Apprentice Highways Electrician

Summary

Gateshead Council has responsibility for public services and roads within Gateshead such as waste collection, road repairs and social care. Develop skills, knowledge, and experience in all aspects of highway construction, projects/schemes and maintenance including working on roads, footpaths, cycle ways and bridges including drainage and fencing.

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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age related NMW after first 12 months

Training course

Highway electrical maintenance and installation operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Friday 7.30am - 4.00pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

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

Undertake Health and Safety and attend other training as required
Meeting the requirements of the NVQ assessments
Install, maintain (including fault diagnosis and repairs), inspect and test low voltage highway electrical equipment and systems (e.g. street lighting, traffic signals, safety cameras)
Understanding and identifying the different types of equipment and systems used in the highway electrical sector, the principles of operation, and how they are installed and maintained
Understanding electrical principles and practices and applying these to highway electrical equipment and systems
Safely and efficiently plan, prepare and organize works on site including obtaining the necessary plant, tools, materials and competent people
Understanding how to install, and actually installing and connecting a range of highway electrical equipment and components (e.g. cables, fuses, distribution boards); understanding and dealing with varying site conditions; Understanding and carrying out the relevant electrical and functional tests for installed equipment and completing records (e.g. job sheets and electrical test certificates)
Understanding the principles and practices of routine (e.g. cleaning and bulk re-lamping) and reactive (e.g. responding to lights or signals that are out or out of timing) maintenance including the safety and technical implications, the diagnosis and correction of faults and the tests for equipment being maintained; applying these in practice
Understanding the scope, purpose and procedures associated with commissioning inspection and tests, handover and recording of results; planning and carrying out the commissioning (e.g. for ensuring traffic signal installations are safe and the specification of equipment, the installation and the timings are in accordance with the customers’ requirements)
Use of powered hand tools and work equipment

Where you'll work

Shearlegs Road
Gateshead
NE8 3EN

Training

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

College or training organisation

GROUP HORIZON LIMITED

Your training course

Highway electrical maintenance and installation operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Understanding the employer’s health and safety and environmental requirements and procedures. Applying these requirements and procedures by hazard identification, site specific risk assessments and following safe systems of work and applying these to their own work in order to keep themselves, their colleagues, other workers, pedestrians and the travelling public safe.
Understanding the employer’s requirements and identifying what work is required, what their responsibilities are and what plant, equipment, tools and materials are required. Applying this through the planning, preparation and organisation of their own works (e.g. by making sure the right materials are available) so that work can be carried out efficiently and without delay
Understanding the employer’s requirements. Being courteous and polite; getting on with others and communicating verbally or in writing effectively
Identification of the common types of highway electrical equipment and the underlying principles of how these are installed and maintained (e.g. street lights, traffic signals, traffic signs, safety cameras) – together with detailed specialised understanding on the chosen sub- sector(s). Applying this in practice by ensuring component parts are correctly assembled and installed; and by carrying out replacement of defective parts so that the equipment is safe and functions correctly
Understanding of and applying the employer’s requirements and typical installation techniques and hazards on site (including identifying and managing typical hazards e.g. traffic, members of the public, underground and overhead services (e.g. electricity, water, gas); Installing infrastructure equipment and some components (e.g. excavating and using lorry mounted cranes to install lighting columns or traffic signal posts; using steps or mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) to install street lighting lanterns or traffic signal heads) safely (including the use and operation of plant, equipment and tools; safe lifting and safe excavation and reinstatement)
Understanding the practices of maintenance techniques both routine (e.g. regular inspections of internal wiring, structural inspection of the posts, changing lamps and cleaning streetlight bowls) and reactive (e.g. identifying typical faulty components such as lamps or fuses). Carrying these out in practice to ensure safe and efficient operations
Understanding the employer’s requirements and procedures covering emergency attendance and emergency work. Following procedures on site to identify hazards and the actions required to ensure the site is safe - (e.g. after a road traffic incident where a vehicle hits a streetlight or traffic signal - liaising with emergency services and electricity company, ensuring the site is safe for traffic and pedestrians)
Understand how to identify and apply the appropriate systems of surface protection (e.g. applying paint to lighting columns) safely and how to dispose of waste appropriately; Carrying out appropriate surface preparation safely (e.g. using mobile elevated work platforms, ensuring the public and property are protected from injury); Apply appropriate systems of surface protection safely;

Your training plan

Highway Electrical Maintenance and Installation Operative
Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English Language (grade 3-9 / D-A)
Maths (grade 3-9 / D-A)

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

Problem solving skills
Team working
Physical fitness

Other requirements

Outdoor working in all weathers.

About this company

Local Authority for Gateshead.

http://www.gateshead.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

28 days annual leave. Staff discounts on retailers.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Possible permanent role

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