Fondazione Le Vele

What Fondazione Le Vele does

Fondazione Le Vele ETS is an Italian non-profit Third Sector Entity (Ente del Terzo Settore) founded in 2004 and headquartered in Pavia, Lombardy, that operates as an accredited vocational training and employment services platform. The foundation holds triple accreditation from Regione Lombardia for vocational training, employment services, and as a GOL (Garanzia Occupabilità Lavoratori) provider under the PNRR-funded national active labor policies program, and is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and UNI/PdR 125:2022 standards. It serves four principal segments: 14-18 year-olds seeking IeFP vocational qualifications (Operatore Grafico Ipermediale, Operatore Produzioni Alimentari), post-diploma adults pursuing IFTS/ITS specializations in AI and digital marketing, job seekers and vulnerable populations (disabled, NEETs, women victims of violence, LGBTQI+, people in penal execution) routed through GOL and EU-funded inclusion projects, and businesses seeking apprenticeship training, internships, and interprofessional-fund-financed safety and upskilling courses.

The organization's service catalog comprises 58+ professional courses across administrative, digital, linguistic, food/hospitality, safety, and healthcare areas, 20+ workplace safety courses compliant with D.Lgs. 81/08, two-year ITS programs in AI & Digital Transformation, IFTS in Digital Marketing & AI, and free PNRR-funded GOL pathways. Course delivery blends in-person instruction across three campuses (Pavia, Garlasco, Trezzano sul Naviglio) with MS Teams-based e-learning, electronic student registers, and on-site B2B training delivered nationwide. Technology infrastructure is conventional rather than proprietary: MS Teams for synchronous and asynchronous delivery, a digital student portal for attendance and grades, and standard webinar tooling.

The revenue model is multi-stream and largely grant-dependent. Public funding flows from GOL, FSE+, PNRR, and Regione Lombardia allocations supporting free training for eligible individuals. B2B revenue comes from fee-for-service apprenticeship training, internships, and safety courses, with companies able to draw on interprofessional funds already contributed via INPS to access training at zero direct cost. Private paid professional courses generate individual fee revenue with optional HeyLight (Compass Banca) installment plans. Reported outcomes include 85% placement rate within 6 months for both school and employment service graduates, 500+ activated internships, 200+ B2B partner companies, and 150+ annual job offers through the placement network.

Name

Fondazione Le Vele

Legal name

Fondazione Le Vele ETS

Website

https://fondazionelevele.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fondazione Le Vele ETS is an Italian non-profit foundation founded in 2004 in Pavia, Lombardy, delivering accredited vocational training, employment services, and EU-funded social inclusion projects to students, job seekers, vulnerable populations, and businesses across three campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Employment services
• Professional education programs
• Workplace safety training
• Apprenticeship training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pavia

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publicly Funded Training (GOL, FSE+, PNRR): Government-funded vocational training and employment services delivered free to end users. Revenue comes from public grants and regional/federal program allocations for GOL (Garanzia Occupabilità Lavoratori), European Social Fund (FSE+), and PNRR-funded programs.
2. Private Paid Courses: Revenue from paid professional courses (58+ active courses across 7 areas) offered to individuals and businesses. Payment plans available via HeyLight (Compass Banca) installment service.
3. B2B Training Contracts: Fee-for-service workplace safety training, apprenticeship training, and interprofessional fund training delivered to companies. Zero-cost to companies using interprofessional funds already contributed via INPS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fondazione Le Vele ETS is a non-profit Third Sector Entity providing accredited vocational training, post-diploma higher technical education (IFTS/ITS), professional courses, and free employment services to individuals and businesses in Lombardy. It delivers workplace safety training, apprenticeship programs, internship facilitation, and interprofessional fund management for companies, alongside European and regional social inclusion projects.

Product overview

Fondazione Le Vele ETS operates as a unified professional training and employment services platform with multiple integrated offerings. The core portfolio includes Scuola Professionale (three-year professional qualifications in graphic design and food production for ages 14-18), post-diploma programs (ITS AI & Digital Transformation and IFTS Digital Marketing e AI for higher technical skills), 58+ professional courses across 8 areas (administrative, digital, safety, social-healthcare, food service, professional, linguistic, and digital), and 20+ workplace safety courses. Employment services provide free orientation, job matching, and internship placement with 85% placement rates. Business services include apprenticeship training, internship facilitation, and interprofessional fund management for financed training. European and regional projects support youth, inclusion, and territorial development. The organization holds three physical locations in Pavia, Garlasco, and Trezzano serving the Lombardy region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scuola Professionale (Professional School) Three-year professional qualification programs (IeFP) for students aged 14-18, recognized by Regione Lombardia, with guaranteed company internships and pathways to higher qualifications. Available at Garlasco and Trezzano locations.
• Operatore Grafico Ipermediale (Multimedia Graphic Operator) Three-year professional qualification in graphic design, web design, and digital communication covering visual communication, web design, social media graphics, and digital multimedia production. Available at Garlasco and Trezzano.
• Operatore Produzioni Alimentari (Food Production Operator) Three-year professional qualification in bread-making and pastry arts, teaching traditional and modern techniques for producing baked goods, pastries, pasta, and bakery products with hands-on laboratory practice.
• ITS AI & Digital Transformation Two-year post-diploma higher technical program covering IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics, forming experts in enterprise digital transformation with 1,200 hours of company internship.
• IFTS Digital Marketing e AI Higher technical formation course integrating AI into digital marketing strategies, forming professionals in digital communication tools, social media campaigns, and digital transformation for organizations. Includes free study abroad trip.
• Corsi Professionali (Professional Courses) Over 58 professional courses across 7 areas: Administrative, Digital, Linguistic, Professional, Food Service, Safety, and Social-Healthcare. Includes OSS, ASA, ASO certifications, digital marketing, and office administration courses.
• Corsi Sicurezza (Safety Courses) 20+ workplace safety training courses compliant with Italian law D.Lgs. 81/08, including fire prevention, worker safety, first aid, RSPP/ASPP, HACCP, and electrical safety certifications for businesses.
• Programma GOL - Garanzia Occupabilità Lavoratori PNRR-funded active labor policies program offering personalized pathways including career guidance, skills upgrading (upskilling), professional retraining (reskilling), and job placement support for unemployed and job seekers.
• Servizi al Lavoro (Employment Services) Free employment support services including professional orientation, competency assessment, active job search support, candidate-company matching, internships, and continuing education courses with 85% placement rate.
• Apprendistato (Apprenticeship Training) Mandatory apprenticeship training services for companies including base/transversal training, professionalizing training, and certification, delivered in-person, e-learning, on-the-job, or blended formats nationwide.
• Stage e Tirocini (Internships) Internship and training placement services for companies, supporting design, administrative management, monitoring, and final evaluation of training experiences with 500+ internships activated and 85% employment placement rate.
• Fondi Interprofessionali (Interprofessional Funds) Training financing services helping companies utilize INPS contributions for free professional development, including mandatory safety training and transversal skills courses (communication, IT, languages, logistics, soft skills).

