Explore our career areas

Operational and Electrical Engineering

This is the technical core of the business and is vital to the successful delivery of our promise to our customers – to get the lights backs on quickly and to continuously maintain and upgrade the electricity network. It’s made up of many varied jobs and skills.

Network Operations
This is the front line of the technical part of the business. With a job in this area, you’ll play a vital role in the safe, efficient and effective day-to-day management of our distribution network. For example, if there’s a power cut and you’re an engineer, you’ll be responsible for the rapid restoration of power. And if you’re calm under pressure and have excellent people skills, you may work in our Service Delivery Centre (our call centre in Ipswich) keeping our customers in the know with real-time information about faults and network maintenance.

This is the front line of the technical part of the business. With a job in this area, you’ll play a vital role in the safe, efficient and effective day-to-day management of our distribution network. For example, if there’s a power cut and you’re an engineer, you’ll be responsible for the rapid restoration of power. And if you’re calm under pressure and have excellent people skills, you may work in our Service Delivery Centre (our call centre in Ipswich) keeping our customers in the know with real-time information about faults and network maintenance.

• Cable Jointer
• Overhead Linesperson
• Electrical Fitter
• Field Engineer
• Field Staff Supervisor
• First Response Technician

Asset Management
If you’re a strategic thinker with an eye fixed on the future, this is the department for you. Here, you’ll provide world-class planning and management of our distribution network to meet current and future customer needs – all while ensuring the safety of the public, our staff, and while meeting legal and financial regulations and engineering standards.

Opportunities in this area include:

• Distribution Planner
• Technical Sourcing & Standards Engineer
• Asset Inspection, Maintenance & Compliance Specialist
• Smart Grid Development Engineer
• Investment & Programme Management Professional

Capital Programme
For us to remain as a leader in our industry, we must be sharp and ensure a commercial mindset. Key to this is an effective control of our capital. Our Capital Programme is responsible for over £900m worth of goods and services, plus future capital investment. With a role in this department, you’ll be expected to confidently manage major capital projects, making sure they run on time, to budget and align to our corporate vision.

Opportunities in this area include:

• Contract & Programme Manager
• Design Engineer
• Investment Delivery Project Manager

Customer Service

Our customers are the heart of our business. And we’re proud to say our Customer Service team is second to none, dealing with millions of interactions a year across all channels, from Twitter to Webchat to phone. Whether it’s a technical enquiry about a new electricity connection or a midnight call during a power cut, every member of our team communicates the correct information quickly and clearly. They do it with patience, they do it with empathy and they do it 24/7.

If this sounds like something you take great pride in, if you’re a real people person who always aims to please, then we’d love to have you here helping us achieve our vision of becoming a Respected Corporate Citizen.

Opportunities in this area include:

• Customer Call Handler
• Stakeholder Engagement & Public Affairs Professionals
• Marketing Manager
• Media Manager
• Press Office

Finance

To make sure we are efficient, profitable and meet financial regulations, we have a highly skilled team of financial specialists with expertise in a range of disciplines, from accounting and credit control to financial forecasting. Whether you’re fully qualified or looking to study on the job, we have an opportunity for you – just as long as you’re enthusiastic, have a willingness to learn and relish thinking of and sharing new ideas that can take the business forward.

Opportunities in this area include:

• Pension Specialist
• Corporate Accountant
• Operational Accountant
• Tax Advisor
• Assistant Accountant
• Financial Reporting Analyst

Legal

The role of our legal team is exciting and extremely varied. Its responsibilities include negotiating and drafting all commercial agreements as well as providing litigation and day-to-day legal advice when needed on any matter affecting the business.

Opportunities in this area include:

• Commercial Solicitor
• Litigation Executive
• Paralegal
• Insurance Manager

Human Resources

As a business we would be nothing without our incredible employees. Human Resources plays a mightily important role in this. It’s so much more than hiring, firing and making sure everyone gets paid on time. It’s about creating a culture where people feel safe, valued and motivated. We have a great team at the moment, which is why we are consistently included on the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to work for in 2018.

As well as holding professional qualifications, such as CIPD or similar, you are expected to be a ‘people person’. This can mean being a shoulder of support or leading a training session. You must be excellent at spotting talent. You must be able to confidently, clearly and empathetically deliver difficult messages. And, most importantly, you must be proactive, identifying the needs of our employees and making sure they have the skills to do their jobs to the best of their ability.

Opportunities in this area include:

• HR Business Partner
• HR Advisor
• Employee Relations Expert
• Talent Consultant
• Talent Acquisition Partner
• Payroll Administrator

A glimpse into the life of HR managers Jazz and Sarah

Here’s a glimpse of what it’s like to work in Human Resources at UK Power Networks.

What is your role within the HR team?
Jazz: As the Talent Acquisition Manager, my team takes care of all of the recruitment right across UK Power Networks. We have the wonderful task of recruiting great people into our organisation; we also run a highly competitive graduate and apprentice scheme and manage temporary recruitment. With a dedicated back office team that take care of vetting new hires and drawing up contracts.

