Control Engineer Apprentice, Electricity Distribution

About us

The teams in Control are focused on ensuring the network is secure, contingencies are in place and lost supplies are restored as safely and quickly as possible, minimising customer minutes lost and customer interruptions.

Based within our two Operational Centres, our Control Centres are the heartbeat of our operations, monitoring the system in real time, minimising risk of danger and managing security and faults. Control Centre teams also liaise with National Grid Electricity Transmission and the Government to manage national network demand and monitor the potential for incidents or emergencies.

As a Control Engineer Higher Apprentice, you will be controlling the operation of the Company s high voltage distribution network up to 132kV. You will be responsible for ensuring that all high voltage operations are carried out within the Distribution Safety Rules and other appropriate Company policy.

Our efficiency and effectiveness impacts on all five National Grid key customer promises, so we work collectively and collaboratively to ensure we deliver on safety, network reliability, excellent customer service and business efficiency, all while protecting the environment.

Our Control Centres are the heartbeat of our operations, monitoring the system in real time, minimising risk and danger and managing security and faults. Control Centre teams also liaise with the Government to manage national network demand and monitor the potential for incidents or emergencies.

The training programme will take approximately 2½ years to complete, commencing September 2026, and will comprise of practical training and placements, alongside academic study towards a higher-level qualification. Upon completion of the training period and authorisation to switch at 11kV, successful candidates will be appointed to Grade 7, towards the role of a Shift Control Engineer. Please note that this role will involve shift working, including some weekends and bank holidays, as our Control Centres operate 24/7/365.

Placements in the training programme will include specialist areas such as:
Protection, Operational Switching, Transformer Maintenance, Design Team, Network Analysis, DSO Control Systems, Operational Support, Control Room, and National Grid Telecoms, all of which will require the candidate to flexible in relation to travelling to other National Grid (NGED) locations.

The majority of the on-the-job training will take place within local teams, but you may be required to undertake placements at other locations across the NGED service area. This will include periods at one of our Contact Centres or Dispatch Units.

Reporting to the Control Team Manager, you will be expected to collect and document evidence of your progression in the scheme by producing and submitting reports. On-job learning and progression will be supported by regular meetings with your manager, and you be assigned a mentor to support you, with an expectation that you drive your progression towards successful completion.

Transportation will be either via public transport or the Apprentice s own vehicle, recompensed as per the expense guidance. Only in very exceptional circumstances as determined by the Head of Control Centres will a pool car be authorised.

In addition to the below qualifications, you are required to hold a GCSE in English AND Maths (Grade A*-C/9-4)

Our minimum entry criteria require the following qualifications (held or predicted):

• 2 A-Levels at grade A*-C, one of which must be Maths, Engineering, Electronics, or Physics
• OR a level 3 or above qualification in an Engineering based subject which contains Electrical or Electronic modules.

If your qualifications are predicated, you must receive your confirmed results prior to the commencement of the scheme.

If you are offered a position, you will be required to successfully complete a basic DBS check that shows any unspent convictions or conditional cautions.

Whatever qualifications you hold, we will need to see evidence of them for you to be considered. If possible, please upload evidence of the required qualifications with your application. These can be scanned or photographed and attached as a PDF document.

Start date is September 2026. Please note that we are unable to accommodate any annual leave during these first 12 weeks of training. Annual leave whilst working within the scheme period will need to be agreed at suitable times to coincide with the training programme.

If you are offered a position, you may be required to undertake and successfully complete a BS7858 security screening check before commencing in the role, with a National Security Vetting SC check being completed within the first twelve months as a condition of appointment.

As the post you are applying for attracts a National Security Vetting clearance there are further eligibility requirements, information can be found on the  website. To meet national security vetting requirements, you will normally need to have been…