A new space dedicated to inclusive, multidisciplinary sports is set to open in Novara, where an abandoned building—the former swimming pool at the “Stefano Dal Lago” Sports Hall—will be redeveloped and repurposed. The project is being supported by Esseco Group, a historic Italian industrial company with over a century of history and a presence in San Martino di Trecate since 1969.
Unanimously approved by the Novara City Council in its session on October 3, the project has reached a new milestone with the signing of a 20-year agreement with the local sports association, Polisportiva San Giacomo. This initiative directly responds to a long-standing need voiced by an organization that has played a key role in inclusive sports in the area: to have suitable facilities where young people and adults with disabilities can practice sports in a safe, accessible, and dignified environment.
In response to this need—and thanks to the support of local institutions and the city administration—Esseco Group chose not to build a new facility, but instead to restore and give new life to an existing, unused public building. This decision avoids further land consumption and gives sustainable value to a structure of great symbolic importance. The result will be a fully accessible, energy-efficient gym open to the public, designed to host sports activities, school programs, community events, and inclusive initiatives.
The two group companies based in the area—Esseco Srl, active in the inorganic chemical sector, and Enartis, a global leader in winemaking solutions—will contribute over 2 million euros to the project, which has a total investment of 4.4 million euros, including 1.95 million euros in public funding from the City of Novara.
“This initiative stems from a clear intention of Esseco Group’s shareholders, driven by the desire to meet a real need in the local community with a gesture of value and long-term vision,” says Francesco Nulli, CEO of Esseco Group. “Our Group, both directly and through its industrial and commercial subsidiaries, has long supported sports—especially inclusive sports—with discretion and continuity. Once again, we let our values, our results, and above all the power of inclusion speak for themselves.”
The new gym is part of Esseco Group’s long-standing commitment to the social dimension of ESG. This commitment begins with the well-being of its employees—who received a 5% pay increase on top of what is required by the national collective agreement—and extends to the communities in which the Group operates through continuous and tangible investments. Notable examples include the soon-to-be-completed municipal stadium in Saline di Volterra, Tuscany, and a number of local social initiatives, such as those in the Ossola region. This dedication remains steadfast even amid the ongoing crisis in the European chemical industry, which continues to challenge the strength and resilience of companies in the sector.
“We believe in corporate responsibility expressed through action. This project is, first and foremost, a gesture of giving back to a community where we’ve operated for over fifty years,” Nulli concludes. “Inclusive sports are one of the most powerful tools for building cohesion, respect, and opportunity—and our shareholders are committed to continuing to support it through concrete actions.”
Special thanks go to the local institutions, the City of Novara, and Polisportiva San Giacomo for their commendable and passionate work in the social sphere, which they have carried out with dedication for many years. Esseco is proud to support them and will continue to stand by their side in this important initiative.
