CIOFS - FP Lombardia

What CIOFS - FP Lombardia does

CIOFS-FP Lombardia (Centro Italiano Opere Femminili Salesiane – Formazione Professionale – Lombardia) is a non-profit vocational training association founded in 1968 and affiliated with the national CIOFS-FP ETS foundation within the Salesian educational network. It operates seven physical training centers across the Lombardy region in Castellanza, Cesano Maderno, Cinisello Balsamo, Milano, Pavia, Varese, and its regional headquarters, serving roughly three distinct beneficiary groups: school leavers after third-year secondary education who pursue three-year IeFP vocational qualifications, young people aged 15-25 in apprenticeships and IFTS/ITS post-diploma technical courses, and unemployed adults participating in Italy's GOL (Garanzia di Occupabilità dei Lavoratori) program. The organization also delivers customized corporate training to enterprises seeking qualified personnel.

Its core product is an integrated curriculum portfolio structured around the Filiera 4+2 pathway, which combines four years of IeFP instruction with two years of ITS Academy specialization leading to a Diploma di Tecnico Superiore at EQF Level V. Flagship courses include the ITS Business Innovation Manager and ITS Global Marketing Manager (co-organized with Fondazione ITS Academy Sondrio), the latter comprising 2,000 hours with 904 internship hours. Technology delivery combines conventional vocational training with digital tooling — WordPress CMS, Google Forms, SurveyMonkey — and an emerging AI curriculum delivered through a partnership with C2 Group using Google AI, with student projects presented publicly at Didacta Italia 2026.

The business model is non-profit and grant-funded: all vocational courses are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, with operating revenue derived from Italian public contributions, regional government subsidies (including GOL program funding), and private donations documented under Amministrazione Trasparente disclosures. Enterprise revenue comes from customized corporate training and apprenticeship placement services. Distribution occurs through direct physical enrollment at the seven centers, the Italian Ministry of Education's national Iscrizioni Online portal, employer partnerships (including Il Gigante, Confartigianato, Unicredit, Coca-Cola HBC), and Centri per l'Impiego (public job centers). The organization reports over 90% employment alignment within one year for ITS graduates.

Name

CIOFS - FP Lombardia

Legal name

Centro Italiano Opere Femminili Salesiane – Formazione Professionale – Lombardia

Website

https://ciofslombardia.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CIOFS-FP Lombardia is a non-profit Salesian-affiliated vocational training association operating seven centers across Lombardy, Italy, delivering free IeFP, IFTS, and ITS courses plus the integrated Filiera 4+2 pathway to school leavers, young adults, and unemployed workers, with employer-facing corporate training as a secondary line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Professional education programs
• ITS academy courses
• Apprenticeship programs
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lombardia

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vocational training services (free to beneficiaries): Vocational and professional training courses provided free of charge to students, funded entirely through public contributions, regional government subsidies, and donations. As a non-profit association, the organization does not charge tuition fees.
2. Corporate training for enterprises: Customized training programs for businesses, positioning the organization as a provider of qualified personnel to companies.
3. Public funding and government grants: Receipt of public contributions from Italian public administrations as documented in Amministrazione Trasparente disclosures, including regional and national government funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIOFS-FP Lombardia is a non-profit vocational training association that delivers three-year IeFP professional courses for school leavers, IFTS and ITS post-diploma higher technical programs (including Business Innovation Manager and Global Marketing Manager), the integrated Filiera 4+2 vocational-to-higher-education pathway, adult training under the national GOL program, and customized corporate training. All student-facing courses are provided free of charge, with funding sourced from Italian public administration contributions, regional government subsidies, and private donations.

Product overview

CIOFS-FP Lombardia is a vocational and professional training association offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs. The core offerings include three-year vocational courses (IeFP) for students after middle school, IFTS higher technical specialization courses, and ITS Academy advanced courses. The flagship programs are the Business Innovation Manager and Global Marketing Manager ITS courses, both leading to EQF Level V diplomas. The organization operates the innovative Filiera 4+2 pathway that combines 4 years of vocational training with 2 years of ITS specialization. Additional services include adult training, corporate training, the GOL employment program, and civil service opportunities. The association maintains seven centers across Lombardy (Castellanza, Cesano Maderno, Cinisello Balsamo, Milano, Pavia, Varese, and Regional Headquarters).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ITS Academy: Higher Technical Institute programs offering post-diploma specializations in collaboration with Fondazione ITS Academy Sondrio.
• Filiera 4+2
• GOL Program

