Apprentice Electrician
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo (CH21LH)
Closes in 13 days (Monday 5 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 21 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Chester Zoo now have an exciting opportunity for an outstanding apprentice with a genuine interest in developing their career as an electrician to join their team. The successful candidate will be supporting and assisting qualified electricians with planned and reactive electrical maintenance.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Installation and maintenance electrician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday 7:30am- 4:10pm, 30 minute morning break, 40 min lunch. On extra ordinary or exceptional times work may be required outside these hours to support the department. The apprenticeship is 48 months practical & 6 months end point assessment.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Friday 6 November 2026
- Duration
-
4 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
- Support and assist qualified electricians with planned and reactive electrical maintenance
- Attend college and complete all apprenticeship training, coursework and assessments
- Learn to read and understand electrical drawings and technical information
- Support the wider Facilities Management team as required
- Assist qualified electricians with the installation, maintenance, testing and repair of electrical systems and equipment across the site
- Support planned and reactive maintenance of lighting, power, distribution systems, control equipment, plant and other electrical infrastructure
- Assist with electrical installations associated with buildings, animal enclosures, workshops, visitor facilities and operational areas
- Carry out routine electrical inspections and maintenance tasks under appropriate supervision and instruction
- Learn to identify and diagnose electrical faults and support the completion of safe and effective repairs
- Assist with the installation of cabling, containment, distribution equipment, lighting, sockets, isolators and associated electrical components
- Work alongside other Facilities Management trades and contractors on multidisciplinary maintenance and project works
- Complete the required apprenticeship, including college attendance, practical assessments, portfolio/evidence requirements and End-Point Assessment
- Develop knowledge and practical application of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) and relevant electrical safety requirements
- Follow safe systems of work, risk assessments, method statements, isolation/lock-off procedures and site health and safety requirements
- Maintain accurate records of maintenance, inspections, testing and completed works using the organisation's maintenance and compliance systems
- Maintain tools, equipment and work areas in a safe, clean and serviceable condition
- Assist with emergency and priority maintenance activities where required and develop the ability to respond appropriately to electrical faults and infrastructure failures
- Work safely within an operational zoo environment, recognising the additional requirements associated with animal areas, public spaces and business-critical infrastructure
- Demonstrate a positive approach to learning and progressively take on greater responsibility as technical competence and experience develop
Where you'll work
The North of England Zoological
Society
Cedar House
Chester Zoo
CH21LH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
WARRINGTON & VALE ROYAL COLLEGE
Training course
Installation and maintenance electrician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Comply with all relevant legislation including environmental, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance when planning and performing electrical work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments.
- Identify and use personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be used when undertaking electrical work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments.
- Carry out work in a tidy and safe manner, including restoration of the work area on completion of work.
- Apply relevant legislation; Building Regulations; industry guidance notes; relevant codes of practice, the requirements of the current edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and other relevant standards while carrying out work.
- Understand and apply the practices and procedures for planning and preparing to maintain electrotechnical systems and equipment.
- Apply and use necessary mathematical and scientific techniques, formulae, and calculations that underpin an electrician’s work.
- Use a range of tools, materials, equipment, and components, including prefabricated, relevant to performing electrical work in industrial, commercial and residential environments.
- Design, plan, set up, and install electrical and related electronic systems including terminating and connecting cables in electrical wiring systems, installations, and equipment in commercial, industrial, and residential installations.
- Inspect and test new and where applicable existing electrical Installations in industrial, commercial and residential environments using test equipment.
- Apply diagnostic and problem-solving techniques to identify, assess and resolve electrical faults in industrial, commercial and residential environments.
- Install electrical and electronic equipment and components, including traditional and novel technologies such as connections for EV charge points, battery storage, solar and thermal panels, heating and cooling systems.
- Maintain electrical and electronic equipment and components, including traditional and novel technologies such as connections for EV charge points, battery storage, solar and thermal panels, heating and cooling systems.
- Carry out and manage own work ensuring work is compliant to the standards required of an electrician working in industrial, commercial, and residential environments.
- Record work including the completion and maintenance of work documentation, recording of test results and preparation of appropriate certification.
- Use relevant digital learning platforms and business communication and collaboration applications.
- Comply with all relevant legislation including environmental, regulations, codes of practice and other relevant information and guidance when planning and performing electrical work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments.
- Identify and use personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be used when undertaking electrical work in industrial, commercial, and residential environments.
- Carry out work in a tidy and safe manner, including restoration of the work area on completion of work.
- Apply relevant legislation; Building Regulations; industry guidance notes; relevant codes of practice, the requirements of the current edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and other relevant standards while carrying out work.
- Understand and apply the practices and procedures for planning and preparing to maintain electrotechnical systems and equipment.
- Apply and use necessary mathematical and scientific techniques, formulae, and calculations that underpin an electrician’s work.
- Use a range of tools, materials, equipment, and components, including prefabricated, relevant to performing electrical work in industrial, commercial and residential environments.
- Design, plan, set up, and install electrical and related electronic systems including terminating and connecting cables in electrical wiring systems, installations, and equipment in commercial, industrial, and residential installations.
- Inspect and test new and where applicable existing electrical Installations in industrial, commercial and residential environments using test equipment.
- Apply diagnostic and problem-solving techniques to identify, assess and resolve electrical faults in industrial, commercial and residential environments.
- Install electrical and electronic equipment and components, including traditional and novel technologies such as connections for EV charge points, battery storage, solar and thermal panels, heating and cooling systems.
- Maintain electrical and electronic equipment and components, including traditional and novel technologies such as connections for EV charge points, battery storage, solar and thermal panels, heating and cooling systems.
- Carry out and manage own work ensuring work is compliant to the standards required of an electrician working in industrial, commercial, and residential environments.
- Record work including the completion and maintenance of work documentation, recording of test results and preparation of appropriate certification.
- Use relevant digital learning platforms and business communication and collaboration applications.
Training schedule
The apprentice will spend four days at the workplace gaining practical experience and one day a week at Warrington & Vale Royal College
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
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
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Strong work ethic
- Positive attitude towards work
Other requirements
This is a physical role and the role holder will spend a significant amount of time either outdoors or in temperature controlled environments. The roles will involve a range of manual tasks and therefore requires the ability to meet the physical requirements of the role.
About this employer
We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.
As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of permanent and seasonal team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us on our exciting journey.
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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- We cannot guarantee any future opportunities at this stage
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WARRINGTON & VALE ROYAL COLLEGE
Georgia Bramhall
gbramhall@wvr.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054305.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Monday 5 October 2026 at 11:59pm)