Overhead Lines Advanced Apprentice

National Grid; East Boldon; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A national energy provider is seeking an Apprentice Power Networks Craftsperson in East Boldon. The role involves hands-on work in construction and maintenance of overhead lines, emphasizing safety and compliance with strict protocols. Applicants must have a minimum of three GCSEs and demonstrate key skills such as communication and problem solving. This program provides a pathway to a City & Guilds Level 2 Qualification, and successful candidates will spend extensive periods in training.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Protective clothing and equipment provided

Qualifications

• Must live within 45 minutes of NE36 0BG.
• Must be at least 18 years old by 1 September 2026.
• Driving licence required by the end of year one.

Responsibilities

• Review technical drawings and instructions to understand tasks.
• Identify hazards and apply health and safety procedures.
• Assist in constructing and maintaining overhead lines.
• Report concerns or issues beyond the scope of responsibilities.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organisation skills

Customer care skills

Problem solving skills

Logical thinking

Team working

Physical fitness

Adventurous spirit

Safety awareness

Resilience

Education

GCSE in Maths

GCSE in English Language

GCSE in 3 other subjects

Job description

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand the task (e.g., work instructions, wiring diagrams, design specifications, utility plans, online search documents).
• Prioritise and plan work with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks (e.g., consumables).
• Identify apparatus to be worked on.
• Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
• Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
• Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance (e.g., safe access and egress, demarcate the work area, working at height, confined spaces, COSHH).
• Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation, including situations where there is electrical risk.
• Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe and secure condition (e.g., anticlimbing guards, danger notices, barriers, lighting).
• Apply sustainability principles (e.g., minimising waste).
• Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
• Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
• Use working at height equipment (e.g., mobile working platforms, scaffolding, ladders).
• Select, inspect, and use personal climbing equipment to access and manoeuvre to a work position at height on overhead line plant and apparatus.
• Fit and operate a rescue device at height.
• Select, check, and prepare resources.
• Record information.
• Identify areas for improvement (e.g., in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact).
• Communicate with others to give and receive information (e.g., colleagues, customers, and stakeholders).
• Apply team working principles.
• Report or advance issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Produce or amend documents (e.g., handover notes, procedures, reports).
• Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
• This is a physically active role that includes working at height, climbing, manual handling, and outdoor work in varied conditions.
• Identify the remote live sources of the job requirements.
• Apply the operator's safety checks to the overhead line system.
• Perform overhead line safety checklist.
• Use the fire extinguisher equipment.
• Observe and practise all relevant statutory procedures.
• Respond to emergencies with proper response actions.
• Apply and correct the device operation and usage in performance.
• Use the plant per the operator's instrumental guidelines.
• Deploy the plan of action for the job site area.
• Collaborate with coordinators on multi-tasking tasks.

Qualifications and Requirements

Applicants should be confident in their ability to meet these demands safely and effectively, with reasonable adjustments considered in line with our commitment to equal opportunities.

• GCSE in 3 other subjects (grade 4 and above)
• English Language (grade 4 and above)
• Maths (grade 4 and above)
• Other in: English or Maths (grade Pass) – share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem‑solving skills
• Logical thinking
• Team working
• Physical fitness
• Adventurous spirit
• Safety awareness
• Resilience
• You must live within 45 minutes of NE36 0BG to be considered for this role.
• Due to the nature of this role, applicants for this position must be at least 18 years of age by the start date of the programme (1 September 2026).
• By the end of your first year, you'll need a driving licence that permits you to drive in the UK.

Apprenticeship Programme

National Grid is at the heart of the energy future, and our people are at the heart of National Grid. We’re 30,000 colleagues strong. In the UK, National Grid doesn’t generate or sell energy – we join the dots to get energy from A to B. From making a cup of tea in the morning to keeping the lights on in hospitals, our electricity network puts power in the hands of people. Without it, the world as we know it would grind to a halt.

The world of energy is changing beyond recognition as we focus on building a cleaner, greener future. Working at National Grid, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in the UK – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

The apprenticeship programme takes approximately three years to complete, and you’ll spend your first 12 weeks being inducted onto the programme at one of our Training Centres. You’ll earn while you learn and develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours to become a Power Networks Craftsperson, achieving a City & Guilds Level 2 Qualification in Electrical Engineering. Your training will include periods of on-the-job training and development, learning from an experienced and qualified Overhead Linesperson. Following a formal assessment of your knowledge, skills and behaviours, you’ll become a qualified Overhead Linesperson yourself. You will represent National Grid and carry out work handed down by other areas of the business. Join us, and we’ll see you participate in craft skills activities on the live LV network, on dead LV, HV and EHV circuits (live HV circuits if part of a Hot Glove team). You’ll help with network operations, connect generators and services and organise your own projects. You will also:

• Construct and alter overhead lines, install pole‑mounted plant, run and terminate cables to plant and overhead lines
• Carry out routine inspection, maintenance and repairs of overhead equipment
• Record asset routes, details and positions
• Record plant details
• Locate and identify cables, test insulation, phasing and continuity on LV cables
• Test earthing, voltage, phasing and phase rotation
• Write outage requests and switching programmes for simple outages

You’ll need to be able to live away from home during your training, primarily at our Eakring Training Centre in Nottinghamshire. Typically, you’ll stay on‑site from Monday to Thursday and return home for the weekend (Friday to Sunday). The amount of time spent at Eakring will change as you progress through the programme:

• Year 1 – around 75 %
• Year 2 – around 50 %
• Year 3 – around 25 %

Benefits

• Competitive pension scheme (double‑matched up to 12 %) and Sharesave options
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Protective clothing and safety equipment supplied