Higher apprentice (substation) Review

My role within national grid is to gain knowledge and experience that will allow me to progress into a substation engineers position within a team by the end of the three year program. This entails a range of different topics and training undertaken, including a foundation degree at Aston University.

Yes to both. I have learnt new skills such as electrical panel wiring, for this I undertook a three week course based at National Grid's Eakring academy, it was delivered by an external trainer. During this course I learned a number of different techniques for stripping and wiring cables into a panel in order to power a two-way light switch. My existing skills for mechanical operations such as filing have improved through tuition and practice on other course at Eakring.

I enjoy the new challenges that I have faced since I joined National Grid, I worked at my previous place of employment for seven and a half years. The change of environment (both for work and training, engineering specialization, personnel has reinvigorated my development, after I had started to stagnate in my development previously. The issue main issue I have with my program involves issues with relocation for my base site.

The program I am currently undertaking is very well organized. This is likely the result of the company running these apprenticeships each year and they are as a result, well aware of how they plan for the course to progress throughout the three year period. There are some issues with the course with different programs having different benefits (such as company cars) while other programs have driving bans in place. This is bizarre as the two courses are still run by the same branch (ET) of National Grid.

I feel I receive a good level of support from my employer to come to grips with a large range and quantity of new information and simultaneous challenges within the program. However, I do feel as though there has been an element with some staff "moving the goal posts" for relocation during my course, this has had a negative impact on my mental health.

I have received support to outline issues I have faced in achieving the academic aspects of my program. Having faced issues within my personal life in the time up to the January exams we had, I failed one of the exams taken. After falling short in this result, my training provider met with me to discuss the issues I've faced and how we could overcome these.

I feel that the training provided to me is especially helpful to enable me to meet the final requirements of my role as it is tailored towards national grid and the my specific role such that the content and structure allows for steady progress towards the completion of my program. On other courses I have taken in the past, I have found that there are elements present that don't apply to my role.

On site at Eakring there is some facilities for football, basketball, fishing and cycling. Additionally, there are professional events held for engineering conventions such as the "Big Bang" we were invited to volunteer to attend the Big Bang event as current apprentices within engineering. I felt that currently being near the start of my program that I didn't have much to offer new talent potentials, however in the future I may take up this opportunity to influence young minds.

Yes

The company as a whole is a very good employer that has huge amounts to offer to potential candidates for future roles. I have had issues within the workplace myself, however, if relocation was not a factor then I believe this role would suit me greatly. Additionally, there is such a variety of roles and specializations within National Grid, that there is something to suit everyone.

Ensure that the end job offered to you is what you want. The application process for my role was four months long and it was only after managing to progress through several stages of the process to be offered the job, that I was made aware that I would be required to relocate to London. I accepted the role with reservations, as I had gone to some effort to get the job offer and felt I owed it to myself to try and make it work. If I had known this at the start of the process however, I would most likely never have applied.