Substation craftsperson Review
at National Grid
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Engineering
Eakring
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
The Role of a craftsperson is to carry out work on national grid assets as determined by outages making equipment available. This includes maintenance, refurbishment and inspection of equipment used for the transmission of electricity. It is a hands on multi-skilled role that requires a solid understanding of fitting skills, electrical and mechanical principles.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I thoroughly enjoyed the programme. It was a great opportunity to further my learning and have a skill set tailored to the final role. It was challenging at times but there was a always support to help me through the programme. I was fortunate to be able to travel to various parts of the company and work with teams other than my own as well.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
From starting the apprenticeship I have learned a lot of new skills that implemented regularly in the work I carry out in the full time position as a craftsperson. This includes; tool usage, wiring, mechanical and electrical principles. The apprenticeship helped me build on past skills such as my electrician background and helped me develop my communication skills aswell
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme was very organised with a plan that was given out at the start of each year. Any changes to the plan were well communicated ahead of time which was a good benefit. I was able to plan my time effectively because of this and pass the apprenticeship accordingly.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I have received a great amount of support from national grid through one means or another. Be that a line manager during difficult personal issues or a trainer being on the end of a phone to help with coursework. They are willing and happy to help find the best outcome through all sorts of situations.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The training for the qualifications were provided at the national grid training centre At Eakring. This meant if there were any issues it was easy to seek out help and support in order to rectify them. Working with my local time they provided great support in order for me to achieve the required qualifications .
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
As the qualification was tailor made for the final position role it helps immensely. I felt like the training provided a solid foundation to be able to carry out my job role and expand on what I head learned during my time as an apprentice. Courses were tailored on the qualification and delivered expertly by those with past experience in the field.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
At the national grid eakring training centre the grounds included; lounge for socialising, fishing lake, Astro turf for ball games and bikes for enjoying the surrounding countryside. We were encouraged to attend networking events as well as engineering\job fares and represent national grid in various venues around the uk.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend National Grid to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would highly recommend national grid to friend. They have been a great support for me during my time as an apprentice and continue to do so in my final position as a craftsperson. They have provided me with a great set of skills and a lifetime career in the energy sector.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to National Grid?
I would recommend that they look at the national grid website and research what they do as a company. And depending on what role they are applying for try to gain an understanding where national grid fits in with the energy sector as a whole and what they are aiming to achieve.
