Fitter Advanced Apprentice - Grantham

National Grid Electricity Distribution

Grantham, NG31 9RT

Closes on Friday 28 February

Posted on 23 December 2024

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Contents

Summary

The apprenticeship programme takes approximately three years to complete, and you’ll spend your first 12 weeks being inducted onto the programme at one of our Training Centres.

Annual wage
£17,649 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Power industry substation fitter (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5:30pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

3 years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

The apprenticeship programme takes approximately three years to complete, and you’ll spend your first 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 a Power Networks Craftsperson, achieving a City & Guilds Level 3 qualification in Electrical Engineering. Your Training will include periods of on-the-job training and development, learning from an experienced and qualified Fitter. Following a formal assessment of your knowledge, skills and behaviours, you’ll become a qualified Fitter yourself. 

A Power Networks Fitter has responsibility for the safe construction, maintenance and repair of the electrical power network. You’ll work on distribution systems up to 66kV (or 132kV if in a Projects team). Fitters are fitting engineers who work in and around substations, using electrical knowledge and skills to install and maintain high voltage plant and apparatus including transformers, switchgear, and cable terminations. 
 

You will represent National Grid and carry out work handed down by other areas of the business. 

Join us, and we’ll see you participate in craft skills activities on the live LV network, on dead LV, HV and EHV circuits (live HV circuits if part of a Hot Glove team). You’ll help with network operations. You’ll also: 

  • Construct distribution substations, install plant
  • Carry out routine inspection, maintenance and repairs of substation and protection equipment
  • Install and terminate secondary wiring (small wiring)
  • Record asset routes, details and positions
  • Record plant details
  • Test earthing, voltage, phasing and phase rotation
  • Write outage requests and switching programmes for simple outages

