A program that strengthens the development of key skills and connects young talent with the realities of the Valencian business environment

Following our participation in the Skills UP program at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), we attended the closing ceremony of its sixth edition, which marked the conclusion of an initiative aimed at connecting university talent with the business world and strengthening the development of key professional skills.

During the event, participants faced new challenges designed to put into practice skills such as communication, organization, teamwork, and leadership**,** skills they have developed throughout the program and which are becoming increasingly relevant in the professional environment.

Through various activities, students honed their adaptability, creativity, and decision-making abilities, applying these skills to real-world business scenarios.

This practical approach was one of the aspects most valued by participants, as it allowed them to move beyond the traditional academic setting and engage with dynamics typical of everyday professional life.

In this regard, Ana Mª Sánchez Escribano, People Director at Factor, notes that “initiatives like this allow students to better understand what the industry demands today, beyond technical knowledge, and to develop key competencies for their transition into the professional world.”

Participation in Skills UP is part of Factor’s commitment to developing young talent and fostering connections between universities and businesses. Initiatives like this allow students to gain firsthand insight into how an industrial company operates, understand current sector challenges, and develop key skills for their professional future.

The experience once again highlights that, beyond technical knowledge, the industry requires professionals with a global perspective, capable of understanding processes, working in teams, communicating effectively, and adapting to demanding and changing environments.

Factor remains committed to these types of initiatives, which help strengthen the link between universities and companies and prepare the professionals who will shape the industry in the coming years. The company would also like to thank the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Integrated Employment Service (SIE) for organizing this program and providing the opportunity to participate, as well as FEMEVAL for facilitating Factor’s participation.

The session gave students insight into the professional reality of the industrial sector.

Factor recently participated in an employability workshop for students in the Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), organized by the university’s Integrated Employment Service. The session was led by Ana Mª Sánchez Escribano, Director of People, and focused on guiding students regarding their professional future in the fields of engineering and the industrial sector.

During the session, topics such as career opportunities in the industrial sector, the profiles most in demand by companies, the skills required to enter the job market, and potential career paths within an industrial company were discussed, both through internships and employment opportunities.

The goal of these initiatives is to bring the professional world closer to the academic environment and to help students understand how companies operate, how work teams are organized, and what skills are necessary to build a career in industry.

In this regard, Ana Mª Sánchez, Director of People, noted that “it is important for students to understand how companies operate from the inside, what types of candidates the industry needs today, and what skills are important beyond technical training. Attitude, willingness to learn, teamwork, and the ability to adapt to an industrial environment are key aspects of professional development”.

For Factor, collaboration with universities and training centers is an important part of its activity, as it allows the company to bring the reality of industry closer to students and raise awareness of career opportunities in the industrial sector.

“We believe that the connection between universities and companies is essential for preparing future professionals and for the development of the industrial sector, which is why we will continue to collaborate in these types of initiatives aimed at students and young engineers”, concluded Ana Mª Sánchez.

Initiatives like this strengthen collaboration between universities and companies and help bring the academic world closer to the reality of the industrial sector.

Students from IES Molí del Sol and Colegio Nuestra Señora de Monte-Sión visit the facilities to learn about the workings of an industrial company and its professional opportunities

Factor recently welcomed students from various educational centres with the aim of bringing the industrial reality closer to students at different stages of their education and awakening technical vocations from an early age. This initiative reinforces the commitment to training young talent.

Specifically, the visit took place with vocational training students in Mechanical Manufacturing from IES Molí del Sol, as well as 1st and 2nd year Baccalaureate students from Colegio Nuestra Señora de Monte-Sión as part of the Dualiza Vocations Project, promoted by CaixaBank and channelled by FEMEVAL. In both cases, the visits were carried out with small groups of around 15 students for safety reasons, allowing direct contact with the different processes and areas of the company.

A comprehensive tour of the industrial reality

The visits were coordinated by the Human Resources department and followed a common structure designed to give students an overview of how an industrial company operates. In the first phase, Ana María Sánchez, Director of Human Resources, presented the company and its working model.

This was followed by a guided tour of the different departments - Innovation, Sales, Engineering, Production and Quality. The students were accompanied by engineers Alejandro Ibáñez and Francisco Rodríguez. 

During the tour, special emphasis was placed on the different training pathways—vocational training and university—that lead to key profiles within the industry, as well as on the value of continuous training and the professional opportunities offered by the sector.

The visit ended with a brief evaluation survey, accessible via QR code, which provided first-hand insight into how the students had found the experience.

Inspiring vocations and supporting talent development

The main objective of these actions is to spark the interest of young people who are still defining their academic and professional future, directly showing them the diversity of profiles that coexist within the same industrial company and the real development opportunities offered by the metal sector, as well as the possibility of undertaking training internships.

‘We firmly believe in the value of these direct contacts with industry. Seeing the processes in operation, meeting the teams and understanding how a company is organised helps students make more informed decisions about their future,’ says Ana María Sánchez, who emphasises that these visits are part of an ongoing commitment to training and attracting talent in the medium and long term.

People at the heart of the Factor project

Beyond raising awareness of production processes, the visits allow students to experience Factor's corporate culture, which is based on caring for people as the cornerstone of business growth. The physical and emotional well-being of the team is part of this vision, with initiatives aimed at promoting health, participation and motivation.

‘Caring for people is much more than offering good working conditions: it means accompanying them, listening to them and creating spaces where they can grow, develop and feel part of a common project. Well-being cannot be improvised; it is built every day with small actions, empathy and commitment,’ says Ana María Sánchez.

These types of initiatives help to strengthen the connection between business and education, promoting training and bringing real opportunities closer to the younger generations.

A distinction that highlights leadership in business growth

Factor has been selected as one of the CEPYME500 companies, a distinction awarded annually by the Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CEPYME) to the 500 Spanish companies with the greatest potential for growth, projection and impact on the national productive fabric.

The awards ceremony took place at the Madrid Stock Exchange, in an event that brought together representatives from around a hundred companies selected in this edition. Fernando Gastaldo Lázaro, CEO of Factor, was responsible for collecting the award on behalf of the company.

"For Factor, this recognition is an incentive to continue advancing with technical rigour, a vision for the future and a commitment to adding value to Spanish industry", said Fernando Gastaldo.

Factor's inclusion in CEPYME500 highlights our commitment to innovation and industrial excellence, the result of a fully integrated value chain that ranges from R&D&I and product design to advanced manufacturing. This model allows us to continue growing steadily, boosting industrial competitiveness and generating quality employment.

At Factor, we are grateful for this recognition, as well as for the efforts of our entire team and the trust placed in us by our customers and partners. These are essential elements for continuing to advance our goal: to develop high-value industrial solutions with precision, technology and proximity.