Overhead Lines Apprentice

We are looking for Overhead Lines Apprentices

We are looking for Overhead Lines Apprentices to support our clients and customers with the construction, refurbishment and upgrade of transmission infrastructure including both large regional programmes and individual connection projects to deliver new build and refurbishment of power transmission lines and connections.

Wage
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Power industry overhead linesperson (level 3)

Hours
Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.
48 hours a week

Start date
Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration
3 years

Positions available
12

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Day to day, you will work with our mobile site teams who travel extensively.
You will be working on our live project sites and will be assisting the teams who are building, maintaining and repairing overhead transmission lines using approved standards.

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Working to strict company and client safety rules, policies and procedures, demonstrating integrity and commitment at all times
• Learning the efficient and proper use/operation of all tools, materials, plant and equipment
• Assisting with installation, connection and rigging in a high voltage environment, working on various structure types of transmission lines at voltages from 132 kV to 400kV
• Assisting with tower steelwork assembly and erection
• Assisting with running out pilot bonds and new conductors under tension
• Assisting with conductor replacement including full tension stringing
• Assisting with working with earthing parties, read and sign on to safety documentation

Where you'll work

Applicants can be based anywhere in England for this role
You must be able to travel extensively, as all your work will be on our live project sites across England, and also able to stay away from home
You will also need to be able to regularly attend training at our dedicated centre in Darlington

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

Training provider
WIGAN AND LEIGH COLLEGE

Training course
Power industry overhead linesperson (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, 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 for example, consumables.
• Identify apparatus to be worked on.
• Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
• Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
• Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, safe access and egress, demarcate the work area, working at height, confined spaces, COSHH.
• Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
• Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe and secure condition for example, anticlimbing guards, danger notices, barriers, lighting.
• Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
• Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
• Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
• Use working at height equipment for example, mobile working platforms, scaffolding, ladders.
• Select, inspect, and use personal climbing equipment to access and manoeuvre to a work position at height on overhead line plant and apparatus.
• Fit and operate a rescue device at height.
• Select, check, and prepare resources.
• Record information.
• Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Apply team working principles.
• Report or escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, reports.
• Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
• Select and operate lifting equipment in overhead lines distribution work for example, cranes and winches.
• Carry out visual inspection to identify evidence of overhead services and buried utilities. Use locating equipment.
• Mark the position of services and sub-structures on the work site.
• Follow procedures for working on or in proximity to live apparatus.
• Select and use specialist LV live working PPE.
• Erect overhead lines plant and apparatus for example, poles, support mechanisms, stays.
• Install circuit main earths (CMEs) and additional (drain) earths.
• Install fixed earthing conductors and carry out earth electrode testing.
• Install cut outs.
• Install or replace conductors, insulators and ancillary equipment on overhead line plant or apparatus including sagging, tensioning and termination where required.
• Install, connect, and commission pole mounted plant and apparatus for example, transformers, pole mounted circuit breakers, and switchgear.
• Dismantle pole mounted plant and apparatus for example, transformers, pole mounted circuit breakers, and switchgear.
• Conduct pre-energisation tests.
• Conduct post-energisation (commissioning) checks.
• Perform testing procedures before and after switching operations.
• Interpret testing procedure results and action required.
• Operate switchgear and fuses making and breaking live conductor connections.
• Recognise fault conditions and identify the root cause.
• Replace components or resolve issues for example, replace high resistance joints or damaged conductor.
• Apply customer service techniques.
• Select and operate lifting equipment in overhead lines transmission work for example, cranes and winches.
• Check overhead line plant and apparatus is safe to access, install flag and check wristlets if required.
• Install access equipment for example, platforms, ladders, and spacer trollies.
• Install high voltage temporary earthing equipment.
• Carry out conductor compression jointing.
• Connect spacers to conductors.
• Test compression joints.
• Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, 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 for example, consumables.
• Identify apparatus to be worked on.
• Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
• Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
• Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, safe access and egress, demarcate the work area, working at height, confined spaces, COSHH.
• Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
• Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe and secure condition for example, anticlimbing guards, danger notices, barriers, lighting.
• Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
• Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
• Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
• Use working at height equipment for example, mobile working platforms, scaffolding, ladders.
• Select, inspect, and use personal climbing equipment to access and manoeuvre to a work position at height on overhead line plant and apparatus.
• Fit and operate a rescue device at height.
• Select, check, and prepare resources.
• Record information.
• Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Apply team working principles.
• Report or escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, reports.
• Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.