As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025 (10-16 February), Molly Cooper spoke with India-Grace Humphries, a second-year sustainability consultant apprentice at Schneider Electric, about her role and what companies can do to encourage more people to join the industry.
India works in legislative and reporting compliance. This helps large corporations regulate their energy consumption in accordance with legislative guidance set out by the government. This could be the ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme), which is mandatory in the UK, or it could be the CCA, (Climate Change Agreement) under the Climate Change Levy, which is a voluntary relief scheme. She is also the chair of the Apprentice Social Committee at Schneider Electric.
How did you start your apprenticeship at Schneider?
IH: I went to college and studied a manufacturing and engineering Level Three BTEC qualification. However, I wanted to pursue a career in the cleaner side of engineering, so I switched from the BTEC and began my A-levels. Yet I still missed that hands-on approach so I began working elsewhere in metal crafting.
A few years ago, I decided to go back to my roots and what I wanted to do – environmental engineering – and that is when I found Schneider Electric. This apprenticeship has helped kick-start my career in sustainability, and from different experiences on the programme, I’ve been able to see a clear career path open up for me.
I’m also a fully remote worker as I initially started working with a European team, this was an option with Schneider due to the equipment they provide at home. It’s incredibly helpful for me as I live in quite a remote area of the UK and commuting to my closest office can take up to three hours!
What have been the most valuable skills you’ve learned so far during your apprenticeship?
In terms of sustainability, I came into it thinking it was just about the environment and climate change, which is important, but I’ve also discovered that there’s a lot more to it. As I study Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) along with my apprenticeship, I’ve been learning about the social and governance side, which has opened my eyes to the vastness of what being sustainable can mean.
Because I didn’t begin as a school leaver, with my previous work experience I already had some skills in analytics and communication. These have been utilised in my apprenticeship but what has surprised me is my leadership skills that I’ve been able to excel in, and I’m proud of that.
Why are apprenticeships important and what advantages do they offer in comparison to a traditional route?
At school, I was great in the classroom, but when it came to a timed exam paper, I felt it never reflected the knowledge I had. By the time I went to college it was recognised that I had some dyslexic tendencies and needed a small room and more time when it came to exams, which did help. However, now in an apprenticeship, I get to showcase my skills in a way that works best for me. I’m working towards the same qualifications as other people but in a way where I can best show my abilities and demonstrate my knowledge.
When we are younger, we are placed into a box where you believe you must go to school, complete your exams and achieve good grades – and everyone is taught to follow that same path. The apprenticeship scheme at Schneider Electric caters for such a diverse portfolio of people, from a range of different ages, that are able to gain the same qualifications, receive an education reflective of their learning style and relevant work experience alongside it.
Apprenticeships are such an important pathway into engineering sectors for those hands-on people.
How does Schneider promote its apprenticeship schemes?
From my experience at Schneider Electric, I’ve seen that the apprenticeship route is available for everyone. Some are older and have started this journey as part of a career change, while others are still teenagers who are just starting out. In the end, we all finish with the same qualifications and have been on the same growth and development journey.
Schneider fosters a collaborative workforce, rather than a competitive one. This allows everyone to be able to communicate freely with one another and work together. With apprentices, this helps build each other up and puts everyone on that same playing field.
Can you explain what being chair of the Apprentice Social Committee within Schneider Electric entails?
The committee was founded in 2023 and enables events and networking for the apprentices at Schneider Electric. As an example, we hosted a quiz for Halloween and covered apprenticeship topics, but we also took it as an opportunity to discuss diversity and inclusion as that time of year is culturally significant for a lot of people.
We also host Q&As and invite ex-apprentices who have progressed within Schneider Electric to talk about their journey and what their expectations are.
As an apprentice, we have an end point assessment, and we talk about the transition after that from an apprentice to a full-time employee. One ex-apprentice explained how they dropped the name ‘apprentice’ towards the end of their apprenticeship, to get them in the mindset of being a full-time employee. This helped them feel more secure in their position.
The committee is about collaborating with one another, learning more about the business and exploring as many networking opportunities as we can.
What would you say to people wanting to join the sector and how can the sector encourage and attract more diverse talent?
Right now, sustainability is growing rapidly, and I’ve had the opportunity to grow with it. Meaning I am entering a field where the current professionals are learning with me, giving myself a huge head start in this sector. As for engineering, it’s of huge benefit for anyone to begin a career in a company which takes sustainability so seriously. Soon, companies will refuse to work with others that are not practicing sustainability, and that could cause major issues for entry to business.
Although I pivoted from engineering to sustainability in an engineering company, I started out in my career because I saw a woman in an engineering role and thought, I could do that. It’s key for companies to showcase their diverse pool of talent to prospective employees. If someone can see someone like them in a role they’re interested in, it can be inspiring – be what you see, as the saying goes.
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