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At 21 years old, Kshamya Mittal is already shaping the future of manufacturing. As a level 6 apprentice in IT data analysis at Schneider Electric’s Leeds plant, she is gaining a full undergraduate degree while building an impressive track record of achievements in one of the world’s most innovative engineering firms.
Pictured above (front right) at the West Yorkshire launch of the Made Smarter programme, Kshamya is part of the new generation who are choosing apprenticeships as a pathway to professional success— combining academic study with real-world, hands-on experience. Her work helps power some of the country’s most vital infrastructure, with the Leeds site producing low and medium-voltage switchgear that distributes electricity to hospitals, schools, and industrial sites across the UK.
Originally from India, Kshamya moved to the UK just six years ago, completed her GCSEs and A-levels here, and made the deliberate choice to pursue a degree apprenticeship over a traditional university route. For her, the decision was rooted in practicality and ambition.
“Apprenticeships give you the best of both worlds,” says Kshamya, who has been nominated for awards for both Next Gen UK and Make UK. “I’m gaining a full degree, but I’m also working every day in a real business environment, learning on the job and contributing to projects that matter. It has accelerated my learning far beyond what I could have imagined.”
Now two years into her three-and-a-half-year programme, Kshamya’s development has been exceptional. Her academic work has included project management, data visualisation, and data maintenance, while her practical contributions at Schneider Electric have had a measurable impact on business operations.
She’s helped transform the supply chain team’s cost analysis processes, turning previously time-consuming tasks into instant insights, and developed a custom tool for the Telford sales team that helps make key data on salaries and incentives more accessible and actionable.
Kshamya’s technical skills, especially in business intelligence and data visualisation, have positioned her as a rising star within the company. She is the Leeds plant’s only certified expert in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and she maintains and develops a suite of Tableau dashboards that support critical decision-making across departments. She is also leading a cross-site project in collaboration with Schneider Electric’s Telford facility, a role that speaks to her growing influence and leadership potential.
While her achievements are impressive, Kshamya is open about the challenges she’s faced along the way, particularly as a young woman entering a traditionally male-dominated industry. She was the only female candidate among eight finalists for her apprenticeship role and starting out as a teenager in a largely male, largely senior team wasn’t always easy.
“It can be daunting,” she says. “You’re very aware of being the youngest, of being one of the few women in the room. But I learned to trust myself, to remember that I earned my place and that I bring something valuable to the team. The support from my colleagues has been brilliant, but self-belief is essential.”
Kshamya’s story is one of perseverance and purpose. Alongside her apprenticeship, she has earned project management certification from IBM, completed multiple internal Schneider Electric training programmes, and was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award in 2025, for which she now serves as an ambassador. She is also a passionate advocate for STEM education and regularly volunteers for outreach and recruitment events to inspire the next generation, especially girls and young women, into manufacturing and technical careers.
For Kshamya, the apprenticeship model has been transformative. “I’ve already had so many opportunities here at Schneider Electric, and I know there are more ahead. Choosing a degree apprenticeship gave me the chance to grow fast, work on real problems, and get a head start in my career. This has been the best possible foundation.”