Trainee Control Engineer-1

Scottishpower; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36 days annual leave

Holiday Purchase – extra annual leave

Equity Plans

Payroll Giving and Charity Matched

Technology Vouchers

Electric Vehicle Schemes

Cycle to Work scheme and Travel Loans

Healthcare: dental/medical/health plan

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Savesmart financial wellbeing support

Employee discounts on various services

Job summary

ScottishPower, part of SP Energy Networks, invites applications for a Trainee Control Engineer in Glasgow. You will train to operate the distribution electricity network and work toward CONT authorisation, with a bespoke programme lasting 6 months to 2 years and progression to Control Engineer on a 24/7 shift rota.

The role offers a competitive starting salary from £45,400 plus shift allowances and a range of benefits, plus a clear career path within a global energy company.

Qualifications

• Experience in a technical environment with electrical background preferred and HV experience valuable
• HNC in Engineering or equivalent qualification
• Proactive approach with ownership of your training and development journey
• Ability to prioritise tasks effectively and make well-considered judgments
• Capability to work methodically within clear processes and timelines while maintaining high quality standards
• Flexibility to work towards a 24/7 shift rota
• Comfort working as part of a close-knit team within an Operational Control Centre
• Ability to build effective relationships with Control Room colleagues and SPEN team members across the business

Responsibilities

• Learn to operate the network safely and efficiently, following Operational Procedures and Safety Rules at all times
• Gain hands-on experience managing the operational interface between Network Operations, Incident Controllers, and Distribution Control Centre to meet Customer Service targets
• Develop skills in managing the operational relationship with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to optimise security of supply for end customers
• Cover the implementation and management of National Power Outage Emergency Procedures, and liaise with adjacent Transmission System Operators
• Learn about IIS and BMCS targets for Transmission and Distribution networks and operating systems to minimise penalty cost exposure
• Gain experience managing customer service proactively and reactively to meet KPIs
• Become proficient in controlling power system defence mechanisms including load reduction and emergency load shedding procedures
• Develop skills in approving and managing outage and network access requests while minimising risk to network security
• Learn to complete statutory reports and paperwork for network incidents
• Coordinate outage planning with internal and external parties, and maintain accurate operational IT systems
• Participate in commissioning and decommissioning plant, implementing contingency and emergency plans, and reporting defective equipment to appropriate departments

Skills

Electrical background

High Voltage experience

Technical environment experience

Training ownership

Task prioritisation

Process adherence

24/7 shift readiness

Team collaboration

Relationship building

Education

HNC in Engineering or equivalent qualification

Job description

Job Title - Trainee Control Engineer

Location: Glasgow HQ

Salary: + benefits - from £45,400 + shift allowance + benefits (Salary uplifted to next grade upon successful training period)

Help us create a better future, quicker. Join SP Energy Networks as a Trainee Control Engineer and embark on an exciting career path operating our Distribution electricity network. This role offers a unique opportunity for technically skilled professionals to transition into our Control Room environment. We'll create a bespoke training programme tailored to your background, designed to develop your expertise and guide you towards achieving SPEN's CONT authorisation. Based on your experience, this comprehensive training period typically takes between 6 months and 2 years. Once you complete your training and gain CONT authorisation, you'll progress to a Control Engineer role, working on shift patterns that enable our 24/7 operations and play a vital part in keeping electricity flowing to homes and businesses across our network.

What you'll be doing

• Learn to operate the network safely and efficiently, following Operational Procedures and Safety Rules at all times


• Gain hands‑on experience managing the operational interface between Network Operations, Incident Controllers, and our Distribution Control Centre to meet Customer Service targets


• Develop skills in managing the operational relationship with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to optimize security of supply for end customers


• Cover the implementation and management of National Power Outage Emergency Procedures, and where relevant, liaison activities with adjacent Transmission System Operators


• Learn about IIS and BMCS targets for Transmission and Distribution networks, operating systems to minimize penalty cost exposure


• Gain experience managing customer service proactively and reactively to meet key performance indicators


• Become proficient in controlling power system defence mechanisms including load reduction and emergency load shedding procedures


• Develop skills in approving and managing outage and network access requests while minimizing risk to network security


• Learn to complete statutory reports and paperwork for network incidents


• Coordinate outage planning with internal and external parties, and maintain accurate operational IT systems


• Participate in commissioning and decommissioning plant, implementing contingency and emergency plans, and reporting defective equipment to appropriate departments

What you’ll bring

• Experience working in a technical environment (electrical background preferred, High Voltage electrical experience particularly valuable, though we welcome candidates from all technical disciplines)


• HNC in an Engineering discipline or equivalent qualification


• Proactive approach with the capability to take ownership of your training and development journey


• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively and make well‑considered judgments


• Capability to work methodically within clear processes and timelines while maintaining high quality standards


• Flexibility to work towards a position that operates on a 24/7 shift rota


• Comfort working as part of a close‑knit team within our Operational Control Centre


• Ability to build effective relationships with Control Room colleagues, Incident Controllers, and other SPEN team members across the business

What's in it for you

As well as an attractive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%. At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action – our benefits are designed to help you do just that – so that you have everything you need to take care of your world – today and tomorrow.

• 36 days annual leave


• Holiday Purchase – perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave


• Equity Plans


• Payroll Giving and Charity Matched Funding


• Technology Vouchers – save more and spread the cost of your technology purchases


• Electric Vehicle Schemes – to help you transition to green/clean driving


• Cycle to Work scheme and Public Transport Season Ticket Loans


• Healthcare benefit options including: Dental Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan and annual Health Assessments


• Life Assurance (4x salary)


• Access to Savesmart financial wellbeing assistance


• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4,000 km of cables and lines that make‑up the transmission network – connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It's a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland's ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we're taking it very seriously. We're investing >£5.5 billion into our transmission network, directly supporting the rapid growth needed in renewable energy. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large‑scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in. We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long‑term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy‑related support. If you need support, please reach out to [e-mail].

Mobility

Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country. If/when required, the Company will support the employee with the necessary Immigration requirements.

IMPORTANT Advert will close at 23:59 GMT the day before Job Posting End Date below October-6-2026

We are one of the main energy companies in the world, a leader in renewables, which champions the energy transition towards a low‑emissions economy. We supply energy to nearly 100 million people in dozens of countries and develops its renewable, network and commercial activities in Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil and Australia and maintains markets such as Japan and Poland, among others, as growth platforms.

Do you want to be part of the energy of the future? Do not hesitate, join us!