Products and services

• Vocational Courses (IeFP) Three-year professional courses (IeFP - Istruzione e Formazione Professionale) for students after middle school, covering Restaurant Operations, Sales Services, Administrative Services, and Reception/Promotion Services, leading to a Regional Qualifying Certificate.
• IFTS Courses Higher Technical Specialization (IFTS) post-diploma courses providing technical training aligned with labor market demand.
• Business Innovation Manager - ITS Course ITS post-diploma higher technical course over four semesters training Business Innovation Managers; graduates earn a Diploma di Tecnico Superiore (EQF Level V) valid for public competitions.
• Global Marketing Manager - ITS Course ITS biennial course (2,000 hours including 904 internship hours) co-organized with Fondazione ITS Academy Sondrio, training specialists in commercial development and strategic promotion on foreign markets; delivered at the Milano center.
• Filiera 4+2 Pathway Integrated educational pathway combining four years of IeFP with two years of ITS Academy specialization, leading to a Diploma di Tecnico Superiore (EQF Level V) recognized across Europe without supplementary exams; with 50% of ITS consisting of company internships.
• Adult Training Courses Professional training courses for unemployed youth and adults aged 15-25, combining work experience with study to develop market-required skills.
• Corporate Training Customized training programs for companies to help them access qualified personnel and remain competitive, including apprenticeships for existing staff.
• GOL Program Program GOL (Garanzia di Occupabilità dei Lavoratori) providing services for employment insertion, reintegration, and professional qualification/requalification of workers, delivered through partnership with Centri per l'Impiego.
• Civil Service Voluntary civil service program for young people seeking to contribute to community development initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of ITS diploma graduates find employment aligned with their studies within one year of completing the program.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• C2 GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2026C2 Group collaborated with CIOFS-FP Lombardia on AI-based student projects, providing Google AI technology access. Students used Google AI to develop practical projects, which were presented publicly at Didacta Italia 2026 as part of the workshop 'I progetti AI-based sviluppati dagli studenti: il percorso di CIOFS-FP con Google AI'. This is an ongoing educational technology partnership integrating AI skills into the vocational curriculum.
• Coca-Cola HBCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026Coca-Cola HBC, in partnership with JA Italia, awarded a 4,000 euro scholarship to CIOFS Milano student Chiara Carioti under the #YouthEmpowered program. The student attended the Winter Olympics and visited Coca-Cola production facilities, gaining insider work experience. This represents a corporate partnership bringing real-world industry exposure to vocational training students.
• JA Italia (Junior Achievement Italy)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026JA Italia collaborated with Coca-Cola HBC to provide the #YouthEmpowered scholarship program for CIOFS students, enabling a student to experience the Winter Olympics and corporate operations. JA Italia is a non-profit educational organization promoting entrepreneurship education.
• ITS AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026ITS Academy provides the '+2' component of the Filiera 4+2 pathway, offering two-year post-diploma specializations that lead to the Diploma di Tecnico Superiore (V level EQF). Nearly all CIOFS-FP Lombardia programs will enter the 4+2 pathway from the 2026/27 academic year, with 50% of the ITS program consisting of company internships. This is the primary pathway for students to reach higher technical qualifications.
• Fondazione ITS Academy SondriocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Fondazione ITS Academy Sondrio co-organizes the ITS Global Marketing Manager course with CIOFS-FP Lombardia, combining classroom training with 904 hours of internship. The two-year, 2,000-hour program is held at the Via Timavo 14, Milan center and leads to a Higher Technician Diploma. This is an institutional co-development partnership for advanced vocational education.
• Il GiganteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2024Ongoing recruiting partnership with Il Gigante supermarket chain for selecting aspiring butchery course participants at the Cinisello Balsamo center. The company actively recruits from the training pipeline.
• Confartigianato Imprese PaviaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2018A unique collaboration between CIOFS-FP Lombardia and Confartigianato Imprese Pavia for the 'Accorciamo le distanze – Alternanza Acconciatura Artigiana' project, enabling hairdressing students to gain artisan work experience through apprenticeship-style training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Formaterziario: Confcommercio-linked training organization delivering vocational courses, apprenticeship, and corporate training in the tertiary sector across Italy. Comparable offerings in administrative services, sales, and hospitality specializations.
• For.Al: Confartigianato-linked vocational training consortium delivering IeFP and continuous training in Lombardy and other regions, with strong apprenticeship placement and corporate training offerings directly comparable to CIOFS-FP's employer services.
• IAL Lombardia: Innovazione Apprendimento Lavoro (IAL) Lombardia is a CISL-affiliated vocational training provider offering IeFP, IFTS, ITS, and adult retraining in the same Lombardy region, with overlapping target segments including GOL program beneficiaries.
• Cescot: Confesercenti-affiliated vocational training body offering IeFP, continuous training, and apprenticeship programs in multiple Italian regions, with comparable target segments in retail, hospitality, and commercial services.
• AFOL Metropolitana: Public agency formed by the Metropolitan City of Milan and Lombardy Region providing employment services, vocational training, and GOL program delivery. Operates as a public-sector peer for the same GOL, IFTS, and corporate retraining budgets.
• CNOS-FAP: The national Salesian technical training body (Centro Nazionale Opere Salesiane - Formazione Aggiornamento Professionale), offering IeFP and ITS courses across Italy. Same Salesian pedagogical tradition and target learner segments (post-middle-school youth and unemployed adults).
• ENFAPI: National vocational training organization (Ente Nazionale per la Formazione e l'Addestramento Professionale Integrati) providing apprenticeship and IeFP programs in multiple Italian regions, competing for the same public funding and corporate apprenticeship contracts.
• ENGIM Lombardia: Salesian-affiliated vocational training foundation operating across Lombardy with similar IeFP and apprenticeship programs. Direct competitor for the same regional funding, school guidance channels, and employer apprenticeship pipelines.

Broad incumbents

• CIOFS-FP ETS: National parent foundation coordinating the broader CIOFS-FP Salesian training network across Italy. Provides governance, accreditation, and national-level curriculum frameworks under which regional entities like CIOFS-FP Lombardia operate.

Emerging players

• Fondazione ITS Academy Sondrio: Partner ITS Academy foundation that co-delivers the Global Marketing Manager course with CIOFS-FP Lombardia. Comparable ITS-level higher technical education in adjacent specializations, partially overlapping in delivery model and target student segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciofs-fp-lombardia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIOFS - FP Lombardia