Richemont has undertaken a number of initiatives which emphasise the importance the Group attaches to creativity and the development of new talent.
Notable this year is the development of the Creative Academy in Milan under Richemont's patronage. The first intake of students was in 2004, with students following one of two complementary paths leading to the award of Master of Arts degrees in either Creative Design or Creative Management. Students are required to have completed an undergraduate degree in business, graphics, fashion or jewellery design and preference is given to applicants with previous work experience in these areas. Special emphasis is placed on the integration of the theoretical aspects of the course with concrete design projects. Executives from across the Group are involved in the programme, as are experts in various fields from outside the Group.
In terms of its watchmaking activities, Maisons within Richemont are actively involved in the training of apprentices, who train for Swiss government-certified qualifications. These training courses embrace the whole range of watchmaking skills, covering the manufacture of watch movements, stone setting, polishing and cutting. Training lasts between two to four years, depending on the speciality chosen, linked to extended practical experience in the industry. During the year under review, the Group had some 100 watchmaking apprentices working in its manufacturing operations in Switzerland and at Glashütte in Germany.
Richemont's jewellery Maisons are built on the heritage of design and craftsmanship and these companies continue to invest in the development of new craftsmen and women.
Opened in Paris in 2002, L'Institut Joaillerie de Cartier has as its objective the perpetuation and further development of the jeweller's skill-set at the highest possible level. Through the jewellery institute, Cartier seeks to allow the most talented young jewellers a special, in-depth apprenticeship, learning from some of the world's most skilled craftsmen. The institute also enables those skilled jewellers to build on their experience, refining further their skills and developing new techniques.
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