Sarah: I am the Talent and Leadership Manager which means I’m responsible for Leadership Training, Personal Development activities as well as the talent pipeline to ensure we develop the right mix of talent to support our businesses objectives.

What do you enjoy about your role?
Jazz: I worked as a recruitment consultant for over 15 years before I decided to move to in-house recruitment and I have never looked back. I felt the role on offer was challenging and I could see my career developing within the organisation. I’ve had exposure to various projects that has allowed me to develop and progress. I also really enjoy bringing people into UK Power Networks because I think this is a fantastic company to work for.

Sarah: I love the variety my role offers and the people in my team. I also enjoy the mix of work as I’m able to influence the strategy with our managers but can also engage with our people when delivering training sessions.

What can be the most rewarding part of your role?
Jazz: I know we’ve done a great job when people join our company and they really love their jobs. It’s wonderful when my team does well and our recruitment initiatives at events such as Skills London are a success. Attracting people into any business can be challenging but I feel our corporate culture, employee benefits and the support you get to develop your career is what sets UK Power Networks apart.

Sarah: HR has an important role to play to ensure that the various departments and their initiatives are aligned to the company vision and strategy. People can have the best intentions but if our messages and initiatives are not culturally aligned then our engagement will suffer. So it’s really rewarding when departments collaborate and our messages align whether it’s a safety, customer or leadership training initiative.

What advice would you give to somebody who is considering a career in HR?
Jazz: HR offers a wide array of specialities from recruitment through to industrial relations, so try to understand where your passion lies and get the relevant qualifications. Get your foot in the door and then take advantage of all of the opportunities a company like UK Power Networks offers.

Sarah: UK Power Networks offers a Supported Studies programme where you can study for a qualification to build on your existing skills, for example you can do a professional qualification like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. If you are looking for a role in HR where you can make a difference, there is definitely an opportunity at UK Power Networks to positively impact the business.

What makes UK Power Networks a great place to work?
Jazz: It’s the people! We pull together to keep the lights on during difficult times – not just field staff but also office based staff too. Everyone has a ‘Storm Role’, for example, where we all support by answering customer phone calls and other important tasks when a storm strikes. We have initiatives to help vulnerable customers working with organisations like the British Red Cross and this makes me proud to work here. Our senior leaders are also approachable, with an open door policy which is really refreshing.

Sarah: We look after our people and the communities in which we operate and this makes UK Power Networks a great place to work. Our benefits are generous and we develop our people through initiatives like the Future Leaders Programme to help high potential people become future leaders. We care about our communities and give our people opportunities to raise money for charities that are important to them.

Information Systems

Without Information Systems, we wouldn’t be able to function. Simple as that. Not only do they look after the everyday running and security of our servers and tech – such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops – they also think strategically, making sure we have the systems in place to meet our business targets.

As our business becomes more digitally focussed and the ways in which our customers communicate with us only increase, Information Systems must evolve with new employees, like you, who have a wide range of skills, from business analysis and architecture to commercial management and strategy.

Opportunities in this area include:

• IS Strategy Architect
• Project Delivery Manager
• IT Operations Technician
• Cyber Security Expert

Procurement

We spend over £800m a year with third party suppliers. The job of Procurement is to make sure we’re getting the best performance and best value for money from these suppliers while adhering to Utility Contract Regulations. A typical task would therefore involve analysing a current or prospective contract with a supplier and finding the right balance between performance, cost, risk, sustainability and safety. This means you need to be incredibly well organised with an understanding of the operational challenges facing UK Power Networks, be well versed in risk management, have excellent negotiation skills and be commercially astute.

Opportunities in this area include:

• Contract Governance Manager
• Category Specialist
• Tactical Procurement Specialist

Service Leavers

Are you looking for a meaningful and stable career in an important industry? Do you want to use the skills you picked up in the Armed Forces to make a difference to people’s everyday lives? Then the electrical distribution industry could be for you.

We recognise the wealth of transferable skills, experience and attitude that you can bring to us. Therefore, we work closely with the Career Transition Partnership to help ex-service personnel make the transition to the commercial world. We’ve also signed the Ministry of Defences’ Corporate Covenant which cements our commitment to supporting service leavers as best we can.

As well as job opportunities, we also offer careers advice, CV writing and interview tips, and industry insights.

For a useful reference guide on making the leap to civilian work, click here.

Or get in touch at ex-military@ukpowernetworks.co.uk for an informal chat about the industry and UK Power Networks as an organisation.

Apprentices

Kick start your career with a UK Power Networks Apprenticeship. Endorsed by E&U Skills, our programme gives you the opportunity to follow a Trailblazer Apprenticeship Framework and become a fully qualified and competent craft person in one of three trades in the electrical industry: cable jointer, overhead lines person and electrical fitter.

The programme is three years long, giving you the qualifications and real life experience required to work on the electricity network.

