In Italy, all responsibility for vocational training has been delegated to the regions. At the regional level, three types of training are available: training for work, on-the-job training, and training under special state legislation. No obligation is placed on employers to train the work force. Most worker training is informal and conducted without recourse to any in-company training department. Medium-sized and large companies generally have their own training departments. In-company trainers have many or few functions, depending on the size of the organization. They may be managers, organizers, planners, full-time instructors, or part-time trainers. Channels of access to the training profession include training on the job and institutional training. Within companies, the training section tends to be in the personnel department. No real career process exists for an in-company trainer. The growing tendency is for a streamlined training section that assesses training needs and designs required courses. Training work is provided by outside consultants. At Unilever Italia, training is directed by a training board that consists of a number of managers and the directors of personnel of individual Unilever companies. The board's terms of reference are the analysis of training needs, formulation of annual plans, and supervision. A special feature of the Pirelli Group is that the training process is very extensive, affecting all levels from management to the shop floor. (YLB)