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Craft Apprenticeships

The Electricity Distribution Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme is now openAll vacancies and locations will be added between 08/01/2024 and 12/01/2024. 

You don’t have to go to uni to make the most of your career potential.

You can earn, learn, and get qualified as an Electrical Engineer with us – the UK’s leading electricity distribution business.

Our 6,700 people work together to keep the lights on for 8 million customers. It’s a big job, looking after a network that includes underground cables, overhead lines and substations operating at voltages from 230 to 132,000 volts feeding over 8 million customers.

Watch this video for an introduction to the Craft Apprenticeship:

*Details in these videos are correct but the previous company name 'Western Power Distribution' is in use, soon to be updated to National Grid.

If you’re hands on, enjoy real training, want to be part of a great team and get industry qualifications too, this apprenticeship is for you.

Once you’re qualified, you’ll be part of a supportive team looking forward to ongoing training, rewards and benefits. 

Our main job is making sure we have the right people, in the right place at the right time to look after our customers, 24/7.

That includes our craftspeople at the frontline who are highly trained and include:

•             Linesperson — working on overhead lines supported by wooden poles or steel towers
•             Jointer — working on the underground cable network
•             Fitter — working on switches and transformers in substations

The Apprenticeship Scheme is designed to give you all the training and support you need to develop into an accomplished Craftsperson. 

Once you’re qualified, the training continues throughout your career. 

Meet Overhead Linesperson Apprentice Conor Rogers, who takes us through what drew him to work with us, the training he has undertaken and the most rewarding things about the apprenticeship:

*Details in these videos are correct but the previous company name 'Western Power Distribution' is in use, soon to be updated to National Grid.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

You’ll be supported to achieve the City & Guilds 2304-17 Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering – Distribution & Transmission (Technical Knowledge). 

You’ll spend your first 12 weeks at one of our Training Centres. Over the next two years you’ll focus on achieving City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 Qualifications in Electrical Engineering, putting together a portfolio of work that contributes to your qualification.

Complete your core training in two years and you can progress to a development role, learning from an experienced Craftsperson, then to being assessed as a competent Craftsperson.

Our Apprentices start on a salary of £15,388, moving in increments to a development role salary of £31,393, and progressing to a Craftsperson’s salary of £36,148.

WHAT YOU NEED

Our minimum entry criteria require the following qualifications (held or predicted):

• GCSE English Language at Grade A*– C / 9 – 4 or Level 2 Functional/Key Skills English
• GCSE Mathematics at Grade A*– C / 9 – 4 or Level 2 Functional/Key Skills Maths 
• GCSE Science at Grade A*– C / 9 – 4  or BTEC Science Level 2 equivalent
• Two other GCSE's in any subject at Grade A*– C / 9 – 4 or Level 2 qualifications in any subject 

You can also apply with a recognised Level 3 qualification in Electrical Engineering plus GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English. Please note Electrical Installation qualifications are not accepted as an equivalent to Electrical Engineering qualifications and as a result you will be required to meet the minimum entry requirements detailed above

If you are unsure about your qualifications, please contact the NGED Recruitment Team nged.recruitment@nationalgrid.co.uk 

“We are looking for talented, highly motivated people to join the National Grid Electricity Distribution apprenticeship scheme. Our people are at the heart of our business success and our apprentices of today will be our skilled staff of tomorrow – safely delivering outstanding levels of customer service and operational performance for our customers.” Phil Swift, Chief Executive

  • Recruitment Process & Timetable

    We've made our recruitment process as simple and straightforward as possible. Find out more here.

  • FAQs

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  • Craft Apprenticeships

    Our apprenticeships are perfect for those leaving school who want to put their energy and ambition straight to work.

Apprentice Information

Here we have a selection of videos to help you understand what being a NGED apprentice entails.