Substation Higher Apprentice (Barking, London), Electricity Transmission

Ensuring the future of electricity transmission 

We don’t think of engineering as a job, we think of it as a legacy. A way of passing on a brighter energy future and keeping the lights on.  

Would you like to be part of it?   

How about working for a company that makes electricity happen for every single person in England and Wales? A company that invests billions in Net Zero and creating a brighter energy future? 

How about being paid over £28,000 a year while you train…with free food, accommodation and travel too?   

Our three-year Higher Apprenticeship Substations programme will train you to become an engineer in one of our substations, where we transform high-voltage electricity into low-voltage electricity to make it usable for homes and businesses.   

You’ll be learning about testing equipment, safety, protection and control of the system, substation refurbishment maintenance, technical support, problem diagnosis and fault fixing.  

At the end of the three years, you’ll have an HNC in Electrical Power Engineering. Most importantly, you’ll have a job waiting for you! 

A job where the decisions you make will impact the transmission of electricity in England and Wales for the next 40 or 50 years. A job where you’ll be delivering maintenance work, replacing and refurbishing assets, fixing mechanical and electrical issues, and connecting new customers. A job that helps connect energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar farms, to the transmission network.   

Eventually, you may even be commissioning new equipment onto the system and taking responsibility for the safety of your co-workers. If that sounds like something that you’d like to be part of, we’d be very interested in talking to you! 

You are driven and proactive with an appetite for continuous improvement. You know how to build on your existing knowledge and skills and have the enthusiasm to run with things and to try to make them better. You’re articulate and know how to communicate appropriately with a variety of people. 

You are a flexible multitasker who can do multiple jobs at the same time and still pay great attention to detail. It’s doesn’t matter if you’re not academically dazzling; we want practical people with engineering mindsets who are really keen to apply themselves. 

You’ll have two A-Levels, including Maths graded C or above, or a BTEC/ AS-Level which includes a Maths module.   

You’ll need a valid driving licence that permits you to drive in the UK. 

You must be able to live away from home, primarily at our Eakring academy, in Nottinghamshire. You will also spend some of your time in Birmingham, studying for your HNC in Electrical Power Engineering. 

We are proud to offer a starting salary of £28,332 

As a first step to your career in the energy industry, our Higher Apprenticeship Programmes are like no other!  You’ll gain an insight into how we work at National Grid, understand what a career with us can offer, and receive some great rewards and benefits: 

• 26 days annual leave plus statutory holidays 
• You could earn a £250 bonus, depending on performance 
• Our double-matched pension contribution scheme means your pension could be worth up to 18% of your salary 
• There is the option to buy discounted National Grid shares 
• Financial support for study relevant to your role is available 
• We’ll pay for one professional membership subscription 

Our ‘My Discounts’ scheme offers discounts on everything from the weekly shop to your annual summer holidays. You’ll find savings on cinema tickets and at a range of high street retailers, including Sainsburys, John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Marks and Spencer.   

National Grid is committed to the personal development of our staff.  Joining us, you’ll be supported as you develop a wide range of business, and technical skills through structured training and on the-job experience. You’ll work closely with your line manager to establish and navigate through a Personal Development Plan that is tailored to your needs.

National Grid is at the heart of the energy future, and our people are at the heart of National Grid. We’re 30,000 colleagues strong.  In the UK, National Grid don’t generate or sell energy – we join the dots to get energy from A to B. From making a cup of tea in the morning, to keeping the lights on in hospitals, our electricity network puts power in the hands of people. Without it, the world as we know it would grind to a halt. 

 
The world of energy is changing beyond recognition as we focus on building a cleaner, greener future. Working at National Grid, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in the UK – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that you require. 

The closing date for this role is 11th June 2023, however, we encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure you obtain the place you want in the application process.  

Assessment centres will be held in late June 2023.