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% placement rate within 6 months for both school and employment service graduates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CSF (Centro Servizi Formazione)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSF is the capofila (lead partner) in several major projects including RESTART (ZeroNEET initiative) and Ricomincio da Me (women victims of violence). Fondazione Le Vele participates as a partner in these multi-entity consortiums focused on youth inclusion and female empowerment.
• Decumano Est ETScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDecumano Est ETS serves as capofila in Giovani in Movimento (youth engagement in Oltrepò) and Giovani protagonisti del territorio projects. Joint initiatives for youth aged 15-34 focusing on territorial identity, digital skills, and active citizenship.
• APOLF Pavia (capofila) + 3 centri antiviolenza: Liberamente, Kore, C.H.I.A.R.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPOLF Pavia leads the Ricomincio da Me project supporting women victims of violence toward economic independence. The three antiviolence centers (Liberamente, Kore, C.H.I.A.R.A.) provide direct victim support alongside Fondazione Le Vele's training and job placement services.
• Cooperativa sociale Gli AironicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in HUB-ILITY EVOLUTION project focused on employment inclusion of people with disabilities (16-64 years) in the Pavia province. Also partner in Le Tre Sorelle agricultural training project.
• Coming Out - LGBTQI+ Community Center APScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapofila of TODES III project for prevention and contrast of LGBTQI+ discrimination. Fondazione Le Vele provides training and employment pathway components for LGBTQI+ discrimination victims.
• Cooperativa Sociale Officina LavorocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapofila of PA.R.CO. project (Participation, Reinsertion, Community) for work reintegration of people in extramural penal execution. Fondazione Le Vele contributes training and placement components.
• Teatro delle ChimeresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional theater company collaborating in the INSCENA project (inclusion through theatertherapy and music for young people with disabilities aged 15-34). Provides artistic direction and facilitation.
• Comune di PaviasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in the INSCENA project for young people with disabilities. Provides venue access and institutional support for inclusion activities.
• ITS CremonasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorITS Academy partner collaborating on the AI & Digital Transformation post-diploma program. Provides industry expertise and internship placement connections for the 2-year ITS program.
• Consorzio Sociale PavesecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey territorial partner in the RESTART project (ZeroNEET) and other social inclusion initiatives. Coordinates social services and district-level interventions across the Pavia province.
• Over 200 aziende partner (companies)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 200 companies provide internships, apprenticeships, and job placement opportunities for students and job seekers. They also host company-specific training sessions for apprenticeship programs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Forma.Temp: Italian bilateral training fund for temporary staffing. Comparable as a complementary ecosystem participant — not a direct competitor but a key funding / capacity-building channel for the staffing and training sector in which Fondazione Le Vele operates.

Broad incumbents

• Randstad Italia: Major global staffing group with substantial Italian operations. Comparable in B2B workforce training and apprenticeship management, though at a considerably larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• Adecco Italia: Italian arm of a global workforce solutions leader. Comparable in employment services, candidate placement, and corporate training offerings, operating at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Gi Group: One of Italy's largest staffing and workforce solutions providers. Comparable in employment services and training (Gi Group Holding includes training divisions), but operates more broadly across multiple regions and industries.

Direct peers

• Fondazione Clerici: Lombardy-based ETS providing vocational training and employment services. Closely comparable in delivery model (school + employment services), youth targeting, and European project participation.
• Forema: Bilateral training entity for the construction sector, jointly managed by trade associations. Comparable as a Lombardy employment services and training provider, particularly in B2B apprenticeship and safety training.
• IAL Lombardia: Regional vocational training and employment services body in Lombardy. Closely comparable in IeFP, IFTS, and ITS program offerings, employer intermediation, and public funding dependency.
• AFOL Metropolitana: Public employment and training agency for the metropolitan city of Milan. Directly comparable as a Lombardy-based accredited vocational training and employment services provider serving overlapping employer and job seeker segments.
• CIOFS-FP Lombardia: Catholic vocational training federation with strong Lombardy presence. Directly comparable in IeFP programs, catering to similar youth segments and operating under the same Regione Lombardia accreditation framework.
• Enaip Lombardia: Lombardy branch of one of Italy's largest vocational training networks. Directly comparable in delivering IeFP and post-diploma programs, with overlapping employer networks and similar public funding exposure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazione-le-vele

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Fondazione Le Vele