Jointer Advanced Apprentice - Kettering
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Kettering, Leicester
Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026
Posted on 19 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Jointers are underground cable engineers who carry out excavation, cable laying, reinstatement and fault location on LV cables.
- Wage
-
£18,514 a year
- Training course
- Power industry distribution cable jointer (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday between 9am - 5:30pm.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
2
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
You will represent National Grid and carry out work handed down by other areas of the business.
Join us, and we’ll see you participate in craft skills activities on the LV, HV and EHV (Low, High & Extremely high voltage) network. You’ll help with network operations, connect generators and services and organise your own projects. You’ll also:
- Construct distribution substations, excavate, lay and joint cables, and terminate cables to the plant
- Carry out routine inspection, locate faults and carry out repairs on underground cables and equipment
- Record asset details and positions
- Locate and identify cables, test insulation, phasing and continuity.
- Test earthing, voltage, phasing and phase rotation
- Carry out switching operations on the LV network
- Connect generators
- Organise your own projects
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Cytringan House, Robinson Way, Telford Way Industrial Estate, Kettering, NN16 8PT
- 98 Scudamore Road, Leicester, LE3 1TZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
Training course
Power industry distribution cable jointer (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Review drawings, instructions or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, complex wiring diagrams, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
- Prioritise and plan work with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
- Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
- Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
- Report or escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Identify apparatus to be worked on.
- Interpret network schematic diagrams and geographic records to identify running arrangements.
- Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
- Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Carry out visual inspection to identify evidence of overhead services and buried utilities. Use electronic locating equipment. Mark the position of services and sub-structures on the work site.
- Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe condition.
- Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
- Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
- Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
- Apply security measures.
- Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
- Set up spiking gun.
- Install cables and apply protection.
- Follow live working procedures.
- Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE insulated, PVC sheathed, and paper insulated lead sheath) for low voltage cable networks using cable connectors including fitting and terminating services into cut outs. Apply system earthing connections and joint protection.
- Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE and paper insulated) using joint kits on high voltage cables up to 11kv operating voltage. Apply joint protection.
- Receive phasing colours for HV jointing tasks and interpret phasing diagrams.
- Make and break live conductor connections on LV underground networks.
- Perform testing procedures before and after making and breaking connections.
- Identify fault. Test to find the fault condition.
- Conduct fault diagnosis on underground cable networks to identify underlying cause.
- Make recommendations for the repair or restoration of plant or apparatus based on the findings of diagnostic procedures.
- Erect and maintain signing, lighting and guarding.
- Monitor works using mechanical excavators (banksman).
- Inspect excavation arrangements before work for safe access and egress.
- Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
- Record information.
- Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, reports.
- Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements. Comply with GDPR.
- Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
- Review drawings, instructions or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, complex wiring diagrams, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
- Prioritise and plan work with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
- Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
- Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
- Report or escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Identify apparatus to be worked on.
- Interpret network schematic diagrams and geographic records to identify running arrangements.
- Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
- Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Carry out visual inspection to identify evidence of overhead services and buried utilities. Use electronic locating equipment. Mark the position of services and sub-structures on the work site.
- Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe condition.
- Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
- Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
- Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
- Apply security measures.
- Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
- Set up spiking gun.
- Install cables and apply protection.
- Follow live working procedures.
- Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE insulated, PVC sheathed, and paper insulated lead sheath) for low voltage cable networks using cable connectors including fitting and terminating services into cut outs. Apply system earthing connections and joint protection.
- Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE and paper insulated) using joint kits on high voltage cables up to 11kv operating voltage. Apply joint protection.
- Receive phasing colours for HV jointing tasks and interpret phasing diagrams.
- Make and break live conductor connections on LV underground networks.
- Perform testing procedures before and after making and breaking connections.
- Identify fault. Test to find the fault condition.
- Conduct fault diagnosis on underground cable networks to identify underlying cause.
- Make recommendations for the repair or restoration of plant or apparatus based on the findings of diagnostic procedures.
- Erect and maintain signing, lighting and guarding.
- Monitor works using mechanical excavators (banksman).
- Inspect excavation arrangements before work for safe access and egress.
- Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
- Record information.
- Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, reports.
- Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements. Comply with GDPR.
- Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
Training schedule
The apprenticeship programme takes approximately three years to complete, and you’ll spend your first 12 weeks being inducted into the programme at one of our Training Centres. You’ll earn while you learn and develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours to become a Power Networks Craftsperson, achieving a City & Guilds Level 2 Qualification in Electrical Engineering. Your training will include periods of on-the-job training and development, learning from an experienced and qualified Jointer. Following a formal assessment of your knowledge, skills and behaviours, you’ll become a qualified Jointer yourself.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- 2 other subjects (grade 4 and above)
- English Language (grade 4 and above)
- Maths (grade 4 and above)
- Science (grade 4 and above)
Desirable qualifications
Other in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Physical fitness
- Adventurous
- Safety awareness
- Resilient
About this employer
We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light and power for homes and businesses, working outdoors with underground cables, overhead lines and substations that operate between 230 and 132,000 volts. Net-zero targets are transforming the way we work and increasing the scope of the positive impact we can make. Right now, we’re looking for apprentices to join us. Our people in Field Operations work across a number of teams to keep the lights on for our customers. They might be helping a customer who has lost supply or supporting a developer building a multi-million pound project. They maintain a 24/7 service from faults and maintenance, asset replacement to new connections, working outdoors with underground cables, overhead lines and substations that operate between 230 and 132,000 volts, their work is critical to everything we do.
https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 23 days annual leave + statutory holidays - Competitive pension scheme (Double matched up to 12%) and Sharesave options - Employee Assistance Programme - Protective clothing and safety equipment supplied
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
Power Networks Craftperson.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NATIONAL GRID ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WEST) PLC
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000001490.
Apply now
Closes on Saturday 28 February 2026
Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.