Graduate Data Specialist, IT & Digital, London

National Grid; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days' annual leave

Cycle-to-work scheme

Sharesave and Share Incentive Plans

£2,000 joining bonus

£2,400 completion bonus

Accommodation allowance up to £200/mo

Job summary

National Grid in London offers a 18-month Graduate Programme as a Graduate Data Specialist in IT & Digital. You’ll gain hands-on experience across data, AI and digital disciplines, working on projects that support a national infrastructure and greener energy future.

The role entails rotations across UK sites, close mentoring, and structured training to build leadership and technical skills. You’ll join a programme based in Holborn with hybrid working options and a starting salary.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2:2 in Maths, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Geography, Economics, Environmental Science or closely related degree.
• Interest in data, AI and digital technologies and willingness to learn through hands-on experience.
• Flexibility to travel to National Grid offices within rotations.

Responsibilities

• Analyse data to improve quality, accessibility and value across the business.
• Explore how data and AI can support energy transition and infrastructure.
• Design, build and improve data solutions including cloud platforms, pipelines and reporting.
• Create insights, dashboards and visualisations for informed decisions.
• Support data governance, security and compliance, and promote AI tools safely.
• Collaborate across the business and develop technical and project delivery skills.

Job description

Graduate Data Specialist, IT & Digital, London

About the Position

Our IT & Digital function is using new and disruptive technologies to help improve how we do our job – through cloud computing, artificial intelligence or machine learning to name just a few. From IT support to data, security to new technologies, we partner with the business to achieve our overall vision to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future.

Within IT&D, the Electricity Transmission Chief Information & Digital Office (CIDO) Team provide IT&Digital strategic leadership for the Electricity Transmission Business, align IT&Digital strategies with business priorities, manage costs and service quality. Among the best practices that CIDO teams share and drive together are a 360-degree view of IT that includes IT and Digital needs, strategic roadmap planning, deployment of new capabilities, application rationalisation and simplification, service delivery and consumption management, and adoption of agile ways of working.

As a Graduate Data Specialist, you'll join either our Data & AI team or our Digital Product team and gain hands‑on experience across a variety of projects and business areas. Working alongside experienced colleagues, you'll learn how data and AI help us understand and maintain our assets, connect more clean energy to the grid, and make smarter, faster decisions across the business. Through a combination of meaningful project work, structured training and ongoing support, you'll develop a strong understanding of how data, AI and digital products support a critical national infrastructure organisation. By the end of the programme, you'll have built valuable technical and commercial knowledge and gained a clearer idea of where you'd like to specialise.

What You'll Do

You'll gain experience across a range of data, AI and digital disciplines, helping us use data to support the operation and development of the electricity network.

• Analyse data from across the business to help improve its quality, accessibility and value.
• Explore how data and AI can support the energy transition, from connecting renewable energy to managing critical infrastructure assets.
• Help design, build and improve data solutions, including cloud-based platforms, data pipelines and reporting tools.
• Create insights, dashboards and visualisations that help colleagues make informed business decisions.
• Support the responsible management of data by helping to improve data quality, governance, security and compliance.
• Trial and promote AI tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, helping colleagues adopt them safely and effectively.
• Collaborate with colleagues from across the business while developing your technical, analytical and project delivery skills through real-world projects.

What You'll Need to Apply

You'll need to achieve a minimum 2:2 in Maths, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Geography, Economics, Environmental Science or closely related degree discipline. It doesn’t matter when you graduated or if you are currently working towards your qualification.

We're looking for graduates who are interested in data, AI and digital technologies, and keen to develop their skills through hands‑on experience. You'll be interested in:

• how data, analytics and AI can help organisations solve problems, improve performance and make better-informed decisions.
• the energy sector, infrastructure or climate action, and the role data and AI can play in supporting the transition to a net zero future.
• developing technical skills in areas such as data analysis, data management, coding, data visualisation or AI technologies

You’ll also need flexibility to travel other National Grid Offices within role and throughout your rotations as required.

Location

This role is based in Holborn, London and may offer flexible hybrid working, where possible. You'll be expected to attend your contractual office location at least three days per week.

What You'll Get In Return

We are proud to offer a starting salary of £38,472 with annual salary increases throughout the programme.

As a first step in your career within the energy industry, our Graduate Programme offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills, gain valuable experience, and build a long‑term career with National Grid.

Alongside a tailored development programme designed to power your career at National Grid, you'll also enjoy a range of fantastic rewards and benefits, including:

• 26 days' annual leave, plus statutory holidays.
• Access to flexible benefits, including cycle‑to‑work and holiday buy/sell schemes.
• The opportunity to participate in our Sharesave and Share Incentive Plans.
• You’ll develop well‑rounded skills through practical experience.
• A £2,000 joining bonus upon starting the programme.
• A £2,400 payment upon successful completion of the programme.
• An accommodation allowance of up to £200 per month as you move around the business during placements.
• Additional annual leave when moving between placements, plus support with relocating your personal belongings.
• Dedicated mentoring, regular feedback, networking opportunities, and volunteering opportunities to support your development.
• A permanent role with National Grid upon successful completion of the programme.

About the Graduate Programme

As you'll be joining our 18-month graduate programme, you'll have a tailored development pathway to support you as you develop a wide range of leadership, business, and technical skills. You'll attend in-person and virtual development sessions throughout your programme to equip you with the essential skills required, as you begin your career at National Grid. We're committed to the personal development of our colleagues so as well as the support from your line manager as you navigate your new role, you'll also have access to 1:1 coaching and a mentor, from a previous cohort to help you transition from campus to corporate life.

All graduates complete the core development programme to develop key skills such as how to make an impact, giving feedback and presentation skills. Aligned to our IT & Digital pathway you’ll develop your IT technical skills including AGILE and Scrum. You’ll also gain important insights in engineering and electricity to help broaden your understanding of our business and industry.

We believe in the importance of getting as much on‑the‑job experience as possible and to do this, you will complete three 6‑month placements, across the UK, designed to deepen your understanding of your speciality but to also broaden your knowledge of our business. At the end of your 18‑month programme you’ll return to your initial placement area to kickstart your career.

About National Grid

National Grid is the UK’s critical energy infrastructure company, operating the electricity network and infrastructure that connects millions of people to the energy they use every day, supporting homes, businesses and communities across England and Wales.

We know the future of energy won’t be shaped by what we know today. It will be shaped by what’s possible tomorrow. That’s why we’re investing in the next generation of talent, giving apprentices, undergraduates and graduates the opportunity to learn from experts, gain hands‑on experience and contribute to work that matters from day one.

Are you ready to unlock the power of the possible?

More Information

You can apply for only one opportunity across all Early Careers and Career Changer programmes. Before applying, pleaese carefully review all available programmes and choose the one that best matches your interests and career goals.

We recruit on a rolling basis across our Early Careers Roles. We may close our vacancies early once we have enough applications. We therefore encourage you to apply as early as possible.

National Grid's Early Careers opportunities in the UK are open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria including an existing and valid right to work in the UK. As part of the application process this will need to be evidenced and verified before you can start the programme.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.