Guided by the human capital strategy

Launched in 2015 in support of our business and sustainability objectives to 2020, the Human Capital Strategy guides the Group in the development of specific initiatives.

Prysmian recognises its commitment and responsibility towards the people who work for the Group, as well as local communities where the Group operates. As such, it has developed a specific Human Capital Strategy since 2015 to support business growth and the achievement of sustainability objectives to 2020. The strategy is based on the seven pillars of improving the organisation model, planning of resources, development of employer branding, creation of a strong talent pipeline, development of professional skills, meritocracy and employee engagement.

In 2017, Prysmian made several steps forward on this path by launching a series of global initiatives focused on its employees and the world's talents, such as the ‘Sell It’ and ‘Make It’ recruitment programmes, the further development of information systems, a new engagement survey, the seventh edition of ‘Build the future’ and the launch of a due diligence initiative in respect of human rights at the Group's sites, and in relation to the Human Rights Policy promoted during the year.

All the numbers of Prysmian’s workforce

• The workforce at Prysmian Group in 2017 rose to 21,052 people from 20,493 one year earlier. White-collar staff stayed roughly unchanged at 5,124 people from 5,147 while blue-collar workers increased to 15,928 from 15,346.
• 2017 saw the addition of 559 resources. The increase includes the start-up of the new factory in China, Prysmian Technology Jiangsu, with 127 resources, the start of production of the new optical cable factory in Mexico and the increases related to new investments in some countries in the Central Eastern Europe region.
• During the year, the seventh edition of the ‘Build the future’ programme for young graduates was launched with 48 resources, while the second edition of the ‘Make-IT’ recruitment plan was held for professionals with experience in the areas of production, logistics and quality with 52 resources.
• Also started in 2017 was the first edition of the recruitment plan ‘Sell- IT’, for professionals in the commercial field, both for front office and customer care workers, involving 48 resources.

Prysmian has participated in the most prestigious job fairs held every year in the best engineering and economic universities.

45,000 candidates to Build the Future

Build the Future is the international programme for the recruitment and induction of new graduates at Prysmian. Its objective is to place high-potential profiles in various functions and geographical areas in a journey over several phases. Starting in 2012, the programme has already resulted in the recruitment of around 220 young people from all over the world. As many as 48 new international staff were taken on during the first half of 2017 while, in the second half of the year, 45,000 applications were received, that will lead to the selection and recruitment of another 50 new graduates in 2018.

One academy, five schools

In 2017, Prysmian Group inaugurated its Training Centre at its new Milan headquarters, which this year alone hosted more than 1,000 participants for a total of 150 training days. The inauguration follows the opening of the Manufacturing Academy in 2016 in Mudanya, Turkey, and of the Academy of Product, Innovation & Technology in Lexington, USA, also in 2017. Prysmian is one of the first major Italian companies to establish its own "Corporate University". The Academy is organised into three distinct but synergistic schools.

School of Management

Directly connected to systems of measuring and developing potential, is established in partnership with SDA Bocconi and a network of 10 major international Business Schools: ESADE, FUDAN,  SMU, STENBEIS, CORVINUS, SSE, FGV, ESSEC, USC, UFS. In 5 years welcomed 710 participants and already issued 439 diplomas, with continuous ambition for growth in 2018.

Professional School

Linked with the P3 programme, is organised into function academies - Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Purchasing, R&D, Product & Sales, IT, HR and Cross-functional - and centres of expertise - Manufacturing, Technology, Sales. Has trained over 1,500 employees over the past five years, involving more than 200 experts and with plans to involve the same number in 2018 as well.

Digital School

Considered one of the main projects of the Academy, is always in step with the evolution of business learning offers. A range of digital training initiatives create high quality virtual learning spaces for a wide audience and implement technological innovations in terms of learning thanks to the JAM platform. About 600 employees were involved in 2017, with some key products, such as the Compliance training program, aimed primarily at sales managers.

Purchasing Professional Academy

The Purchasing Professional Academy is the Group's international professional and management education and training school that has specifically addressed purchasing over the past five years. In 2017, more than 40% of Prysmian purchasing personnel around the world have received training in this area. An area of training dedicated to understanding the importance of sustainability matters, entitled ‘Purchasing & Sustainability’, has been included since 2015. The lesson relates to the supply chain and purchasing and guides buyers to take full account of sustainability when scouting for and selecting suppliers.

Supply Chain Academy

The Supply Chain Academy continued the process of training logistics and manufacturing personnel who work for the Group's affiliates around the world. Implemented over a period of several days and using internal lecturers, the objective is to facilitate networking, enhance the professional standing of the individuals and share ways to improve the Group's logistics, making them more efficient. In particular, a section dedicated to the importance of sustainability throughout the supply chain was provided in the annual session of the Professional Supply Chain course.