Substation Engineer Level 3 Apprenticeship 2026, Asset Operations - South East (North Kent)
About The Role
Work at the heart of National Grid
Wouldyou like to work for a company that makes electricity happen for every single person in England and Wales? A company that invests billions in Net Zero and creating a brighter energy future?
On this apprenticeship you will be working towards a Level 3 EAL Subsidiary Diploma in Engineering Technologies.
You will also be paid over £24,000 a year while you train, with free food, accommodation, and travel.
The training is carried out through a combination of courses run at our Global Technical Training Centre of Excellence and on-site training on real transmission equipment in a live substation environment.
Our three-year Advanced Apprenticeship Substations will train you to become a technician in one of our 347 substations. Our substations are instrumental in the transmission of high voltage electricity over England and Wales. Transforming high voltage electricity into low voltage electricity, which can be used in homes and businesses.
Our technicians play a vital role in looking after our substations. Without their careful maintenance the safe, reliable supply of electricity simply could not happen. This apprenticeship will allow you to become one of them.
You’ll be learning to do things like maintenance work on power transformers, main connections, and terminals. You’ll be repairing different types of joints and working with things such as air systems, batteries, and environmental battery charger systems.
Following strict safety guidelines, you will carry out the maintenance, repair, and monitoring of high-voltage substation equipment. This will include circuit breakers, transformers, disconnectors, compressors, and auxiliary systems.
As you can probably tell, these apprenticeships are for people who really want to get stuck in. If that sounds like it might be you, we’d be very interested in receiving your application.
Here some extra information we thought was important for you to know:
* It’s important that you deliver all works with safety being at the heart of all actions and decisions. Demonstrating safety behaviours by not walking past, following process and rules and speaking up where things don’t look right.
Location
This role is based across the South East region. This means you'll be expected to travel around this region as part of your role.
Due to the nature of this role, you'll need to live within a 45 minute drive of the following postcode: DA11 8HX
About You
You are driven and proactive, with an appetite for continuous improvement. You know how to build on your existing knowledge and skills and have the enthusiasm to run with things and to try to make them better. You’re articulate and know how to communicate appropriately with different people.
You are a flexible multitasker who can do multiple jobs at the same time and still pay great attention to detail. It’s doesn’t matter if you’re not academically dazzling; we want practical people with engineering mindsets who are really keen to apply themselves.
Our Advanced Apprenticeships are for people who have FIVE GCSEs, including passes in Maths and English Language (or equivalent) graded 4/C or above.
By the end of your first year, you’ll need a driving licence that permits you to drive in the UK.
You’ll need to be able to live away from home during your training; primarily at our Eakring Training Centre in Nottinghamshire. Typically, you’ll stay on-site from Monday to Thursday and return home for the weekend (Friday to Sunday). The amount of time spent at Eakring will decrease as you progress through the programme:
Year 1 – around 75%
Year 2 – around 50%
Year 3 – around 25%
What You'll Get
We are proud to offer a starting salary of £24,306
As a first step to your career in the energy industry, our Advanced 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:
* You’ll get 26 days annual leave plus statutory holidays
* You could earn a £250 bonus, depending on performance
* Double-matched pension contribution scheme
* We will pay for one professional membership subscription.
Our My Discounts scheme offers discounts on everything from the weekly shop to your annual summer holidays. You’ll find savings on cinema tickets and at a range of high street retailers, including Sainsburys, John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Marks and Spencer.
National Grid is committed to the personal development of our staff. Joining us, you’ll be supported as you develop a wide range of business, and technical skills through structured training and on the-job experience. You’ll work closely with your line manager to establish and navigate through a Personal Development Plan that is tailored to your needs.
Our Values and Principles
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.
Further Information
* 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 2026.
* 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.
* Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin
* 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.
At National Grid, it’s our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us stronger, so we pride ourselves on placing diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of who we are and what we do and are committed to building a workforce of the future which represents the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office where and when needed. All our offers are based on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, the innovation from creating diverse teams and perspectives, as well as business need.
At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the unique differences people bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.
Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation that comes with having diverse teams and business need.
We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and provide a working environment where everyone feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.
How to apply
To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.