Lombardy and Fondimpresa seal €350 million agreement to strengthen job training

The Lombardy region signed a three‑year partnership with the inter‑professional fund Fondimpresa, committing €150 million of regional money and receiving at least €200 million from the fund. The accord aims to integrate training programmes with employer needs, improve the quality and relevance of courses, and boost stable, high‑quality employment across the region. It is the first such agreement under the Ministry of Labour’s new guidelines for cooperation between regional authorities and inter‑professional funds.

In the southern Italian town of Celenza Valfortore, the municipality launched the "Celenza Orienta – La Bussola per i Talenti del Territorio" project under the regional "Punti Cardinali for Work" initiative. The scheme provides free workshops in traditional tailoring and artificial‑intelligence skills, individual career counseling, and support for entrepreneurship, seeking to retain young people and preserve local crafts while creating new job opportunities in the interior areas.

Both initiatives reflect a broader effort in Italy to combat depopulation and skill gaps by linking public funding, training, and local partnerships.