Schneider Electric has unveiled its new Schneider Electric Training programme in response to the digital skills gap facing the UK and Ireland.

The programme will cover emerging trends like AI, the automation of machinery and equipment, innovations in power and energy management, as well as issues such as safety standards and regulations. The training is designed to provide customers, partners, and engineers with a single point of access to a wide range of training and resources.

The programme will be delivered via several specialist academies for in-person courses and a digital campus offering on-demand courses for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) via the mySchneider portal. 

Two academies are currently live, with three more scheduled to launch by the end of the year.  

The Safety Academy in Telford offers Schneider Electric and professional training courses to ensure the safe operation of electrical equipment and site safety, including Competent Person certification and City & Guilds assured Authorised Person training. 

The Automation Academy in Coventry covers Schneider Electric’s automation portfolio, taking students from basic product understanding through to advanced programming of both legacy and current technology, including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Variable Speed Drives (VSD), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Motion Control and Robotics.  

“Organisations are becoming more dependent on their electrical backbone to support operations, digital transformation, automation, and manufacturing. Electrical engineers and their specialist expertise are critical to the installation, safety, and maintenance of this electrical infrastructure,” said David Pownall, VP Services at Schneider Electric UK and Ireland.  

“There is an urgent need to build skills to embrace new technologies, drive modernisation, improve performance, reduce downtime, and comply with changing safety regulations. Not only that, but training is critical to career enhancement and a key foundation of a positive employee experience, attracting and retaining people when we’re facing a significant skills gap crisis.

“Smarter engineers, equipped with the skills needed today and a clear development path to build expertise for the future, make for smarter businesses.”