Advanced Apprenticeship Programme (leading to Professional Technician status)

Working in National Grid's substations on a range of  high voltage electrical equipment - including circuit breakers and transformers - you'll get to grips with the engineering systems which play an essential role in "keeping the lights on", and to meet demands of new sustainable sources of generation to connect onto the National Grid. 

Once you complete your apprenticeship, you'll work on our extensive network of substations, identifying any problems and fixing them so they can be put back into service.

These opportunities exist at substation locations across England and Wales. Substations, which operate between 132kV - 275kV - 400kV, are connected via an overhead line transmission system. Each substation has a range of high voltage electrical equipment which you will become familiar with - circuit breakers, transformers, disconnectors, compressors, auxiliary supply systems etc.

National Grid operate and maintain approximately 14,000 kilometres of 400 / 275 kV overhead lines strung on 22,000 towers - these transmit electricity around the UK to ensure power is available when you flick a light switch. We have teams of technicians and engineers who ensure that the integrity of our overhead lines and towers infrastructure are as they should be. This can involve a number of approaches from climbing up the towers to check the condition or undertake maintenance on our assets, to working on a live line carrying electricity suspended from a helicopter!

The Apprenticeship Programme will give you all the knowledge you need to maintain our overhead line assets and ensure you can fix any routine problems that may occur. This work may involve responding to emergency faults, assessing the condition of the lines by climbing up the towers, or assessing from above using a helicopter to inspect the lines, therefore you'll need to be happy with working at heights.

As an Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentice you could be based anywhere around the UK at our operational Depots. You will have a key role in keeping the gas network running by maintaining and controlling the instrumental and electrical equipment which ensures the gas network operates to the highest standards.

Our networks comprise approximately 82,000 miles of distribution pipeline, we transport gas on behalf of gas shippers and suppliers to around 11 million customers.  You could be working in kiosks, buildings or the corner of a field; it’s mainly indoor work but can involve working outside.  As well as routine maintenance you could be responding to emergency faults and equipment failures, liaising closely with the Gas National Control Centre, you will be their eyes and ears, reporting back any faults you may find.

You will be a key member of the Operate and Maintain department keeping the gas network running.  This is a varied role where no two days will be the same.   You will be visiting numerous sites within a 50 mile radius; you could be working on one site for 2 hours or up to 2 weeks. You are trusted to work responsibly with minimum supervision so commitment and being able to use your own initiative is essential to the role.

As a Pressure, Control and Storage Apprentice you could be based anywhere around the UK at our operational Depots. Your role will involve maintaining the mechanical equipment which controls the pressure of gas in our network, fault finding and can also include reconfiguring the gas network for emergencies and repairs.  

Our networks comprise of approximately 82,000 miles of distribution pipeline, we transport gas on behalf of gas shippers and suppliers to around 11 million customers. The majority of your role will be spent working outdoors, working in confined spaces (which may mean wearing breathing apparatus so you will need to be clean shaven) and possibly at heights – so you must be comfortable with climbing ladders!  

You will be a key member of the Operate and Maintain department keeping the system running and at the right pressure.  This is a varied role where no two days will be the same.   You will be visiting numerous sites within a 50 mile radius; you could be working on one site for 2 hours or up to 2 weeks. You are trusted to work responsibly with minimum supervision so commitment and being able to use your own initiative is essential to the role.

These apprenticeships are based around the UK at our gas operational sites, where you could be involved in maintaining the pipelines, compressors or gas turbines that ensure the continued supply of gas to home and industry throughout the UK.

National Grid owns the national gas transmission system in Great Britain. This comprises approximately 7,600 kilometres of high pressure pipe and 26 compressor stations, connecting to eight distribution networks and to third party independent systems for onward transportation of gas to end consumers.

The majority of current gas supplies come from the ever depleting UK continental shelf fields, so alternative supplies/sources of gas need to be found - increasing dependency on gas imports from other countries. The next six years will be an exciting time in the UK gas industry with the next phase of imported gas supplies coming on-line.

As a member of our maintenance delivery gas, you will be right at the heart of the decisions that are made to ensure the reliability and security of our gas network. Our first priority will always be the continued safe and secure operation of the gas transmission system whilst enabling and facilitating the changes to the new sources of gas entering the United Kingdom.

This programme brings new talent into our Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility in Grain, Kent, it offers a slightly different structure to our other apprenticeships as it lasts 4 years and during that time you will learn everything you need to carry out on-site inspections and maintenance.

During the majority of the first year you will be based off site at the local training provider on a full time basis, you will cover generic engineering modules as part of an NVQ level 2 and also start a BTEC National Certificate, completing modules related to your chosen discipline i.e. mechanical, electrical or instrument.

