Summary
Jointers are underground cable engineers who carry out excavation, cable laying, reinstatement and fault location on LV cables.
Wage
£18,514 a year
Training course
Power industry distribution cable jointer (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday between 9.00am - 5.30pm.
38 hours a week
Start date
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Duration
3 years
Positions available
3
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
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 LV, HV and EHV (Low, High & Extremely high voltage) network. You’ll help with network operations, connect generators and services and organise your own projects. You’ll also:
* Construct distribution substations, excavate, lay and joint cables, and terminate cables to plant
* Carry out routine inspection, locate faults and carry out repairs on underground cables and equipment
* Record asset details and positions
* Locate and identify cables, test insulation, phasing and continuity.
* Test earthing, voltage, phasing and phase rotation
* Carry out switching operations on the LV network
* Connect Generators
* Organise your own projects
Where you'll work
234 Victoria Road
Stoke-On-Trent
ST4 2JA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Training course
Power industry distribution cable jointer (level 3)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Review drawings, instructions or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, complex wiring diagrams, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
* Prioritise and plan work with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
* Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
* Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
* Report or escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Identify apparatus to be worked on.
* Interpret network schematic diagrams and geographic records to identify running arrangements.
* Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
* Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
* Carry out visual inspection to identify evidence of overhead services and buried utilities. Use electronic locating equipment. Mark the position of services and sub-structures on the work site.
* Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe condition.
* Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
* Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
* Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
* Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
* Apply security measures.
* Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
* Set up spiking gun.
* Install cables and apply protection.
* Follow live working procedures.
* Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE insulated, PVC sheathed, and paper insulated lead sheath) for low voltage cable networks using cable connectors including fitting and terminating services into cut outs. Apply system earthing connections and joint protection.
* Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE and paper insulated) using joint kits on high voltage cables up to 11kv operating voltage. Apply joint protection.
* Receive phasing colours for HV jointing tasks and interpret phasing diagrams.
* Make and break live conductor connections on LV underground networks.
* Perform testing procedures before and after making and breaking connections.
* Identify fault. Test to find the fault condition.
* Conduct fault diagnosis on underground cable networks to identify underlying cause.
* Make recommendations for the repair or restoration of plant or apparatus based on the findings of diagnostic procedures.
* Erect and maintain signing, lighting and guarding.
* Monitor works using mechanical excavators (banksman).
* Inspect excavation arrangements before work for safe access and egress.
* Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
* Record information.
* Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, reports.
* Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements. Comply with GDPR.
* Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
* Review drawings, instructions or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, complex wiring diagrams, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
* Prioritise and plan work with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
* Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
* Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
* Report or escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
* Identify apparatus to be worked on.
* Interpret network schematic diagrams and geographic records to identify running arrangements.
* Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
* Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
* Carry out visual inspection to identify evidence of overhead services and buried utilities. Use electronic locating equipment. Mark the position of services and sub-structures on the work site.
* Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe condition.
* Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
* Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
* Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
* Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
* Apply security measures.
* Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
* Set up spiking gun.
* Install cables and apply protection.
* Follow live working procedures.
* Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE insulated, PVC sheathed, and paper insulated lead sheath) for low voltage cable networks using cable connectors including fitting and terminating services into cut outs. Apply system earthing connections and joint protection.
* Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE and paper insulated) using joint kits on high voltage cables up to 11kv operating voltage. Apply joint protection.
* Receive phasing colours for HV jointing tasks and interpret phasing diagrams.
* Make and break live conductor connections on LV underground networks.
* Perform testing procedures before and after making and breaking connections.
* Identify fault. Test to find the fault condition.
* Conduct fault diagnosis on underground cable networks to identify underlying cause.
* Make recommendations for the repair or restoration of plant or apparatus based on the findings of diagnostic procedures.
* Erect and maintain signing, lighting and guarding.
* Monitor works using mechanical excavators (banksman).
* Inspect excavation arrangements before work for safe access and egress.
* Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact.
* Apply team working principles.
* Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
* Record information.
* Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, reports.
* Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements. Comply with GDPR.
* Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Training schedule
* 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 2 Qualification in Electrical Engineering. Your training will include periods of on-the-job training and development, learning from an experienced and qualified Jointer
* Following a formal assessment of your knowledge, skills and behaviours, you’ll become a qualified Jointer yourself
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)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted 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