The adventure of Marco Segatta at the helm of the Trentino artisans’ association is about to end. After a cycle that lasted seven years, his second mandate is now coming to an end and, in all likelihood, his successor will be Andrea De Zordo, only candidate for president. But before starting a new life, the outgoing president Marco Segatta wanted to retrace the steps of his long journey.
President Segatta, how do you evaluate your journey at the helm of the Trentino artisans’ association?
«The balance is certainly positive. Unfortunately, we have had to work daily in an emergency, having to face various difficulties in recent years: the Vaia storm, the pandemic, the shortage of labor and the increase in energy and raw material costs. We needed immediate answers, which is why we dedicated ourselves less to planning. But now the craft sector is healthy.”
So can we say that his successor will find a good starting point?
“Certainly. However, there are critical issues to address, such as the increase in interest rates, the difficulty in finding labor and generational change. At the moment the average age of artisans is over fifty. My wish for my successor is to find “normality” in the coming years, to start a project also made up of investments.”
Returning to your journey, what was the most important goal you achieved in these seven years?
«The greatest satisfaction is that of having managed to create a relaxed and collaborative climate within the council. Sometimes, despite having different opinions, we still managed to all row on the same side.”
Are there any regrets too?
«We certainly haven’t been able to involve members in our activities. There are fewer and fewer delegates and attendance at meetings is low. Over the last twenty years this problem has grown more and more, but we have not yet been able to find the solution. We live in a digital age where it is necessary to recover human relationships.”
On the one hand there are the critical issues, but on the other the strengths. The data regarding female employment in the world of Trentino craftsmanship are encouraging…
“Absolutely yes. Of the total artisan businesses, 18.2% are run by women. But the data is encouraging if we consider the various age groups. Female businesses between 18 and 29 years old are 21.4%, between 30 and 49 years old are 21.8% and over fifty years old are 14.5%. This means that women owners of artisan businesses are present at a young age. Furthermore, there is also a strong influence on jobs usually considered male: female employment in car repairs is 21.8%, in construction 23.7% and in the mechanical sector 19.3%”.
During the last general assembly of the artisans, there was a lot of talk about the search for sustainability also from a social point of view. In this sense, you spoke of the need to review welfare contracts to facilitate employees. What is meant?
«The artisan business is sustainable in all aspects. What is missing is being able to document what is done to facilitate collaborators. Let me explain better: it can happen that an employee ends his shift early because he has to go and pick up his child from nursery. This flexibility is present in artisan businesses but the right way must be found to demonstrate these situations without imposing a large bureaucratic burden. We are working on this but it will take some time.”
A very current topic is artificial intelligence. Do you have any doubts about the development of this technology or do you believe that it could also be an added value for craftsmanship?
«Undoubtedly it is an added value if you can manage it. Craftsmanship comes from the hands and creativity is given by man, not by a machine. Bricklayers, electricians and carpenters can be helped by artificial intelligence, but they cannot be replaced. This technology could undermine some categories such as communication and photography. I’m not saying they will disappear but they will have to transform themselves to carry out the activity in a different way.”
What do you think of the projects related to the railway bypass and the future hospital? Can they also be a development engine for the Trentino crafts sector?
«In the meantime, let’s say that the need to do both works is increasingly felt. The undergrounding of the railway would improve the entire territory of the Municipality of Trento. It is also an important job from an economic point of view, therefore not suitable for artisan businesses. However, there will also be a return for our sector: our companies will be involved in subcontracting and maintenance work. If we put together small jobs for many artisans, a significant sum could also come out for the entire sector. There was certainly a delay on the hospital, but it is a structure that we absolutely need. This work could also offer work to our artisan businesses, considering the latest news regarding the 110% Superbonus.”
Do you want to explain?
«In recent days, Economy Minister Giorgetti has eliminated the possibility for apartment owners to benefit from the transfer of credit and the discount on the invoice. Therefore, in the near future with the end of the superbonus, the construction chain may run into some difficulties.”
Now that he will no longer be president of the Artisans Association, what will Marco Segatta do?
«I will simply be a pensioner and a grandfather. My daughter has a five month old baby waiting for me. Grandparents are a precious value for young families and I can’t wait to spend a lot of time with my grandson.”
