Apprentice Electrical Substation Engineer Review
at National Grid
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Norwich
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
As an apprentice I spend most of the time at the training center in Eakring where I learn lots about how to maintain substation electrical equipment and how to protect it. When I am on site at my substation I spend most of it writing reports and assessments for my logbook. When I am not writing for my logbook I try to get as stuck in as possible in jobs and outages that are required for my logbook. I have to travel a lot all over the country to get on specific jobs to complete my logbook.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I have struggled with my programme in terms of deciding whether this role is suited to me or not. There are lots of things I enjoy such as the hands on work, the welcoming team and employees at NG, the salary is very good, perks such as a company car and the training is good fun and interesting even if it is tough sometimes. The work on site is interesting when work is happening but there are periods that are not busy and can be a lot of waiting around so I try to keep busy with my computer work. On the other hand, I spend more time than I would like traveling for training or logbook jobs; these can sometimes feel like a tick box exercise but overall it is important learning for my role once I am qualified. Overall, this apprenticeship is excellent for someone who knows they are passionate about the industry and is a very good way of getting into National Grid as you receive valuable training.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt so many new skills it is hard to pin point them all. Technical skills in terms of maintaining equipment, policy and procedure for understanding the documentation when it comes to jobs, my communication skills have soared as there is a lot of calling and emailing you have to do to people you have never met if you want to really progress with your logbook and learning. Health and Safety skills above all have been strengthened here especially with the Higher Apprentice scheme completing training in NEBOSH. As well as Protection and Control training which requires a high level of mathematics knowledge. As a Higher Apprentice I also received a HNC at college so all the skills that come with that including essay writing and managing your own projects.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Overall the training is very well structured. At times there have been some scheduling that has not been quite right or planned in with the apprentice in mind but we have monthly feedback reviews where we can voice these to the management team. Training is planned in advanced and you can see when you are on site or away at training. Sometimes the training plan can be flexible if you look to change in advance.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My Operations manager is very good at looking after the team and I. It changes between managers but the 1-to-1 meetings we have really help me let him know what I am up to and my questions and lets him talk about what he expects from me and my role. I can reach out to him whenever I need about anything. Pretty much all over the company you find decent managers who look out for their team.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
I do receive a lot of support from the apprentice team. Sometimes it feels they ask a lot from the apprentices and it feels like no change happens a lot of us ask for it. However, overall the team are there to help us succeed and will try to do what they can to ensure that.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Having an understanding on the fundamentals of how electricity works is essential to work in this role. There are parts of the job that cannot be learnt on the HNC but the apprenticeship as a whole allows you to practice and learn all aspects of the job that you are moving into. While I have heard that perhaps this apprenticeship is very specific to NG and may not be applicable to other companies or industries worldwide it certainly is a qualification that is held in high regard due to the priority of safety as a company and quality of teaching. And the apprenticeship is not limited to the substation engineer role, NG priorities keeping employees and are flexible with providing career changes with in NG so I could use my qualification and knowledge in many other roles and areas with in National Grid.
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
Yes, there are plenty of activities to be involved in. As the apprenticeship is pretty packed it often feels there is no time to enjoy them as much as I would like. But over the years I have enjoyed trips to the cinema, bowling and gym sessions all paid for by the apprenticeship team. There is not much in the vicinity of the training center but there is a lot that is offered to keep people entertained while staying there. At the training center there is a gym, football/tennis court, bikes to hire and outdoor gym machines. If as a cohort we wished to go and try an different activity then the team would welcome new activities. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer with STEM, networking events such as Black Business Week and other activities arranged by NG with a focus on encouraging the next generation of engineers by holding school trips and projects.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend National Grid to a friend?
Yes
Why?
All round good company to work for. They look after their employees and provide great benefits and pay. They are inclusive and safety is their main priority. The employees are very welcoming from my experience. They are leading the way for a greener future and will be an excellent place to progress in your career and have a stable job for life.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to National Grid?
Make sure you know exactly what the role is about. I feel when I first applied I did not know enough about my role and feel NG should have made this more clear. A passion for electrical engineering will really help as it is at the heart of what NG does but it is not essential. Even if you like learning new things and being outdoors repairing big machines or writing critical safety documents for job permits to keep your team safe on the job then this apprenticeship is a great place for you.
