Pomellato Virtuosi Academy graduates find jobs before finishing training

Seventeen out of eighteen students from the Pomellato Virtuosi Academy in Milan secured employment contracts before completing their professional jewelry-making training. The academy, established four years ago by vocational school Galdus and jewelry company Pomellato, is the first Italian experience of a professionalizing supply chain envisioned by the PNRR. The program, which concluded its first seven-year cycle, is an alternative to university paths, offering courses designed with input from companies to fill skill gaps. Students receive both classroom instruction and practical experience, with several months of in-company internships each year. The initiative was spearheaded by Galdus president Diego Montrone and Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli to address a looming shortage of specialized artisans, as many current craftspeople are near retirement age. Three graduates were hired by Pomellato, while the other fourteen were employed by competitors. The program is co-financed by Regione Lombardia, which supports about 240 training courses for 5,000 people. Montrone noted that the school now attracts students from Italy and abroad, allowing for selective admissions.