11 October 2023
The Ferretti Group is enjoying double-digit growth and, as it seeks out new production sites, it must also address the need to hire new specialised workers to assign to its luxury yacht production.
Craftsmanship and skills specific to the luxury yacht industry are talents increasingly in demand, especially at Ferretti, whose plans to expand production include the new Ravenna facility, a model of innovation and sustainability.
This is one of the reasons behind the Scuola dei Mestieri, a Ferretti Group project for 18- to 29-year-olds who want to start a career in the high-end Italian yacht industry.
The Group’s Scuola dei Mestieri is not based on simple extra-curricular apprenticeship but provides professional training courses that combine both theory and on-the-job experience in the shipyard. Training moves between classrooms, workshops and hands-on experience in production departments, working toward concrete career prospects.
The goal of transferring knowledge will also be achieved by exploiting the group’s own know-how – the classroom courses will be held by managers and key technical experts, including former yard managers and line foremen.
After completion of the first edition of the course, held in Forlì, the initiative will be extended to the Mondolfo and Sarnico sites.
In Sarnico, two Salesian training centres (Don Bosco and CFP Zanardelli) will enable apprentices to get hands-on experience of the workplace in the three main operating areas: mechanical and systems engineering, fitting out and carpentry, painting and fibreglass.
At the Mondolfo site, on the other hand, w.academy – a business school specialising in training and placement – will provide support for the training of apprentices specialising in marine engineering and hydraulic systems.
Including the upcoming edition of the Scuola dei Mestieri course in Forlì, over 50 apprentices will be trained for prospective employment in Ferretti Group yards.
“One of the greatest strengths of the Italian yacht industry, and of Ferretti Group in particular, is the unparalleled skill of its workforce – a mix of talent, experience and knowledge to be found nowhere else in the world,” Ferretti Group stated.
“This is why our Scuola dei Mestieri project is so important to us, because more and more owners want our yachts, and we need to meet their demands while maintaining the high standards that make us unique.
“We therefore hope to find young professionals to employ in our yards in mutually profitable long-term employment relationships.”