About us
Did you boil a kettle to make a coffee this morning? Or charge your iPod? Or turn on the lights while you brushed your teeth? Have you jumped on the tube recently or jetted off from one of the major airports in the South East? All of these events could not have occurred without the hard work of staff at UK Power Networks.
UK Power Networks distributes more than a quarter of the UK’s electricity through its networks of substations, underground cables and overhead lines making sure the lights stay on across London, the South East and the East of England, regardless of who customers pay their energy bills to. A range of other companies deliver power to the rest of the country.
Our programme
UK Power Networks’ Trailblazer apprenticeship programme, endorsed by Energy and Utility Skills and accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, provides the opportunity for individuals to become fully trained, qualified and competent electrical distribution craftspeople specialising in one of three trades: cable jointing; overhead lines or electrical equipment fitting. It’s the first of its kind in the energy industry.
Apprentices will follow a Trailblazer apprenticeship framework which will include a Certificate in Electrical Power Engineering and a competency based qualification in Electrical Power Engineering whilst on the programme.
The apprenticeship programme is approximately three years working towards recognised qualifications whilst gaining skills, knowledge, understanding and experience in their chosen craft. The apprentices will be following a new employer-designed apprenticeship standard designed by top employers to meet the needs of the industry.
Trainees spend up to 11 months in residential training centres acquiring the basic knowledge, skills and safety competency to work on the network before starting work in their areas. The residential element of the training programme is compulsory and apprentices will be required to live in employer-provided accommodation during the working week. Apprentices will take part in training at external providers sites, including an Outward Bound week in the Lake District. Apprentices will have accommodation provided by UK Power Networks for set periods as required.
You will gain skills, knowledge and experience through training courses and supervised on-the-job experience working on the electricity network, culminating in the acquisition of recognised qualifications. By the conclusion of the programme, you will be a fully-qualified craft person. Successful candidates will also be required to obtain a full driving licence as soon as eligible, which is to be personally funded.
Our vision
We were the first electricity distributor named in the Sunday Times’ 25 Best Big Companies to Work For, and also hold the title of Utility of the Year (2012, 2015 and 2016). We’re striving to be an employer of choice, a responsible and respected corporate citizen and sustainably cost-efficient. Our culture is based on values of integrity, continuous development, diversity and inclusivity, respect, unity and responsibility.
If you share these values, want to play a role influencing the energy industry’s future and want to join a critical sector at a critical time of change then we believe our unique combination of training and hands-on work as well as competitive benefits will get your career with us off to a flying start!
Find out more
If you would like to know more about working for UK Power Networks then please visit our careers page.
