Abstract

The article describes the methodology and results of the evaluation monitoring of the use of Fondartigianato resources for training in Lombardy, related to the training projects funded through the 1/2021 call, carried out between 2021 and 2023. The contributions from Fondartigianato under this call enabled the training of over 5,500 workers from 1,000 craft businesses and SMEs. The monitoring followed a mixed approach, with two quantitative surveys (CAWI and CATI) aimed at companies and workers, in addition to a qualitative study on 10 company cases, interviews with training bodies, and focus groups. The methodology allowed for the collection of feedback from both the participants in the training and the entities that delivered it. The Fondartigianato 1/2021 call was structured into seven funding lines, each with a specific objective. The areas covered by the training include product/ service design, production, logistics, market relations, human capital, administration, and finance. Five cross-cutting areas of intervention were also identified, such as technological innovation, organizational development, health and safety, equal opportunities, and corporate welfare. The monitoring revealed a high level of satisfaction among both companies and workers. 95% of companies and 96% of workers reported being satisfied, with strong appreciation for the skills of trainers and tutors. The training mainly involved Italian workers (97%), with 57% of participants being female. All other indicators related to the design and delivery of the training courses were also positive. The main issue identified concerned the certification of skills: only 28% of workers obtained a certification at the end of the course. The article also analyzes the impact of the training on business processes and workers’ skills. About 90% of companies reported an improvement in the autonomy and efficiency of their workers, while 92% of workers stated that they had acquired useful and immediately applicable skills. However, the perception of the impact on business competitiveness and workers’ employability was less positive, with only 76% of companies believing that their competitiveness had improved. In conclusion, the article highlights how the training funded by Fondartigianato had a positive impact on both companies and workers, improving skills and business processes, but with room for improvement in terms of skills certification and business competitiveness.