Prysmian Group invests in education

The world's largest cable manufacturer, Prysmian Group, has set up a commendable new social project. The project grew out of Prysmian Group’s Side by Side program, which is dedicated to making sure each employee has equal access to opportunities, showing how Prysmian Group is committed to promoting a business model that integrates economic, social and environmental responsibility in all its aspects and activities.

Smart Kids has recently opened its doors and offers the little ones exceptional educational conditions: bright and spacious classrooms, modern furnishings and an attractive indoor playground. What's more, the children of Prysmian employees here also benefit from a generous playground with playgrounds and a farm with domestic animals to look after. The children appreciated all these facilities from day one and had a great time at the kindergarten: they played and had fun, and enjoyed their peers and the friendly teaching staff. The project supported by Prysmian Group is unique in Romania, as Smart Kids is the only kindergarten that offers children the opportunity to learn about animals and the environment directly from the farm on a daily basis. Also, the teaching activities promoted in the kindergarten are based on outdoor learning, using natural materials, so that the little ones develop not only their knowledge but also their practical skills.

Another basic principle of education at Smart Kids is to encourage each child to do what they enjoy, but under the close supervision of a teacher, so that they can acquire knowledge in all areas in an enjoyable way.

First day at preschool

In September 1, 35 children ages 2 to 6 had their first day at a preschool in Slatina, Romania, where teachers and a nurse welcomed them with games, music, and schoolyard “pet therapy” with goats, rabbits, chickens and even a horse. They ate in the cafeteria, and the youngest ones took naps afterward. The children all have one thing in common: their parents are among the 1,200 people who work at Prysmian Group’s factory across the road. The preschool was developed by the Human Resources team at Slatina, Prysmian Group’s largest factory in Europe.

“On the first day, the kids were a little uncertain,” recalls Dario Rugge, HR Director of the Plant. “But by the end of the day, they didn’t want to leave.”

Dario didn’t set out to create a preschool when he arrived in Slatina nearly two years ago. He simply started to listen to what Slatina’s staff told him they needed. The preschool grew out Prysmian’s Side by Side diversity and inclusion program, which aims to create a workplace where everyone has access to the same opportunities. Work-life balance is a challenge for parents with small children everywhere. But at Slatina, there is a lack of preschools, and even public facilities are too expensive, workers there told Dario. And the factory’s location in an industrial park, combined with short preschool hours, made it difficult for parents to use them even if they could afford to.

It was clear to Dario that solving this problem was a priority, given that about one-third of the factory’s employees are women – one of the highest levels for any Prysmian Group plant. Back in March, he started to work on finding the space, vetting the education provider, getting legal advice, and taking out the necessary insurance policies. Prysmian pays the preschool’s fees, and parents make a small contribution. The preschool is open year-round and has facilities for events like birthday parties and other courses.

“Side by Side is based on a principle of providing a multi-cultural workplace, that encourages women, that is inclusive, where everyone from diverse backgrounds can take part,” says Dario. “This goes for every plant. In Slatina the top priorities involved work life balance, education, and health. The needs in each plant are different.”

Side by Side’s emphasis on social responsibility is consistent with Prysmian’s Sustainability Policy, which has identified three strategic priorities with three strategic pillars: developing and implementing sustainable and innovative solutions for the business; using energy and natural resources responsibly; and supporting the development of people and communities.

“Sustainability is a key part of our business model,” says Prysmian Chief Operating Officer Andrea Pirondini. “Our work at Slatina shows how we integrate Environmental, Social and Governance goals into our everyday work.”

Supporting the work life balance at the Slatina plant is therefore part of Prysmian’s sustainability goals, and so is working with the community. From his conversations with workers, Dario knew that leisure time options in this industrial city of 70,000 people are scarce. Slatina has two professional sports teams: men’s football, and women’s handball. The women’s team represents the city in Romania’s top handball league. Guess which one Prysmian Group sponsored?

Prysmian Group now supplies the CSM Slatina women’s handball team with jerseys, equipment, and transport. In exchange, it receives 50 tickets to each week’s match, which it awards as incentives for the plant’s safety or production programs. Now there is a sort of friendly contest to see who will win the tickets for this week’s match.

“Our people are at the core of what we do,” says Chief HR officer Fabrizio Rutschmann. “Helping them achieve a better work-life balance and giving back to the community is one of the ways we become a ‘best place to work’.”