• The Schneider Electric Sustainability School will help SMEs understand what sustainability is, and how to apply principals in practice.
• The three part course is free to access with the first chapter currently open for intake.
• The course will conclude with the final Chapter’s release in early 2024.

As companies shift to more sustainable energy practices a gap is starting to form in the knowledge base of businesses.

While there are experts who can guide businesses in the journey of sustainability, managing these projects internally can save the business money. However, training a person or group of people in a new field can be costly, which is why Schneider Electric has offered a solution.

That solution is the Schneider Electric Sustainability School. This three-part course – that Schneider Electric is calling Chapters – will give businesses the skills and understanding they need to start embracing decarbonisation and sustainable operations.

“Recognising that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lack the knowledge and tools required to establish climate targets, measure impacts such as carbon emissions, and benchmark and disclose progress, the comprehensive training platform is designed to support them in embarking on their decarbonisation journey,” Schneider Electric explained in a press release.

The first Chapter is currently accepting those who want to learn more. This first chapter will cover the basics of sustainability including the science and jargon used. Attendees will also learn why its important to take environmental and social governance (ESG) factors seriously.

The second Chapter will launch in third quarter of this year and will show SMEs how to build a decarbonisation strategy. The final Chapter which will only be made available at the beginning of 2024 will help attendees put what they have learned into practice.

The training was initially used within Schneider Electric to help employees support the needs of the firm’s customer ecosystem. Importantly, the course is free to access.

“The Sustainability School for partners is our big next move to prove that companies can not only do business that is better for the planet but can also fundamentally improve their performance by doing so,” head of partner sustainability at Schneider Electric, Sorouch Kheradmand said in a statement.

While in South Africa sustainability practices are something of a murky subject, there will inevitably come a time when regulators demand that businesses reign in their carbon usage and other unsustainable practices. To that end, many firms are already putting measures in place and SMEs may want to take advantage of Schneider Electric’s offer in preparation for that future.

Besides, with loadshedding not going away, it couldn’t hurt to learn how to be more energy efficient.

[Image – CC 0 Pixabay]