Where you’ll work

Isaac Newton Way

Grantham

NG31 9RT

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC

Your training course

Power industry substation fitter (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents
  • Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
  • Prioritise and plan tasks with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks for example, consumables.
  • Identify apparatus to be worked on.
  • Receive and clear a safety document. Brief a working party.
  • Follow substation access and egress procedures.
  • Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, demarcate the work area, working at height, confined spaces, COSHH.
  • Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
  • Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe condition.
  • Apply security measures for example, set alarm system, remove climbing aides.
  • Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
  • Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
  • Use working at height access equipment for example, scaffold towers and ladders.
  • Select, inspect, and use working at height personal protective equipment.
  • Select, check, prepare, use, and store hand tools and power tools.
  • Select, check, and prepare resources.
  • Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, or environmental impact.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, and reports.
  • Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Read, interpret, and follow maintenance specifications.
  • Conduct diagnostic testing to identify asset condition; identify action.
  • Conduct continuity testing using a continuity test instrument or multimeter.
  • Conduct joint or contact resistance testing using a contact resistance tester (ductor).
  • Conduct insulation testing using an insulation test instrument.
  • Conduct circuit breaker timing tests.
  • Set up oil pumping equipment.
  • Remove and replace insulating oil from substation plant avoiding contamination.
  • Clean oil filled equipment following removal of insulating oil.
  • Check circuit breaker contact condition; remove and replace or dress.
  • Take oil samples from equipment.
  • Clean and lubricate operating mechanisms using approved lubricants.
  • Adjust, remove, and replace components for example, gaskets.
  • Conduct functional tests of equipment - post maintenance or routine.
  • Inspect substation site, buildings and equipment including steelwork and neutral earthing conductors and connections and identify defects.
  • Conduct electrical testing of earth electrodes using a digital earth resistance tester.
  • Joint earthing conductors using mechanical compression joints.
  • Check battery connections for any damage, clean cells, check monitoring alarms, check function of charging equipment.
  • Test substation batteries using voltage and analytical testing instruments.
  • Conduct supply checks of a low voltage single and three phase supply to identify: correct polarity, voltage, earth fault loop impedance and phase rotation.
  • Use electrical test instruments to diagnose a fault condition on low voltage distribution or control equipment for example open circuit, blown fuse, short circuit or out phase condition.
  • Interpret network schematic diagrams and geographic records to identify running arrangements prior to operation.
  • Prepare low voltage or high voltage switching operation schedules.
  • Operate network switching equipment such as switches, circuit breakers, links or fuses on low voltage or high voltage distribution networks.
  • Interpret network schematic diagrams prior to carrying out testing activities.
  • Use mobile elevated work platforms.
  • Use diagnostic equipment to identify asset condition; identify action.
  • Conduct testing using a continuity test instrument or multimeter.
  • Conduct resistance testing using a contact resistance tester (ductor).
  • Remove and replace insulating medium for example, oil, SF6 or air from transmission plant avoiding contamination.
  • Clean equipment following removal of insulating medium.
  • Check circuit breaker contact condition; remove and replace or dress.
  • Take insulation medium samples from equipment for example, oil, SF6.
  • Clean and lubricate operating mechanisms using approved lubricants.
  • Adjust or replace components.
  • Conduct functional tests of equipment, post maintenance or routine, to confirm operating to expected parameters.
  • Conduct a visual inspection of transmission steelwork earthing connections; identify issues.
  • Restore power.
  • Conduct transformer maintenance including tap changers, Buchholz relay, WTI, qualitrol, breathers, surge arrestors, coordinating gaps, arcing horns, insulator checks and recalibrating (LNER).
  • Conduct air system maintenance including making new pipework HP fittings, air leak detection and gas leak detection.
  • Conduct ancillary equipment maintenance.
  • Read, interpret, and follow representations, drawings, and graphical information to complete tasks. For example, multicore diagrams, schematics, and core sheets.
  • Prove plant, equipment, cabling, and system is safe to work on. For example, prove dead, isolate.
  • Check earthing is in place. For example, additional earths, equipment earths, and drain earths.
  • Follow lifting plan.
  • Install batteries. Check function and action as required.
  • Position transformers.
  • Locate and fix high voltage switchgear.
  • Select, position, and install AC/DC supply power cable and power wiring.
  • Apply mechanical connections, brazing, and welding techniques.
  • Lay and fix earth tape within excavation and to plant and equipment.
  • Produce wiring core sheets from wiring diagrams.
  • Select, position, and install containment management system. For example, unistrut, ladder tray, and trunking.
  • Select, position, and connect multi-core wiring including glanding, looming, crimping, and ferruling. For example, panel wiring within a protection panel and switchgear. Apply labelling and identification system.
  • Use test instruments. For example, volt meters, multi-function tester, and resistance tester.
  • Conduct mechanical testing. For example, torque and proof loading.
  • Conduct alignment checks.
  • Take oil samples for testing.
  • Apply diagnostic fault-finding techniques.
  • Interpret test results and action as required.
  • Replace components within equipment.
  • Remove cabling and equipment.
  • Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
  • Prioritise and plan tasks with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
  • Identify and organise resources to complete tasks for example, consumables.
  • Identify apparatus to be worked on.
  • Receive and clear a safety document. Brief a working party.
  • Follow substation access and egress procedures.
  • Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
  • Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, demarcate the work area, working at height, confined spaces, COSHH.
  • Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
  • Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe condition.
  • Apply security measures for example, set alarm system, remove climbing aides.
  • Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
  • Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
  • Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
  • Use working at height access equipment for example, scaffold towers and ladders.
  • Select, inspect, and use working at height personal protective equipment.
  • Select, check, prepare, use, and store hand tools and power tools.
  • Select, check, and prepare resources.
  • Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, or environmental impact.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
  • Record information.
  • Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, and reports.
  • Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Your training plan

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • 2 other subjects (grade 4 and above)
  • English Language (grade 4 and above)
  • Maths (grade 4 and above)
  • Science (grade 4 and above)

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

  • English or Maths (grade Pass)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Physical fitness
  • Adventurous
  • Safety awareness
  • Resilient

About this company

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.

https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

- 23 days annual leave + statutory holidays - Competitive pension scheme (Double matched up to 12%) and Sharesave options - Employee Assistance Programme - Protective clothing and safety equipment supplied

After this apprenticeship

  • You’ll become a qualified Fitter. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC

box.ukapprentices@nationalgrid.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000293488.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 28 February

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.