The announcement comes hot-on-the-heels of a successful visit from Amanda Solloway MP, a minister from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to its Coventry Innovation Hub as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024. Minister Solloway was received by a cross-section of Schneider Electric apprentices and took the opportunity to discover more about the various programmes on offer at Schneider Electric, and their leading role in developing and delivering sustainable solutions across industrial, commercial and domestic applications. The Minister also enjoyed a tour of the Innovation Hub before hosting a question-and-answer session with local T-Level students on site to discuss earn-while-you-learn careers at Schneider Electric.
Minister Solloway said: “I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to come here today. It’s been very interesting to meet some of the individuals at Schneider Electric and find out about the different types and levels of apprenticeships, as well as understand from the apprentices themselves about what drives their ambition.
"It’s great to hear the variety of roles and experiences on offer and the support available to try different things and earn-while-you-learn, as you shape your career. It’s inspiring that so many of the apprentices I’ve spoken to are so driven by sustainability and want to take an active role in the green economy. I’ve also had the chance to try my hand in the training academy, though I don’t think Schneider Electric will be taking me on any time soon!”
Dawn Helsby, Early Careers Development Officer – Digital Energy at Schneider Electric and Vice Chair of the National T Level Ambassador Network, said: “Today was a great success as we introduced another group of young people studying for T-Levels to the roles and possibilities of a career at Schneider Electric. It’s obvious how much the T-Level students gain from meeting and talking with our apprentices, who are able to explain the different pathways to a career in engineering that are supported by our programmes.
"There can be no better advert for the value of apprenticeships than meeting a group of energised, dedicated and professional apprentices who are so clearly excited about their own careers and their contribution to a better future of the planet. The event has made me even more excited to be launching an expanded programme in 2024”
As a partner of choice for businesses on the journey to NetZero, the company itself has ambitious plans of reaching NetZero by 2035 and helping its customers remove a combined 800 million tonnes of carbon from their operations in the same timeframe.
Kas Mohammed continues, “We know that the world is relying on engineers and technology to help shape a sustainable future - and that the challenges this represents will only be met by a diverse, highly skilled and highly motivated workforce. Inspiring and shaping that workforce is already happening and we’re immensely proud of our apprentices and grateful for what they bring to our teams.”
Ellie Bamfeild is a Digital Energy Technical Apprentice in her 4th Year Degree Apprenticeship, learning about Building Energy Management Systems in Schneider Electric. Her experience offers a fantastic view into the life of a modern apprentice. During her apprenticeship, she has been placed in various locations across the country and has worked on a wide variety of customer sites, including football stadiums, commercial office buildings, and historic sites such as Tower Bridge, The London Guildhall and the 02 Arena. Being exposed to such a wide variety of sites and plant equipment has enabled Ellie to become a more proficient engineer, preparing her for a full-time engineering role when she completes her apprenticeship program in September this year.
Ellie is a member of the Schneider Electric Apprentice Social Committee, as well as the company’s netball and rounders teams, and regularly networks with others throughout the company at monthly Women in Engineering meetings and Digital Energy Engagement Group meetings.
Ellie was recently shortlisted for the Building Controls Industry Association Apprentice of the Year for 2024 and is very enthusiastic about the benefits of an apprenticeship at Schneider Electric. She said: “It was great to meet Minister Solloway today and tell her about our experiences as apprentices, and I love sharing my experience with T-Level students, as it was not long ago that I was in a similar position to them and I’m so proud and happy with my journey since then. I’m not at all surprised that we hosted a Minister at today’s event as I know how passionate people at Schneider Electric are about the programme here, I hope that this sort of event helps raise awareness of the benefits of apprenticeships both to young people studying for T-Levels and considering career options and to a wider audience.”
Kas Mohammed, Vice President, Digital Energy at Schneider Electric, said: “I’d like to thank Minister Solloway for making time to come and visit our Coventry Innovation Hub today and hear first-hand about our fantastic apprenticeship programmes from a handful of our apprentices. It’s impossible to overstate the importance that we place on skills and supporting the future of the industrial workplace.
"This is evidenced by days like today when we open our doors to a cohort of T-Level students and offer them some insight into the kinds of apprenticeships and careers that are available, speak to existing apprentices on their experiences as well as a chance to get hands-on with real technology. It’s key that companies across the industry continue to invest in supporting these programmes that will develop careers over the next few decades”
T-Level student Thomas Carter is in year two of his engineering design & manufacture course. He said: “I’ve really enjoyed the day, it’s been really engaging, we got to try things in the training centre and learned a lot about sustainability in buildings and industrial settings. Things that I never thought I would be interested in, but I am! I can imagine myself working at a company like Schneider Electric in the future and being the person who makes the difference.
"It was good to meet Minister Solloway too – she seems to be a busy lady, and I’m glad she came to recognise young people doing something with their lives. Being heard as a young person is so important, our opinions matter and when it comes to sustainability, our future is at stake.”
