Simest: first skills fair in Cinecittà with 100 students

- 'A world of opportunities': stories, countries and perspectives of internationalisation told by those who live it every day.

- 'From idea to enterprise': when an intuition becomes a project, enterprise and success, with concrete examples supported by Simest.

- 'Savings Education': awareness and responsibility in managing money, for business and everyday life.

The Skills Fair is part of Simest's 'Sustainable Communities' Action Plan, which includes the implementation of high social impact initiatives in Italia and abroad.

"With the Skills Fair, we wanted to create a concrete opportunity for young people and the business world to meet, helping to spread greater awareness of the issues of internationalisation and the role of SMEs in the growth of the country," emphasised Simest CEO Regina Corradini D'Arienzo. "This project was born from the direct involvement of Simest people and represents an example of how skills, participation and social responsibility can generate value for the new generations. Investing in the training of young people means investing in Italia's future ability to compete in international markets'.

The project was launched in July last year during the company's fourth Sustainability Day, through a participatory process that directly involved Simest people in defining ideas, objectives, beneficiaries and project partners. The event also represented the final stage of 'Made4Export,' the national project developed by Simest - in coordination with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti - which in its first edition involved 16 Italian schools, over 20 classes, and more than 340 students, thanks also to the direct contribution of 88 Simest colleagues directly involved in training and mentoring activities.

After an initial pilot phase started in December with two schools, the project was extended nationwide through training activities and business-games, in which students were asked to simulate the strategic decisions necessary for a SME to embark on a path of international expansion.

The schools involved are located in: Rome (in 4 institutes), Milan, Ancona, Cremona, Brindisi, Lecce, Turin, Cosenza, Naples, Treviso, Chieti.

A survey carried out for Simest by a research institute that is an expert on generations and studies the behaviour of people, especially Generation Z, revealed the need to strengthen knowledge among young people of issues related to internationalisation, the functioning of SMEs and the value of exports for the country's economic growth. According to the survey, conducted on social platforms among about 5,000 young people, in terms of work, Gen Z is open to internationalisation: 65% consider working abroad to be an interesting opportunity, especially because of the clarity of the rules and prospects. The analysis highlighted, among other things, students' limited familiarity with the role of institutions and instruments supporting Italian companies in foreign markets. Hence the decision to develop a course aimed at technical institutes, considered closer to the skills required by the Italia production system and Simest's client companies.