The wood and furniture sector, particularly in Valdelsa, is preparing to welcome new skills thanks to a professional training course aimed at certifying figures specialized in the processing and aesthetic adaptation of wood materials. Funded by the European Union as part of NextGenerationEU and promoted by the Tuscany Region through the Giovanisì project, this training program represents a strategic initiative for the autonomy and employability of young people and beyond.
Objectives and Structure of the Training Program
The course, organized by ASSOSERVIZI S.r.l. in partnership with EUROBIC TOSCANA SUD S.r.l., C.P.I.A. 1 SIENA – Poggibonsi, SCUOLA EDILE – C.P.T. SIENA, CENTRO SPERIMENTALE DEL MOBILE E DELL’ARREDAMENTO, and FORMIMPRESA, aims to issue a certificate of competence related to Units of Competence (UC) 1749 “Wood Material Processing” and UC 1750 “Aesthetic Adaptation of Wood Furniture Product,” both at EQF Level 3.
The program consists of 146 hours of classroom instruction and 96 hours of internship at companies in the sector. Lessons will take place from Monday to Friday, with a maximum of 8 hours per day, within a time slot between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Mandatory attendance is set at 70% of total hours, with at least 50% of internship hours.
The training program includes units dedicated to technical-professional skills and a unit focused on digital competencies, in line with the DigiComp 2.1-II framework.
The planned training units are:
- Elements of organization and worker safety (18 hours)
- Technical drawing and evaluation of its parameters (34 hours)
- Main processing methods and finishing techniques for wood furniture products (34 hours)
- Main wood and derivative materials, intended use, and main measuring instruments (20 hours)
- Main tools and machinery used for processing and manufacturing wood furniture products (18 hours)
- DigComp (22 hours)
- Internship (96 hours)
The training activity is designed to transfer to participants the knowledge and skills necessary to create wood semi-finished products that comply with technical and functional specifications, ensuring the aesthetic adaptation of the finished product to predetermined stylistic and quality characteristics.
Target Audience and Access Requirements
The course is aimed at 8 to 11 students. The beneficiaries of the training program include various categories, such as:
- Beneficiaries of social safety nets (in or out of employment)
- Recipients of Citizenship Income
- Fragile or vulnerable workers (NEETs under 30, disadvantaged women, people with disabilities, mature workers over 55)
- Unemployed without income support (unemployed for at least six months, other workers with fewer employment opportunities – young people and women, even if not in fragile conditions, self-employed workers ceasing activity or with very low incomes)
- Workers with very low incomes (the so-called working poor)
Minimum access requirements include reaching the age of 16 with completion of compulsory education and training (three-year leFP qualification) or reaching the age of 18. For foreign citizens, knowledge of the Italian language at Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required.
Recognition of entry credits is permitted upon application by candidates and according to the procedures of DGR 251/2023. Requests must be submitted before the start of the course or in its initial phase.
Attendance Allowance and Course Location
For unemployed individuals over 55 (at the time of enrollment), an attendance allowance of €3.50 per hour of classroom and synchronous FAD is provided, disbursed at the end of the project and limited to a maximum of €250 for the first course attended only. Recipients of citizenship income and beneficiaries of social safety nets are excluded from the allowance.
The course will be conducted by CENTRO SPERIMENTALE DEL MOBILE E DELL’ARREDAMENTO and will take place at the classrooms and laboratories located in loc. Drove n° 15 in Poggibonsi (SI).
Exams and Certifications
Intermediate learning verification tests and a final exam comprising a written test, a technical-practical test, and an individual interview are planned. To be admitted to the final exam, participants must have attended at least 70% of the total course hours and at least 50% of the internship hours within that percentage.
Upon passing the final exam, a Certificate of Competence for UC 1749 and UC 1750 will be issued. For those who do not pass the exam or interrupt the program, a declaration of learning will be issued, in accordance with Dgr 251/2023. A declaration of learning is also foreseen for the DigComp training unit.
Enrollment Procedures
Enrollment in the course is divided into two phases:
Phase 1 – Access to the GOL Program: Interested individuals must enroll in the GOL program exclusively at the Employment Centers in Tuscany. Here, based on the orientation outcomes, the beneficiary will be directed towards a specific Upskilling or Reskilling pathway.
Phase 2 – Course Enrollment: Once directed towards the Upskilling or Reskilling measures, the beneficiary can enroll in the course by visiting an Employment Center or a Job Agency.
This initiative represents a significant opportunity for acquiring specialized skills in the wood and furniture sector, fostering professional integration or re-qualification in a vital productive area for the region.