Throughout the second year academic studies continue on a day release basis. The second year focuses on completion of the BTEC National Certificate and starting NVQ Level 3 which is then worked on throughout the rest of the apprenticeship.

When you start year two as an Apprentice you will have an increased involvement with activities on site at Grain. You’ll work closely with Technicians in your team, and receive ongoing on-the-job training and hands-on experience. Typical activities involve:

• Checking the gas pressure and LNG temperature controls are working correctly so gas can move through the pipes in it's liquid state.
• Inspecting and repairing any pipes or valves on-site, or on maintaining the structure of the jetty where the ships bringing the LNG from North Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean, unload the LNG into the pipelines and storage tanks.
• Maintaining the electrical systems on-site, including the repair of motors or switches in hazardous areas.

Typically anLNG Apprentice will pick up a number of different projects as your experience grows, at times perhaps leading a small team of contractors on a specific issue.

Typically it will take approximately eight weeks from you completing your application form to you attending the assessment centre. During these eight weeks you will need to complete an online questionnaire (Situational Judgement Test - SJT) and where appropriate the Motivation Discussion or Telephone Interview.

Assessment centres will be held at our Training Centre in Eakring, Nottinghamshire. The timetable of dates for these assessment centres is shown below:

Helping you to understand and manage your application

As you will appreciate recruiting for 5 main development programmes and 15 secondary programmes with over 87 different locations, we need to have a phased approached in order to take candidates through the recruitment process and this can often mean that some candidates will be waiting longer to attend Assessment Centres.  This timetable is intended to help you to plan for your application and to understand the sequence of the Assessment Centres we will be running for the 2012 recruitment campaign.

Candidates should expect to move through the various recruitment stages during the eight weeks leading to the Assessment Centre date and receive an invitation to attend an Assessment Centre approximately three weeks before the date.  Please note that Assessment Centre dates are subject to change and we do not guarantee that all candidates will be offered the opportunity to attend an Assessment Centre.

Your application is extremely important to us and we look forward to meeting you in the future.

Thank you for your interest in the Advanced Apprenticeship Programme, to apply please click on the team / location you wish to apply for:

Gas:

Alrewas near Lichfield,Staffs 

East-Bacton, Norwich -Vacancy Closed

Isle of Grain, Kent

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

St Fergus, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - Vacancy Closed

Wooler, Milfield, Northumberland 

Pontefract, Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Grimsby - Vacancy Closed

Overhead Lines:

Bushbury, Wolverhampton

Skelton Grange, Leeds

Swansea, Wales

West Boldon - Vacancy Closed   

Daines - Vacancy Closed

Pelham - Vacancy Closed

Pentir - Vacancy Closed

Electrical and Instrumentation:

East Anglia, Hitchin

East Anglia, Ipswich

East Midlands, Nottingham - Vacancy Closed

North London, Raleigh

North London, Slough

Pressure, Control and Storage:

East Anglia, Ipswich

East Anglia, Norwich

East Anglia, Peterborough

East Midlands, Leicester

East Midlands, Lincoln

East Midlands, Northampton

Substations:

Barking, London - Vacancy Closed

Bolney, Brighton  - Vacancy Closed

Cardiff - Vacancy Closed

Daines, Carrington, Nr Urmaston, Manchester - Vacancy Closed

Didcot, Oxford - Vacancy Closed

Elstree, Watford - Vacancy Closed

Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Surrey

Iron Acton, Bristol - Vacancy Closed

Kirkby, Liverpool - Vacancy Closed

Neepsend, Sheffield - Vacancy Closed

Norton, Stockton-on-Tees - Vacancy Closed

Penn, Wolverhampton - Vacancy Closed

Pentir, Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd - Vacancy Closed

Penwortham, Preston -Vacancy Closed

Ratcliffe, Nottingham - Vacancy Closed

Rayleigh, Rawreth, Wickford, Essex

Sellindge, Ashford, Kent

Stalybridge, Ashton-Under-Lyne  - Vacancy Closed

Sundon, Luton - Vacancy Closed

Thorpe Marsh, Doncaster

Tottenham, London - Vacancy Closed

Trawsfynydd, Penrhyndeudreath, Ffestinog, Wales 

Walpole, Kings Lynn, Near Wisbech - Vacancy Closed

West Boldon, Sunderland - Vacancy Closed

Willesden, London  - Vacancy Closed

Bustleholm, Birmingham/Wolverhampton - Vacancy Closed

All the info you need should be on this website, however if you are unable to find the information you want please call our Recruitment Team on 0845 301 8999