Schneider Electric recently celebrated South Africa’s Youth Day with several exciting and comprehensive initiatives that have seen the company make a tangible difference to the skills development and growth of the country’s youth. This year’s Youth Day theme, ‘Actively embracing the socioeconomic gains of our democracy’, reinforced Schneider Electric’s philosophy of the 3Es: Education, Experience and Exposure.
“We believe this approach covers all-important developmental elements such as business communication, etiquette, organisational skills, basic project management, and time management. Our youth development initiatives focus on various aspects of early career development,” said Nimmita Maharaj, diversity and transformation director for Anglophone Africa.
Additionally, there is a strong technical focus with product training that includes Schneider Electric’s vendor-neutral EcoStruxure IoT architecture, and also client and customer site visits, and commercial exposure in areas like e-commerce and channel marketing.
Every year, as part of its Bursar Programme, Schneider Electric sponsors between 10 and 20 students across various fields, including engineering, computer science, HR, marketing, and commerce. The programme ensures a sustainable talent pipeline, with recruits drawn from a number of diverse tertiary institutions. Schneider Electric is committed to gender equity, maintaining a male-to-female split of 60/40 in its youth programmes. This focus ensures that young women are equally represented and empowered in the industry, particularly in scarce skills such as STEM.
Schneider Electric’s South African offices have over the past five years absorbed the following youngsters into permanent roles:
• 42 graduates from its graduate programme.
• 15 interns who have transitioned into full-time roles.
• 21 learners from business administration learnerships, with another 16 employed by industry peers.
As testament to Schneider Electric’s dedication to youth empowerment and job creation, the company has, in the last year, been recognised with several prestigious awards:
• Job Creation Award at the Top Empowerment Awards by Topco Media.
• Youth Employment Award in the Champion Employer Category, Gold 2023, from the South African Council of Graduates.
• Schneider Electric’s Best Internship Programme for Middle East and Africa (MEA) for its MEA Grad and Intern programme.
Participants in Schneider Electric’s youth programmes benefit from a structured support system that includes buddies and mentors who provide guidance throughout their journey. This mentorship is crucial for fostering personal and professional growth.
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...From ground to compound: the journey of crude oil Wearcheck
News
You’re in for a ‘crude awakening’ when you download WearCheck’s latest Technical Bulletin. You will be treated to an in-depth explanation of the processes of producing oil, fuel and other petrochemical wonders that power our modern lifestyle.
Read more...Buildings in Africa’s urban evolution Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Africa is now an urban continent. How does the continent mobilise to accommodate urban dwellers and maintain and implement critical infrastructure that allows for this expansion? Building management systems provide a tangible solution to optimise resource use, lower operations costs and ultimately contribute to a growing continent that also employs green practices.
Read more...From the editor's desk: Something completely different Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
The Africa Automation Technology Fair is around the corner, and RX Global is ramping up its efforts to make the 2025 exhibition one to remember. More information can be found in their advertisement ...
Read more...Inside the expanded plant at Fuchs Lubricants
News
Fuchs Lubricants South Africa recently introduced customers to its new expanded Isando facility. Manufacturing executive, Thami Mzolo says that it is the most efficient plant built and upgrade he has ever been involved with.
Read more...Justice Malala to talk at exclusive breakfast
News
South Africa’s economic recovery and industrial growth depend on policy reform and business innovation. Few commentators are better placed to explore these challenges than Justice Malala.