Trainee Design Engineer Apprentice, Electricity Distribution, Tipton

About us

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.

As a Trainee Design Engineer Higher Apprentice (office based) you will specialise in the design of substations energised at up to 132,000 volts, preparing detailed project-specific designs/drawings/specifications and schedules. These designs would relate to both the physical attributes of substations and also the control systems therein.

The training programme provides on-the-job training and formal courses held in one of our Training Centre's at either Taunton or Tipton, over a period of approximately two years (depending on entry level qualifications). Successful candidates will also be expected to study for and achieve a higher-level qualification. 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 National Grid service area, so you need to be flexible and able to travel.

You will progress towards the role of an engineer within Engineering Design and the apprenticeship programme takes around five years to complete. You'll spend your first 10 - 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 an Electrical Designer, achieving a higher-level qualification (if not already achieved).

Your Training will include vocational and academic courses along with placements across our service areas. During these placements you will undertake managed office or field-based training with a team where you can put your new skills into practice.

As you will be studying for a higher-level qualification, you will be required to undertake placements at your training provider for up to two weeks at a time during the first two years. Accommodation and travel costs will be provided.

• Excellent communication skills; one moment, you could be speaking with customers, and the next, colleagues or internal stakeholders. Your success relies on your confidence to interact with the wider business.
• You’ll be resilient and willing to learn, genuinely passionate about your career and committed to studying. Curious problem solvers thrive here.

In addition to the below qualifications, you are required to hold a GCSE in English AND Maths (Grade A*-B/9-6)

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

• A Levels in Maths (Grade A*-C) AND a Science (Grade A*-C).
• OR HNC/HND in Electrical/Electronic Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• OR Degree in Maths, Physics, Electrical/Electronic or Mechanical Engineering.

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

You will also be required to undertake a Mathematics Diagnostic Test at the start of the higher-level qualification. The test exists to provide a profile of your mathematical strengths and weaknesses and is not used to produce a mark for assessment.

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