Planning and Design Trainee Review
at National Grid
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Hinckley
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.5 /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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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
My role includes assessing the electrical network to see if it can handle new connections. If there are reinforcement works, the my role is to reconfigure the network to facilitate the excess demand that we are seeing. I also design and cost the job up, and remain in contact with my customer throughout the process until the job has been completed.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy the variety of my job. Sometimes I will be on site meeting customers, other times I will be assessing the network and problem solving. It is very varied and fast paced.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Prior to working here I did not understand the electrical network and how this operated. Since attending my in house courses, I understand these things more thoroughly. Also college gave us the opportunity to learn about programming, fault finding, materials and business.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Any problems that I have had with the programmed structure has been addressed and amended for future intakes. felt that training was too full on in the first year, however this has now changed.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
There is plenty of support available, including managers, assessors, mentors, trainers etc.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
I have been given time away from work to complete my academic coursework, however workload is still continuing whilst at academic, therefore time pressures form my jobs may affect how much time I actually get to spend on the coursework.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I have completed a HNC in electrical engineering. We covered general modules such as math, science, materials, programming and electronics. The training provider did not cover the electrical network in depth, however I have learnt this through in house training.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
You are allowed to attend up to 3 volunteering days a year, and there are also employee resource groups available. I am yet to attend either.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend National Grid to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It is a great company to work for and they look after you. Also the salary is incomparable to other level 4 apprentices. The industry will always be around and it is a job that you can take with you anywhere in the world.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to National Grid?
Think creatively but realistically. Consider how the network is evolving with the move to an electrified future and research different interview methods along with NGED values. National Grid transmission and National Grid Distribution are also 2 different companies !!! This was something I did not realize prior to starting.
