Italian shipbuilding behemoth Fincantieri established a specialised training programme to equip future staff with the skills it sees as vital to deliver on a vision of smart ships and digitalised production processes.

Fincantieri teamed with technology college ITS Academy Udine to create the two-year Mechatronics and Robotics, Smart Ship programme, which involves a mix of classroom and on-the-job training.

The first class comprises 16 students: Fincantieri stated they would learn about “planning, coordination and work progress management” and “soft skills” comprising “leadership, problem solving” and management.

Alessio Belli, head of group organisation Development, Learning and Labour Cost, said Fincantieri views the training programme as “essential to supporting the industrial and technological transformation” of the shipbuilding sector.

Like many industries, shipbuilders are preparing for all aspects of digital transformation. Fincantieri explained the course covers the core skills in its moniker along with automation, AI and digital twin technologies.

Cybersecurity is also on the curriculum, as are elements covering onboard systems and equipment, digitalisation of production processes and predictive maintenance.

Fincantieri emphasised the importance of helping students to transition into full-time work and plans to begin offering apprenticeships from the second year of the course.

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Vodafone Group revealed its influential corporate affairs chief Joakim Reiter (pictured) is to depart at the end of the year, bringing the curtain down on a nine-year spell with the operator.

Reiter was instrumental in Vodafone’s push for fairer laws and regulations for the telecoms sector.

CEO Margherita Della Valle acknowledged Reiter’s impact, saying he argued the case for Vodafone with authorities “across Europe and Africa”.

She credited Reiter for making a “tremendous contribution” to Vodafone.

The executive is set to build on his campaigning work by becoming secretary general of the European Roundtable for Industry, a group established in 1983 to promote cooperation between businesses, governments and regulators.

Companies involved in the roundtable account for a combined €3 trillion in revenue per annum and make annual investments of €120 billion.

Vodafone stated it would announce a successor to Reiter “in due course”.

The European Roundtable for Industry is yet to detail what current secretary general Anthony Gooch Galvez’ plans are.

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