British Army - Network Cable Installer - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship

British Army

Recruiting nationally

Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025

Posted on 9 May 2025

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Summary

A Level 3 Network Cable Installer apprentice installs, tests, and maintains copper and fibre-optic cabling for data and communications networks. They work in varied environments, ensuring mission critical, secure connectivity. The role includes hands-on technical training, health and safety and gaining industry recognised qualifications.

Wage

£25,200 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Network cable installer (level 3)
Hours
Total hours per week: 40 Shift and working patterns may vary. Working locations will vary nationally depending on the apprenticeship and working requirements.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years 6 months

Positions available

120

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

Install, maintain and protect complex networks to support defence communications, on and off the battlefield. Gain engineering and cyber qualifications while all the time earning.

NETWORKS ENGINEER

You will prepare, configure, deploy and maintain operational and tactical communication systems to ensure frontline troops and their commanders can communicate on operations worldwide. You will be able to engineer a range of systems including radios, satellite systems, computer networks and mobile communications as well as support a range of software applications and ICT.

Where you'll work

Find more out here: https://www.army.mod.uk/army-careers/

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

BRITISH ARMY

Your training course

Network cable installer (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Install copper cabling components for Local Area Networking (LAN). Carry out maintenance tasks on copper cable networks. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
  • Install fibre optic cabling components for Local Area Networking LAN and Wide Area Network WAN infrastructure. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
  • Conduct testing on copper cabling in accordance with equipment manufacturer's procedures, compliant to industry standards, interpret results and rectify failures.
  • Carry out testing of fibre optic cabling using an optical loss test set, Tier 1 and fibre inspection tool in accordance with equipment manufacturer’s procedures, and compliant to industry standards.
  • Analyse copper and fibre test results and provides certification to the customer.
  • Prepare, constructs and installs telecommunications equipment cabinets, either pre-built or from flat-pack. Arrange and install fixtures and fittings for the intended use. Selects network equipment components for installation into cabinets, differentiating between switches and routers.
  • Work at height in a safe manner.
  • Work in confined spaces by implementing health and safety procedures, using and maintaining personal protective equipment.
  • Apply health and safety working practices to keep themselves and others safe.
  • Analyse plans, make decisions about equipment types and quantity, and predict time frames.
  • Assess the requirements for cable containment by type and size to build a pathway suitable for routing data cables. Install containment systems, using tools and methods for cutting, shaping and mounting tray, basket trunking and conduit.
  • Install end-point equipment using fixings and media.
  • Interpret the customer statement of requirements to determine the quantity and quality of components to be used in the cable network.
  • Quantify equipment requirements and timelines for tasks to be carried out.
  • Communicate with key stakeholders in the customer's organisation including the customer, the construction design and management CDM co-ordinator, the project manager and the information technology IT security officer.
  • Maintain cyber security, applying processes and procedures aimed at protecting data confidentiality.
  • Install copper cabling components for Local Area Networking (LAN). Carry out maintenance tasks on copper cable networks. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
  • Install fibre optic cabling components for Local Area Networking LAN and Wide Area Network WAN infrastructure. Identify, locate and repair common faults.
  • Conduct testing on copper cabling in accordance with equipment manufacturer's procedures, compliant to industry standards, interpret results and rectify failures.
  • Carry out testing of fibre optic cabling using an optical loss test set, Tier 1 and fibre inspection tool in accordance with equipment manufacturer’s procedures, and compliant to industry standards.
  • Analyse copper and fibre test results and provides certification to the customer.
  • Prepare, constructs and installs telecommunications equipment cabinets, either pre-built or from flat-pack. Arrange and install fixtures and fittings for the intended use. Selects network equipment components for installation into cabinets, differentiating between switches and routers.
  • Work at height in a safe manner.
  • Work in confined spaces by implementing health and safety procedures, using and maintaining personal protective equipment.
  • Apply health and safety working practices to keep themselves and others safe.
  • Analyse plans, make decisions about equipment types and quantity, and predict time frames.
  • Assess the requirements for cable containment by type and size to build a pathway suitable for routing data cables. Install containment systems, using tools and methods for cutting, shaping and mounting tray, basket trunking and conduit.
  • Install end-point equipment using fixings and media.
  • Interpret the customer statement of requirements to determine the quantity and quality of components to be used in the cable network.
  • Quantify equipment requirements and timelines for tasks to be carried out.
  • Communicate with key stakeholders in the customer's organisation including the customer, the construction design and management CDM co-ordinator, the project manager and the information technology IT security officer.
  • Maintain cyber security, applying processes and procedures aimed at protecting data confidentiality.

Your training plan

Step 1 - Your initial military training which will teach you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle. If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you'll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate. If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you'll do the regular 14-week adult basic training.

Step 2 - This is the start of your technical training designed to introduce basic signalling and communication skills while building on your existing military skills. You will be taught basic principles and skills, such as siting, operating and talking on military radios, radio logs, map marking, working at heights, health and safety, and of course security. As your career progresses you learn how to build and configure networks, manage system problems as well as gain an understanding of field generators and security, including cyber.

Qualifications you could get after training:

  • Driving licences: B+E Level 4 Network Engineer Apprenticeship or
  • Level 3 Network Cable Installer Apprenticeship
  • Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths, English and IT
  • Level 7 PG Cert Wireless Communications
  • Certified Network Cable Installer
  • City and Guilds: 3663-03 Designing and Planning Networks, 3667-02 Fibre Optic Tech, 3667-02 SWS Structure and Cabling
  • Chartered Management Institute Level 4 Team Leading, Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring, Level 6 Leadership and Management
  • Level 4 Team Leading
  • Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring
  • Level 6 Leadership and Management Apprenticeship
  • Professional Registration with the Institute of for Engineering and Technology at ICT Tech, IEng and CEng levels
  • Professional Registration with the British Computer Society at RIT Tech and CITP levels

Whole life learning opportunities and education up to Masters Degree level

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade A-C)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths (grade A-C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience

About this company

Protecting the nation and its dependent territories will always be the British Army's first role. Highly trained soldiers are ready to deploy anywhere at any time to meet a variety of challenges, ranging from support to the Police following a terrorist attack, to specialist capabilities such as bomb disposal and intelligence experts, 24 hours a day 365 days a year, we are always ready to serve. You belong here.

https://www.army.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

The Army offers job security, career growth, adventure and world class training. Benefits include competitive pay, travel, fitness, leadership skills, a pension, free healthcare, cheaper housing and 30 days paid leave a year, plus public holidays.

After this apprenticeship

  • If you show the right commitment, skills and academic ability, you could become a Commissioned Officer. Members of the British Army are promoted on merit. Work hard, study hard, and you can rise through the ranks.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BRITISH ARMY

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000319632.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Please follow the instructions on the British Army home page.