Construction Engineer Training Programme

In addition to a competitive salary (you'll be starting on £18,150 and after the four years will increase to £30,150), there are many benefits to joining National Grid. You'll receive a generous holiday entitlement of 25 days a year - plus eight bank holidays - and a good pension scheme. For more information on our generic benefits, browse through the benefits and flexible benefits pages.

What's more, there are additional advantages to joining the Construction Engineer Development Programme. For a start, you'll receive specialised training with full-board and all costs being covered by National Grid, not to mention a company car, laptop and mobile phone. You'll also have the chance to join NewNet, our internal network for all new employees. This gives you the opportunity to meet other employees through networking events and a range of other activities. And, of course, you'll have guidance and support throughout your career, including a personal development plan to give direction to your future.

If you are based from a London location you could also be entitled to a London weighting allowance.

If you have applied in previous years and been unsuccessful, you can apply again although it would be helpful if you could now show some additional experience that would support your application.

We are looking for 21 Construction Engineer Trainees, in the following locations:

North London (Hemel Hempstead, Witham, Borehamwood, Slough), North West (Blackpool, Wigan, Wirral, St Helens) East Midlands (South Normanton, Mansfield) West Midlands (Wolverhampton)

Please contact us on 0845 3018999.

Yes, you will need to hold a full UK driving licence and this requirement is included in the initial application screening criteria. As part of the programme you are required to be mobile and drive to/from Eakring training centre and your base location, you will also be issued with a company car for the duration of your training.

We assess for competencies such as Personal Organisation, Flexibility, Quality of Work, Building Relationships, Leadership, Learning & Development, Communication and Practical Skills.

We ask you to fill out an on line application form, and if you meet the pre-screening criteria you will be invited to complete a Situational Judgement Test. The Situational Judgement Test is made up of a number of job related scenarios typical of what you could encounter during your time on the programme. You will be required to consider each scenario and respond according to how you would react to each situation. From a number of options you will be asked to identify what is the most effective and what is the least effective response to each situation. You will not be expected to have any prior knowledge or experience of the role. We will be assessing how you judge a situation and whether you recognise the most effective and least effective reaction to each situation.

There are four stages in our recruitment process, Sitauational Judgement Test, Motivational Telephone Discussion, Short Listing and Assessment Centre.

Assessment centres typically begin in the January prior to the September start. They are held at our technical training centre in Eakring, Nottinghamshire. We will reimburse all travel expenses (within the UK) and provide accommodation for the duration of the Assessment Centre, which is held over two days.

Our Construction Engineer Training Programme is designed to be flexible so that you can join us with various different qualifications. The programme will vary in length, and your salary will depend on the level of qualifications that you join us with. We specifically look for people with the following qualifications:

• 5 GCSEs (Grade A - C).
• You must have Maths AND English Language.
• Plus one from technical subject areas - IT, Technical Drawing, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Science or any other Engineering subject.
• Plus two additional GCSEs in IT, Technical Drawing, Engineering (or any other Engineering subject), Science, English Literature, Geography or History.

Whatever your background, you'll need a full UK driving licence. There are also some key skills that we look for in applicants. As well as the ability to manage others, to organise your time, and to solve problems, it's important that you have a technical mind and can follow instructions and think numerically. Above all, you'll be motivated and ready to gain new skills.

*If you believe you have an equivalent UK qualification to those listed above please verify this with Ofqual (Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator) through their website: http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Qualification  Before you apply

*If you believe you have an equivalent international qualification then please contact NARIC on +44(0)871 330 7033 (Lines are open Monday - Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm). Before you apply

Our gas distribution business is going through a period of immense change. We have committed to replacing old gas pipelines across the country, currently made of iron, with new plastic polyethylene pipes. In fact, any pipeline within 30 metres of a property must be replaced in 30 years. We've teamed up with other construction companies to meet this target. It's a massive challenge. And one that presents you with a unique opportunity.

Join us and, while you're working, you'll receive intensive training over two to four years to qualify as a Construction Engineer. When you qualify as a Construction Engineer, you'll be responsible for leading and developing your own team of 8-20. It's a big responsibility. Accessing and replacing the old underground pipes, you'll ensure the highest possible standards of quality and safety are adhered to. Teams are closely supervised by a team leader, but it will ultimately be up to you to make sure we work in a way that safeguards the environment and the communities that we operate within. You'll be liaising with lots of people at different levels, from the general public to third parties such as local councils, and you'll take on a wide range of responsibilities. Of course, in a business of this scale, you'll also enjoy a wide range of opportunities.

No, although all new starters to National Grid have to complete an Occupational Health questionnaire - if anything is picked up from there then you may need to go onto have a full medical. However, as part of the pre-employment process, all new starters have to pass a drugs and alcohol test.

We are happy to cover your travel expenses to and from the Assessment Centre to a maximum of £100 return trip i.e. standard class rail fare, coach fares, (fuel costs @ 12p per mile) and taxi fares from the nearest railway station i.e. Newark, Mansfield or Nottingham (unless approval has been obtained in writing in advance of the date of travel).  Please provide receipts where appropriate so that we can reimburse you

Preparation is all-important. Be sure to think about your previous experiences (work, education, extra curricular activities etc.) and what you have learned and gained from each of those. It's always good to have a variety of examples at hand. Remember, we are assessing you against the competencies and we'd also like to think you have undertaken some detailed research on the company to establish that we are the right organisation for you.

During the selection process - stay calm, be yourself, don't try to second guess what we are looking for or act out of character otherwise you will only mask your natural strengths and qualities. Remember to listen to what's being asked of you as this will enable you to demonstrate the skills you have.

National Grid is unable to provide sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the sponsorship criteria set by the UK Border Agency under the Points Based System. You must have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship to be considered.

During the first day of the Assessment Centre the dress code is casual, so clothing such as smart jeans, T-shirts or similar. And during the second day the dress code is business dress, such as a suit or jacket, or similar.

Successful candidates will commence training on the 10th September 2012.

The assessment centre comprises a competency based interview, group exercises and a colour blindness test.

This is an interview where we ask specific questions about experiences in your past so that we can gather evidence to measure your capability in a competence and is designed to find out if you've got  the initial qualities we're looking for in a Construction Engineer.

Once you have decided if you are interested in applying you will be asked for your home postcode, this will inform you which of our locations you are eligible to apply for. If you do not live within the set catchment areas for one of our sites you will be asked if you are willing to relocate to be close nearby to a location. Please note that relocation would be at your own expense.

Whilst you're training with us your hours of work will be 37 per week.