About Dirextra

Dirextra is a UK-based international training and consultancy company specialised in engineering, construction and infrastructure. Founded in 2003, we have been supporting professionals and companies in the sector for over two decades.

Dirextra Ltd provides professional development programmes and cultural experiences designed to enhance international competence, but it does not offer formal education or UK-accredited qualifications.

Today, our programmes also embrace experiential tourism and cultural engagement, offering participants the opportunity to combine learning with discovery. From professional briefings and company meetings to hospitality and cocktail masterclasses in Manchester, every Dirextra experience is designed to connect people, knowledge and culture across borders.

🏢 Who We Are

Our headquarters and legal base are located in Manchester, United Kingdom.

In the UK, Dirextra organises short-term professional and cultural experiences, including wine, hospitality and cocktail masterclasses, as part of its experiential learning and tourism initiatives.

We also design and coordinate the Dirextra Industry Briefing Series, an international programme developed in partnership with Italian engineering and construction companies. These programmes combine professional briefings, company presentations and cultural activities, forming the first phase of a structured pathway that continues with guaranteed work placements outside the United Kingdom — mainly in Italy and other EU countries. Each edition of the briefing takes place in a different European city, such as Rome, Catania, Milan, Manchester, Malta and Brussels.

All professional and corporate training for public authorities and companies is delivered online in Italian, through live videoconference sessions dedicated exclusively to the Italian market.

We also operate in Italy with a branch office in Rome (Via Lima 7)

🧭 What We Do

• Dirextra Alta Formazione – Professional training in public procurement, project management and infrastructure, delivered online in Italian for Italian public authorities and private companies.

  All courses are designed for the Italian market and focus on technical and regulatory topics specific to Italy.

  We also provide third-party certifications in the field of public procurement, such as BIM Specialist, BIM Coordinator and BIM Manager, issued by accredited Italian bodies.

• Dirextra Industry Briefing Series – Eight-month international programmes combining short professional sessions, cultural experiences and company presentations, held in different European cities depending on the edition (Rome, Milan, Catania, Manchester, Malta, Brussels).

  The second phase includes a five-month internship or work placement with Italian sponsor companies, which offer professional opportunities outside the United Kingdom, mainly in Italy and other EU countries.

• EIPASS Online Certifications and Professional Courses (in Italian) – IT and language certifications delivered in partnership with Certipass, entirely online and directed to the Italian market.

• 🍷 Dirextra Wine & Cocktail School – Bartender courses, experiential masterclasses, tastings and hospitality activities in Manchester (UK), combining learning, culture and tourism.

🌐 Our Mission

At Dirextra, our mission is to bridge the gap between education, culture and real-world experience.

We are committed to:

• Delivering innovative, experiential and cross-industry learning experiences that connect people, culture and professional growth

• Promoting excellence in technical and professional training across the infrastructure and hospitality sectors

• Creating career opportunities for young professionals, in collaboration with leading Italian companies (all opportunities take place outside the United Kingdom)

• Supporting Italian public authorities and Italian private enterprises with specialist knowledge and consultancy

🤝 Our Sponsoring Companies

Since the very first edition of our master programme in 2003, Dirextra has been supported by leading Italian construction and engineering companies operating in Italy and abroad.

For over 23 years, we have been providing these companies with qualified professionals trained through our programmes, who are then employed in projects and job placements outside the United Kingdom, mainly in Italy and other international locations.

💼 Our Clients

We have worked with over 300 Italian public authorities and private companies through our online professional training programmes.

Our clients include:

University of Florence, Regione Abruzzo, GESAC, Province of Piacenza, Trenitalia, Infrarail, Banca d’Italia, Comune di Terracina, Webuild, Ghella, Rizzani de Eccher, Cociv, Speri, IREN, Techfem, Aria, Mavi, Autostrade del Brennero, Tecnimont, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Arcadis, Techne, De Sanctis Costruzioni, ICOP.

📅 Our Journey

📍 April 2003 – Foundation of Dirextra in Catania, Italy

🎓 September 2003 – Launch of the first master edition in Catania

🏗️ 2006 – Expansion to Rome with the third master edition

⚖️ 2009 – Introduction of short professional courses and legal training in public procurement (Italy)

🇬🇧 2013 – Establishment of an international coordination office in London

🏫 2016 – Relocation of the company’s registered headquarters to Manchester (UK)

🌍 2016–2019 – Dirextra International Briefing Series held in Manchester (UK) with Italian sponsoring companies

🇲🇹 2019 – International briefing edition organised in Malta

🌍 2020–2021 – Briefing Series held in Manchester and Catania

🍸 2021 – Launch of Dirextra Wine & Cocktail School in Manchester (UK), offering experiential masterclasses and hospitality programmes

💻 2022–2025 – All professional and public training delivered fully online (Italian market)

🌍 2025 – Next International Briefing Edition scheduled in Manchester (UK)

🇧🇪 2026 – Following edition planned in Brussels (Belgium)

📸 Our People

A look inside our world: moments from our professional briefings, cultural experiences, company events and international collaborations.