St. Gallen

Legal name

Gewerbliches Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum St.Gallen

Website

https://gbssg.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

GBS St.Gallen is a cantonal vocational education center in St. Gallen, Switzerland, offering basic vocational training across ~50 trades, federal vocational baccalaureate, bridging programs for at-risk youth, and HF-level continuing education in construction and design. It serves 4,600 weekly students and 1,600 continuing-education participants annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Junior Colleges (611210), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Vocational education training
• Higher vocational diplomas
• Federal vocational baccalaureate
• Bridging programs youth
• Design and construction training

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Gallen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Fees (Non-Formal Education): Revenue from continuing education courses ranging from single evening sessions to multi-semester programs. Fees vary by course type, with design courses ranging from CHF 85-720, technical courses, and hobby/leisure courses. Discounts available for learners (25%), students (10%), and larger groups.
2. Higher Vocational Training Programs: Revenue from formal higher vocational education (Höhere Berufsbildung) at the Baukaderschule (Building School) and Schule für Gestaltung (Design School). These are multi-semester diploma programs leading to federally recognized qualifications.
3. Federal Vocational Baccalaureate (Berufsmaturität): Revenue from federal vocational baccalaureate programs taken in parallel with or following apprenticeship, providing access to universities of applied sciences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GBS St.Gallen provides vocational education and continuing training across commercial, industrial, technical, design, and service professions. It delivers basic vocational training (Grundbildung) in approximately 50 occupations, bridging programs for youth without training places, the federal vocational baccalaureate (Berufsmaturität), and higher vocational training (HF) diplomas at its Baukaderschule and Schule für Gestaltung sub-brands, serving around 4,600 students weekly from 15 Swiss cantons and Liechtenstein.

Product overview

GBS Gewerbliches Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum St.Gallen is a vocational education center offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products across two main divisions: Grundbildung (basic vocational training) with approximately 50 trades, and Weiterbildung (continuing education) at the Higher Vocational School level. The institution operates two specialized sub-brands — Baukaderschule St.Gallen (offering HF programs in construction planning, building technology, construction production, and facility management) and Schule für Gestaltung St.Gallen (offering HF programs in industrial design, interactive media design, and visual design). Bridging programs serve approximately 450 students annually, while the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate program serves approximately 700 students. The institution also provides non-formal course offerings in design, construction, and technology, plus international exchange programs with over 15 European partner schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grundbildung (Basic Vocational Training) Initial vocational education programs covering approximately 50 commercial and industrial occupations, providing foundational training for apprentices alongside their company-based practical training.
• Weiterbildung (Continuing Education) Comprehensive further education offerings ranging from single-day courses to multi-semester programs at the Higher Vocational School (Höhere Fachschule HF), including programs at Baukaderschule St.Gallen and Schule für Gestaltung St.Gallen.
• Baukaderschule St.Gallen (Building Cadre School) Higher vocational training school specializing in construction-related programs including HF Bauplanung (Architecture and Civil Engineering), Gebäudetechnik (Building Technology), Bauproduktion (Construction Production), and Gebäudebewirtschaftung (Facility Management).
• Schule für Gestaltung St.Gallen (School of Design) Design-focused higher vocational school offering HF programs in Industrial Design, Interactive Media Design, and Visuelle Gestaltung (Visual Design), plus design preparatory courses.
• Brückenangebote (Bridging Programs) Programs for adolescents and young adults aged 15-21 without a training place, including Berufsvorbereitungsjahr (pre-vocational year), Integrationskurs (integration course), Vorlehre (pre-apprenticeship), and Gestalterischer Vorkurs (design foundation course). Approximately 450 students annually.
• Berufsmaturität (Federal Vocational Baccalaureate) Federal vocational baccalaureate programs available during or after apprenticeship, with specializations in Technik/Architektur/Life Sciences, Gesundheit und Soziales, Gestaltung und Kunst, and Wirtschaft und Dienstleistungen. Approximately 700 students complete annually.
• International Programs International exchange and mobility programs including individual student exchanges with 15+ European partner schools, VETskillinG project for energy transition skills, and WinterSpring24 IoT data collection exchange program.
• Kurse (Courses) Individual non-formal education courses in construction, design, technology, and service sectors, including drawing, photography, typography, Adobe software training, calligraphy, urban sketching, and tufting workshops.
• myGBS Student Portal Student portal platform providing access to grades, schedules, course materials, and personal academic information for enrolled students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of HF graduates experience career advancement after graduation
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• AarhusTECHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish technical college participating in the 'move on' individual exchange program and THINK!digital strategic partnership project focused on innovation in VET.
• Artevelde University College GhentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian university college participating in individual student exchange programs for vocational education and training.
• BBS WilhelmshavenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman vocational school participating in individual exchange programs.
• Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam (GLR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch graphic education institution collaborating on WinterSpring24 exchange (IoT and data collection) and Commercialpolis project on new media storytelling.
• GRADIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish vocational college participating in exchange programs.
• JAMK University of Applied SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish university participating in THINK!digital project to support innovation in VET through digital services and education.
• ENAC (Ente Nazionale Canossiano)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian educational institution collaborating on CS-21 project for 21st Century Skills in creative industries education.
• Copenhagen Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish technical college involved in Kosmopolis international TV production project.
• Vocational College LappiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish vocational college participating in Kosmopolis international TV production collaboration.
• SDK CSDminorOthersListed as partner/organization on website footer.
• SmartfeldminorOthersInnovation partner listed on website footer.
• EfVETminorOthersEuropean vocational education and training network member.
• SwissSkillsminorOthersSwiss national skills competition organization partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• F+F Schule für Kunst und Design: Zurich-based design school offering vocational and HF programs in visual design, interactive media, and film. Closest peer for GBS's Schule für Gestaltung sub-brand.
• KV Zürich Kaufmännische Berufsschule: Zurich's commercial vocational school offering apprenticeships and BM programs in business-administrative occupations. Comparable to GBS's Dienstleistung and BM Wirtschaft tracks.
• GIBB Gewerblich-industrielles Bildungszentrum Bern: Bern's public vocational education center offering apprenticeship and continuing education across industrial-technical-design trades. Mirrors GBS's department structure and program breadth.
• BZU Bildungszentrum Zürich: Zurich-based vocational and continuing education center covering similar commercial-industrial trades plus HF programs. Most direct structural peer to GBS, but operating in a different Swiss region.
• BBB Berufsfachschule Baden: Regional vocational school in Baden (Aargau) covering construction, technical, and design apprenticeships plus continuing education. Comparable scope and canton-operated governance model.
• Bénédict Schools (Schweiz): Swiss private vocational school group offering apprenticeships and HF programs in multiple cantons. Direct competitor for commercial-industrial vocational students with similar offerings.
• EB Zürich Erwachsenenbildung: Zurich's public continuing education provider offering courses in design, technology, and languages. Directly comparable to GBS's non-formal continuing education (Kurse) portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Swiss private university of applied sciences offering degree and continuing education programs across multiple disciplines. Adjacent to GBS's HF offerings with broader credentialing.
• ipso! Continuing Education: Major Swiss private continuing education provider with broad course portfolio across design, technology, and management. Competes with GBS's non-formal Kurs offerings.

Regional players

• Ecole Technique de la Vallée de Joux: French-speaking Swiss technical school offering vocational training in watchmaking and microtechnology. Regionally separate but comparable trade-focused vocational education model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GBSSt.Gallen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gbs-gewerbliche-berufsschule-st.-gallen
• Instagraminstagram.com/gbsstgallen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 GBS Gewerbliches Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum St. Gallen