Graduate Development Programme

National Grid has a huge engineering infrastructure and because of this we need the specialist skills of graduates who have studied technical subjects - engineering or physical sciences. To maintain and operate both our gas and electricity networks we need talented scientists and engineers to join us to continually challenge and improve the way we do things, and to ensure we are achieving our vision of being the foremost international gas and electricity company.

Depending on your background and degree discipline we will tailor your Graduate Programme to ensure you move into the area of the business which is right for you. We look at a combination of criteria: your degree, our resource requirements and what development you want and need. So you may want to specialise in the discipline in which you did your degree or after being with us you may want to change direction - we will endeavour to make that happen for you.

On this strand of the programme, you'll be 'tagged' to a directorate in the business on day one. Over the next 18 months, you'll typically undertake three placements - two in your home directorate, one elsewhere to broaden your business understanding - each tailored to give you the key skills and knowledge needed to drive your career.

Planning starts well before you walk through the doors. We'll allocate you a 'business coordinator' whose job is to liaise with you and explain what's going to happen. Once you do begin, they'll act as a guide throughout, making sure you get the best possible opportunities to build your knowledge and skills. Everybody's experience will be different, but everyone - regardless of the projects they work on, or the locations where they're based - will be fully supported through toward Chartership with the relevant professional institution. You should also know that our Technical Programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) so you'll be joining one of the best engineering programmes around.

By the end of the programme you will have a general overview of our business, a detailed understanding of a specific function, and the skills and qualifications needed to take the next step in your career.

You'll be joining us at an exciting time; there has never been so much change in the energy industry. With new technology, the climate change agenda, differing political opinions and increasing competition, we need talented individuals with excellent commercial acumen who relish these dynamics. Whether you're a business or engineering graduate, you'll need to be passionate about change and ready to take on a challenge to ensure we stay ahead.

As we're a major business with a diverse and growing portfolio of commercial and property activities, both at home and overseas, our need for future talent on commercial operations is equally large and diverse. Right now for example, we're looking to develop people in the following areas (among others): trading, charging, strategy, business development, property and contracts.

The programme is designed to prepare you for a management role in one of these areas. To do this, the 18-month programme comprises three placements across the business, each one helping you to build up strong personal and professional skills.

We have graduate opportunities all over the UK but the majority are at our main sites which include: Warwick, Wokingham, Leeds, Hinckley and Isle of Grain (Kent).

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.

The deadline for applications is 8th May 2012 for ITMB/Business Computing and 31st May 2012 for technical/engineering applications.  If you apply early, you could pass through the whole recruitment process and receive an offer.

• October 2011 - Online application form opens
• October-November 2011 - Graduate Team attend the University Careers Fairs (see Events)
• November 2011 - Assessment Centres commence (dates below)
• November: 8th/9th and 22nd/23rd
• December: 6th/7th
• January 2012: 24th/25th
• February: 28th/29th
• March: 13th/14th and 27th/28th
• April: 24th/25th
• May: 8th/9th and 22nd/23rd
• June: 12th/13th and 26th/27th
• July 2012 - Graduate Welcome Day (one day event to meet us) on 10th or 11th July 2012
• September 2012 - Graduates start with us with a two day Induction

Helping you to understand and manage your application

As you will appreciate recruiting for 5 main development programmes and 8 secondary programmes with over 55 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.

Commercial Programme

Technical Programme

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