Connections Engineer Higher Apprentice - Warwick

This apprenticeship has multiple roles which sit in two areas of the business. The first is based within our Customer Connections Team. This is the department that connects customers — such as data centres, battery storage projects, offshore wind farms, transport networks and solar farms — to the electricity transmission network.

The second is based in Infrastructure, Development and Delivery (IDD). This department is responsible for the design, development, and delivery of major new infrastructure across nuclear, cables, substations, overhead lines, and visual impact provisions. They’re fully accountable for projects agreed through Network Operations Assessments including optioneering and safe delivery of high value, highly complex projects of significant interest to time.

During the application process, you will learn more about these business areas and will be placed in one of them should you be successful.

It’s a collaborative effort, and at any one time there are between 300-400 people working within the department. Their expertise includes: construction, project management, commercial, analytical, account management, communications, power system engineering and feasibility engineering.

The connections process is key to delivering the capacity needed for an efficient and renewable transmission network and we need to deliver an increasing number of highly complex and exciting new projects. In this role you would play a crucial role in enabling us to do this.

As a CE Higher Apprentice, you can expect to be involved in any number of the below activities:

1. Support the development and costing for less complex customer connection investment up to the point that a proposal has been developed and an investment driver has been established.
2. Develop a range of costed delivery programme options for each project to discuss with the customer to ensure best fit and solution with their requirements.
3. Drive customer and stakeholder satisfaction through positive engagement and work pro-actively to resolve issues in a timely manner.
4. Support the investment process for a portfolio of less complex customer investments up to and including the handover to the EPC Project Manager.
5. Support the scheme team, actively managing key stakeholders to ensure their timely input and agreement to the selection and development of investments, pursuant to timely approvals.
6. Develop the least cost, optimal, efficient and safe solution in line with CDM Regulations and SHESQ considerations. Document all residual design issues, CDM issues, hazards and risks.
7. Undertake the required site and condition assessments, and support the consenting, type registration, cost estimation, programme risk mitigation and innovation activities to enable the delivery vehicle to implement the solution on site.
8. Produce all required project documentation, ensuring governance is maintained throughout the investment process whilst also demonstrating the implementation of lessons learned and best practice.
9. Monitor and control the investment throughout the investment process and provide competent, accurate and timely financial forecasting information to support regulatory reporting, and business and capital planning.
10. Enact the role of Client's Delegated Representative and where appropriate, Principle Designer.

Location

The role will be based in our Warwick office. These vacancies offer flexible, hybrid working.

• You will need to have a GCSE in English Language AND in Math at Grade 4 or above (or equivalent).
• 2 A levels / A2: Grades A* - C (including Math) OR Level 3BTEC National Certificate or T-level in an Engineering discipline at Grade Merit or Distinction.

You don’t need prior work experience; the determination and will to succeed is far more important as we will teach you everything you need to know. The role will provide you with a variety of skills including transferrable skills to support your career development within National Grid.

We are proud to offer a starting salary of £29,819.

As a first step to your career in the energy industry, our Higher Apprenticeship programmes are like no other! You’ll gain an insight into how we work at National Grid, understand what a career with us can offer, and receive some great rewards and benefits:

• Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Electrical Systems Engineering HTQ.
• 26 days annual leave + statutory holidays.
• Pension scheme and Sharesave options.
• Earn whilst you learn on our Apprenticeship Programme.
• You’ll develop well-rounded skills through practical experience.

National Grid is at the heart of the energy future, and our people are at the heart of National Grid. We’re 30,000 colleagues strong. In the UK, National Grid don’t generate or sell energy – we join the dots to get energy from A to B. From making a cup of tea in the morning, to keeping the lights on in hospitals, our electricity network puts power in the hands of people. Without it, the world as we know it would grind to a halt.

The world of energy is changing beyond recognition as we focus on building a cleaner, greener future. Working at National Grid, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in the UK – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any adjustments that you require.

You can only apply for one Apprenticeship opportunity during this recruitment cycle.

We recruit on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close our vacancies once we have enough applications/based on volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure you obtain the place you want in the application process.

Assessment centres will be held between January - April 2025.

National Grid's Apprenticeship programme in the UK is open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria including an existing and valid right to work in the UK. As part of the application process this will need to be evidenced and verified before you can start the programme.

Applicants for our Apprenticeship programmes should be aware that we are unable to provide sponsorship if you require a visa for our apprenticeship programmes. Please be aware that it’s your responsibility to explore avenues of working in the UK, as we’re not able to provide advice on this.

For information about visas please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas