UNIVA: “The recovery will start with young people and families”

“In order to get out of this impasse, we have to play a social role, and we have to risk a bit more.” The change from a business role to a social role is a big one. It is nothing new, because the statement of Giovanni Brugnoli, the chairman of the Varese Union of Industrialists (UNIVA), who was joined, during the start of year press conference, by the chief executive Vittorio Gandini, marked the start of the metamorphosis announced by his predecessor, Michele Graglia. The direction of UNIVA’s change is towards the most difficult areas at this point in time: young people, families and, of course, businesses. Finally, it is not the same old broken record of infrastructure and the things that are missing that we are hearing. Change begins first in the minds of people, and then in the choices made on the ground by those with the power to make them. However, the change will not be simple. And it is no accident that Brugnoli repeated the phrase, “We have to make radical changes.” As if to say, playing a social role doesn’t come naturally, but the current situation forces us to make a real, concrete and tangible change.

UNIVA began with the figures, which had been processed and commented on by Giulia Grazioli. Despite the negative effect of the crisis, Varese manufacturing has held out. In the final quarter of 2011, there was a stalemate, accompanied by a fall in exports to the Euro zone (particularly to Greece, Portugal, Spain and France), even though Varese companies had long ago redefined their trade routes towards non-European countries, to the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), in particular.

At the core of production, there is still the engineering sector, which registered over €4 billion in exports. Next come the chemical-pharmaceutical sector (€744 million), rubber and plastic materials (€594 million), and textiles and clothing (€593 million). The trade balance between imports and exports is + €2 billion, which confirms the marked internationalisation of Varese’s economy.

While waiting to emerge from this situation, the industrialists have decided to support regional welfare. Brugnoli explained, “The UNIVA Board has set aside €100 million to start up the young people’s project, which provides a period of paid work experience, in member companies, for 50 young people up to the age of 28. An announcement will be made on our website, and young people will be able to send in their CVs.” Furthermore, the industrialists want to establish an agreement, involving trade unions, that will increase the opportunity for companies to exploit fixed-term contracts, to be able to employ students during school breaks. If we add to all of this the “Industry Generation” project, which was started by UNIVA a few months ago, it is clear how necessary it is for businessmen to approach schools, which are too detached from the economy.

Reconciling time with the family with time at work is another important part of the active policies that UNIVA wishes to develop. “We’ve set ourselves the goal of reaching a regional agreement that makes initiatives available that support employees in the purchasing of services, such as babysitting, baby parking, summer centres and home-help centres,” Brugnoli continued. Alongside this, it is necessary to help companies to internationalise. Brugnoli spoke about “viral contacts”, that is, those who are already successfully present in foreign markets can be an example for others. UNIVA is going to involve about forty companies that do not yet have any experience outside Italy, in missions abroad. “But please note,” Brugnoli points out, “this has got nothing to do with relocating, but with increasing the field of action of Varese companies, without harming the levels of employment in the area.” In order to deal with international markets, companies need a “critical mass”. So, to avoid failure, it is best not done alone. And here, the company networks can help. “We decided to take action even before the legislator,” added Vittorio Gandini. “Just consider the Energy Cluster, or the Lombardy Aerospace Industry. The networks constitute an opportunity, and UNIVA is willing to provide all the necessary support to companies that choose this option.”

Throughout this discussion, a point of great uncertainty remains, one that is possibly the most important for companies: the difficulty to access credit. And you cannot go anywhere without money. “At the moment,” Brugnoli concluded, “banks are trying to recover their loans. We want a better understanding, given that the ECB has flooded the system with liquidity. We’re planning concrete actions that will restart direct dialogue with the banks in the region.”