Schneider Electric's Abrahams to lead iMasons Armed Forces group

David Abrahams of Schneider Electric has been appointed the new Chair of the Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) Armed Forces Meeting Resources Group (MRG). The MRG is a strategic initiative designed to increase the number of military veterans, military spouses, guards, and reservists employed in data centres and digital infrastructure sectors. It aims to raise awareness of career opportunities for veterans while educating the data centre industry about the valuable contributions veterans can make to mission-critical operations.

David Abrahams, who is also a member of the Royal Air Force Reserves, expressed his enthusiasm about his new role. "Being appointed Chair of the iMasons Armed Forces MRG provides us with a valuable opportunity to give back to those who have served for King and country while helping to address the skills shortage by building the data centre workforce of the future," he stated. Abrahams replaces Mike Eytle from Microsoft and will work alongside Lee Kirby, the Executive Chair and Global Sponsor of the Armed Forces MRG.

Abrahams highlights the industry's need for highly experienced technical and operational personnel as the technology sector experiences rapid growth. "The technology industry has a plethora of initiatives underway to help engage with graduates, apprentices and early talent, but is also calling out for highly experienced technical and operational personnel, who can provide a valuable contribution to the ever-growing data centre industry," he noted.

Schneider Electric's appointment of Abrahams aligns with its mission to address the sector's skill shortages, exacerbated by the rise in demand for energy and data centre capacity driven by the growth of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the Uptime Institute, the data centre industry will require 300,000 full-time employee equivalents by 2025 to meet this increased demand.

To combat this skills gap, Schneider Electric has already implemented several digital training programmes, including the Schneider Electric University. This platform is vendor-agnostic and CPD-accredited, providing professional development to help stakeholders stay updated with the latest technology, sustainability, and energy efficiency initiatives. So far, Schneider Electric University has delivered over one million free courses to more than 650,000 professionals from 180 countries.

In addition to Schneider Electric University, the company recently launched the Schneider Electric Training programme, which aims to create a unified approach to training by bringing together specialist academies, courses, and digital campuses. This holistic training programme addresses the complexities associated with digital transformation, covering areas such as AI, automation, infrastructure equipment, power, energy management, safety standards, and regulations.

Abrahams' role with the iMasons Armed Forces MRG also reinforces Schneider Electric’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The company recently initiated a Veterans Transition Program (VTP), which began on 1 July 2024 and aims to introduce skilled veterans into Schneider Electric’s Energy Management business. The 12-month programme, delivered in collaboration with Redeployable, aims to match 5,000 veterans with high-growth tech roles over the next six years. Redeployable’s mission is crucial as the industry sees significant growth.

The Veterans Transition Program includes intensive training designed to help veterans transition into various technical and leadership roles within Schneider Electric's Digital Energy, Secure Power, data centre, and Services businesses. This initiative aims to provide veterans with the skills and experience necessary to contribute to one of the world's most critical sectors.