From aerospace to manufacturing, today’s leaders are no longer just providers of products. They are long-term partners involved in every phase of the customer journey, from design and deployment to diagnostics, support, and, increasingly, training.
Across industries, the way companies serve their customers is being redefined. Training has become a critical part of how companies reduce risk, ensure operational results, and build trust with those who rely on their technologies.
In many sectors, performance depends as much on human precision as on technological advancement:
These approaches reflect a shared belief that strong customer experience comes not only from great products, but from the ability of people to apply them correctly, consistently, and along the whole value chain, from the start to the end. Up-skilling is even more relevant in the energy sector.
As the global push for decarbonization accelerates, electrification has become the backbone of energy systems. Power networks today must integrate renewable energies and always more decentralized generation, leading to bi-directional flows and intermittent production. In the meantime, electrification and new customer needs are growing (electrical vehicules, heat pumps, AI development and related construction of datacenters, electro intensive industries…).
Grids must therefore be modernized and become Smarter. They also have to become more resilient against extreme weather events. Their vulnerability against human errors during installation has become more critical than ever.
According to ENTSO-E, more than 60 percent of Europe’s grid components are over 40 years old. In this context, the margin for error is shrinking. A single installation mistake can affect reliability, safety, and customer satisfaction, leading to delays, warranty claims, and long-term service costs.
The numbers speak for themselves:
These are not design flaws. They are execution problems. And they are preventable.
One of the root causes is a growing global shortage of qualified professionals in the grid sector. Across the energy industry, there is a bottleneck in the availability of skilled technicians able to install and maintain increasingly complex grid systems. This talent gap affects not only speed of deployment but also safety and long-term performance of states and industries. In many countries, there are not enough certified teams to meet infrastructure goals, particularly in fast-developing electrification markets. The result is clear: without widespread access to certified training, even the most advanced technologies remain vulnerable.
In many countries, certification must also carry formal recognition. In France, for example, certifications are expected to bear official accreditation such as CofracTM, ensuring that certification process is fair for all national stakeholders. QualiopiTM is also a well-recognized quality stamp to ensure training process meets national standards and is recognized by the wider market. These stamps not only validate training quality, they first and foremost bring a license to operate for grid installors while supporting professional mobility and technical accountability on the grid.
Training also closes the gap between system design and field reality. In today’s energy infrastructure, it serves three purposes: it transfers critical technical knowledge and workmanship, strengthens accuracy and speed on the ground, and supports a culture of accountability and excellence.
In recent assessments, teams that completed structured and certifying training programs showed:
These improvements are not theoretical. They directly affect grid resilience, budget predictability, customer satisfaction and trust.
As grids become more complex, training must adapt. This includes at Nexans:
Training today is not a static classroom experience. It is technical, tailored, and aligned with operational goals. In most cases, it also provides certification that is now increasingly necessary to operate and secure installations in compliance with industry standards.
In response to growing demand for skilled installation and maintenance teams and to a lack of certified technicians in most countries, Nexans has structured a comprehensive global training program. Delivered worldwide through eight centers located mainly in Africa, Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Europe including France and DOM-TOM, and supported by a dedicated team of 25 trainers and experts all over the world (including the US and Latin Americas), the program is designed to reflect the diversity and complexity of real-world electrification projects.
In 2024 only, over 2,800 professionals took part in training sessions offered in seven languages and tailored to more than 15 voltage levels and accessory types. The curriculum spans low-, medium-, and high-voltage systems, as well as renewable applications, with flexible, on-demand modules to support different phases of a project.
Each session combines technical theory with hands-on practice. For the most demanding applications, installed samples are tested under real conditions using partial discharge and AC withstand protocols, and certification is awarded based on demonstrated results, not just attendance (in France, the certification process is COFRAC accredited).
In complex projects, reliability can be such a stake that on top of installer training, supervision of operation can be the best way to ensure best in class execution of the installation. In such cases support can be proposed on site by a technical expert or trainer, or if the project is remote, mixed-reality tools.
That is where tools like Microsoft HoloLens 2 come in. This headsets and glasses device allow a remote expert to guide a technician in real time, through visual overlays and live communication.
At Nexans, such mixed reality solutions are directly integrated into training sessions and remote support services, offering installers immediate, hands-free assistance in the field. This approach enhances installation quality and optimizes project execution, especially in isolated locations such as offshore wind farms or rural substations.
The success of electrification worldwide depends not only on smart systems, but on the right-skilled people who install and operate them. Training gives those people the skills and confidence they need to deliver reliability, safety and consistency to the grid networks.
Companies that invest in training are doing more than reducing technical risk. They are building trust, reinforcing performance, and redefining what great customer experience looks like. In the race toward a sustainable energy future, human expertise is what brings every connection to life.
As an innovation-driven leader in the electrification sector, Nexans continues to pioneer advanced training and supervision solutions that help build the grids of tomorrow.
Laurent Keromnes, graduated from ENSCPB Bordeaux in 1997 (Physics and Chemistry), started his career as a chemical engineer in Arkema, the French chemical company. He spent there almost 11 years developing PVC foams and then organic peroxides dedicated to polymer crosslinking.
Since 2011, he moved to Nexans (cable manufacturer) to work on cable development. After 5 years in the Research Center he moved to another position in the company, as a Business development engineer for buried cables in power networks. He is involved in standardization as a TC20 member at AFNOR, and member of several Technical Committees for cables at french SYCABEL.
From early 2024 he is now in charge of Nexans training centers involved in Medium Voltage (MV) accessories installation for Power Grid Business Division.
