Overhead Lines Advanced Apprentice

National Grid; Hednesford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading electricity distribution company in the UK seeks Overhead Linespersons for a new apprenticeship program. This role involves constructing, maintaining, and inspecting overhead lines and working with high voltage systems. Candidates must have relevant GCSE qualifications and strong communication skills. The apprenticeship offers practical training and a competitive benefits package, including annual leave and a pension scheme.

Benefits

23 days annual leave + statutory holidays

Competitive pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Protective clothing and safety equipment supplied

Qualifications

• Must have GCSE in English Language, Maths, and Science at grade 4 or above.
• Share any relevant qualifications or industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Construct and alter overhead lines, maintain and inspect overhead equipment.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations.
• Respond in emergencies, carry out inspections, and test equipment.
• Use working at height equipment and select appropriate tools.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organisation skills

Customer care skills

Problem solving skills

Logical

Team working

Physical fitness

Adventurous

Safety awareness

Resilient

Education

GCSE in English Language (grade 4 and above)

GCSE in Maths (grade 4 and above)

GCSE in Science (grade 4 and above)

GCSE in 2 other subjects (grade 4 and above)

Job description

Overhead Linespersons are overhead line engineers who work at height constructing, maintaining, testing, repairing and replacing overhead lines and equipment. 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'll also:

Responsibilities

• 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
• Carry out switching operations on the LV network; 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, work 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., minimise 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, stakeholders)
• Apply team working principles
• Report or escalation 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
• Select and operate lifting equipment in overhead lines distribution work (e.g., cranes and winches)
• Carry out visual inspection to identify overhead services and buried utilities; use locating equipment
• Mark the position of services and sub-structures on the work site
• Follow procedures for working on or in proximity to live apparatus
• Select and use specialist LV live working PPE
• Erect overhead lines plant and apparatus (e.g., poles, support mechanisms, stays)
• Install circuit main earths (CMEs) and additional drain earths
• Install fixed earthing conductors and carry out earth electrode testing
• Install cut-outs
• Install or replace conductors, insulators and ancillary equipment on overhead line plant or apparatus (including sagging, tensioning and termination where required)
• Install, connect, and commission pole mounted plant and apparatus (e.g., transformers, pole mounted circuit breakers, and switchgear)
• Dismantle pole mounted plant and apparatus (e.g., transformers, pole mounted circuit breakers, and switchgear)
• Conduct pre‑energisation tests
• Conduct post‑energisation (commissioning) checks
• Perform testing procedures before and after switching operations
• Interpret testing procedure results and action required
• Operate switchgear and fuses making and breaking live conductor connections
• Recognise fault conditions and identify the root cause
• Replace components or resolve issues (e.g., replace high resistance joints or damaged conductor)
• Apply customer service techniques
• Select and operate lifting equipment in overhead lines transmission work (e.g., cranes and winches)
• Check overhead line plant and apparatus is safe to access; install flag and check wristlets if required
• Install access equipment (e.g., platforms, ladders, spacer trollies)
• Install high voltage temporary earthing equipment
• Carry out conductor compression jointing
• Connect spacers to conductors
• Test compression joints

Apprenticeship & Training

The apprenticeship programme takes approximately three years to complete. You will 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.

Eligibility & Qualifications

• GCSE in: 2 other subjects (grade 4 and above)
• English Language (grade 4 and above)
• Maths (grade 4 and above)
• Science (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.

Required Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Physical fitness
• Adventurous
• Safety awareness
• Resilient

Benefits

• 23 days annual leave + statutory holidays
• Competitive pension scheme (double matched up to 12%) and Sharesave options
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Protective clothing and safety equipment supplied

We're National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light and power for homes and businesses, working outdoors with underground cables, overhead lines and substations that operate between 230 and 132,000 volts. Net‑zero targets are transforming the way we work and increasing the scope of the positive impact we can make. Right now, we're looking for apprentices to join us. Our people in Network Services work across a number of teams to keep the lights on for our customers. They might be helping a customer who has lost supply or supporting a developer building a multi‑million pound project. They maintain a 24/7 service from faults and maintenance, asset replacement to new connections, working outdoors with underground cables, overhead lines and substations that operate between 230 and 132,000 volts, their work is critical to everything we do.