Qualifications include:

• Level 3 Power Networks Crafts Person Standards in either
  - Substation Fitter
  - Overhead Lines
  - Underground Cables
• C&G Level 2 Ceritifcate In Electrical Power - Distribution and Transmission Technical Knowledge 2339 - 17
• Functional Skills in English and maths

Entry requirements
GCSE grades A to D in English, maths, and science & technology, or equivalent. You must demonstrate an interest in engineering and have an enthusiasm to work outdoors.

Benefits include:

• Help when you need it from our training programme team. You’ll also be in line for continuous support from your placement team while undergoing training to help you achieve your goals
• Competitive salary with pay rises when you achieve career milestones and objectives
• You will complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. This is because UK Power Networks is a Supporting Partner of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• During a three year programme you’ll face a four-day expedition, a residential activity, voluntary work and develop a physical activity or skill. The skills you hone during this experience, such as teamwork and communication, will be put to good use in your new career

A glimpse into the life of Sammy-Jo, an apprentice electrical fitter

Here’s a glimpse of what it’s like to be an apprentice at UK Power Networks.

Name, role and responsibilities
I’m Sammy-Jo Evans, 19 years old and training to be an electrical fitter at Stansted Airport.

How long have you worked at UK Power Networks?
I started my training in September 2014.

Why did the job appeal to you?
The company offered a good career path and it was something very different and interesting compared to what I did before. Previously I was training to be in musical theatre, so singing, dancing and acting, which is definitely not as dirty and mucky, but I've loved every minute of my new role!

What advice would you give to somebody who is considering a career as an electrical fitter or a career in the power distribution sector?
Being one of the only women in my team and training group, I would say to any woman who’s considering this job to go for it. I've given 110% and proven that women can do this job as well as men. Powering through is how I got here and now I wouldn't have picked any other career for myself!

What do you enjoy the most about your role?
I love the new challenges I face every day and I never ever stop learning something new! Even the guys who have done this job for over 20 years are learning, as new technologies are being brought out.

What can be the most challenging / rewarding element of your role?
It is a good feeling when power is restored on some electrical equipment which we’ve either repaired or maintained. We’re keeping our customers safe because everyone needs electricity. The employees are rewarded well and each employee has an individual performance review with their manager three times a year where they are measured against their personal targets. It’s motivating.

Summarise (in 3 words) what it is like to work at UK Power Networks
Caring, interesting, and rewarding!

Winner
The JobCrowd Top Companies for Apprentices to work for 2018/19

Engineering Powering Placements

If you’re at university studying electrical engineering or an engineering degree with at least one electrical module, then an Engineering Powering Placement is perfect for you. Lasting from 10-12 months and taking place between your second and third year of study, this placement will give you a combination of hands-on and classroom training. You’ll also receive support from a mentor (senior engineer or business manager) and a buddy (ex-graduate). It’s the perfect way to get the experience you need to set you apart from the competition when applying for a job after graduation.

If you’re interested in one of our placements, contact us at futuretalent@ukpowernetworks.co.uk

Engineering Development Programme

The future of our business rests on the people we employ. This is why we strive to attract the best and give them the best training. Whether you’re an ex-service person, a plumber, mechanic, aviation technician or electrical, electronic or civil engineer, you can enrol on our first-class Engineering Development Programme to become a qualified field engineer. Once qualified, you’ll put your new skills to the test by liaising with customers, Network Operations and Control, and Network Planning. It’s a role that comes with plenty of responsibility, as you’ll also be supervising field staff and contractors too.

The programme includes:

• Study and completion of an HNC in Electrical Engineering (Power Distribution)
• Completion of competency courses required to become Senior Authorised Person (Overhead, Underground or Combined) at a minimum of 11kV
• Experiential learning to provide the experience required to progress to Senior Authorised Person
• Development of business awareness with the opportunity to gain experience in other business areas
• Support from an operational coach (a qualified engineer)
• Regular reviews to monitor your performance and discuss objectives

A glimpse into the life of a former soldier, now field engineer Jimmy

Jimmy worked in electronics in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers regiment. He’s now a field engineer. This is his story.

Jimmy Vaudrey was one of nine people on the two-year Engineering Development Programme when he joined the business.

Jimmy worked in electronics in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers regiment for nine years and took a job as an electrician when he left. He then started work as an overhead linesperson with UK Power Networks.

He says: “I wanted something that gave me some training. I really enjoyed my job as a linesperson but took the opportunity to join this programme when it came up because I want to work my way up to field engineer.

UK Power Networks is a good company to work for. They look after you and there are lots of opportunities.”

Jimmy, who is a keen kayaker and rock climber, grew up in Walton-Le-Dale in Lancashire. As well as gaining all the necessary skills to take on the role of an engineer within the company, Jimmy has also gained a foundation degree in power distribution at Aston University.

Graduates

Young talent is the future of our business. This is why we put a lot of time and money into our Graduate Training Programmes to make sure we attract the best and develop you into the future leaders of the energy and utility industry.
We have three different graduate programmes:

• Commercial
  Designed to give you a strong understanding of the commercial side of the business while offering valuable hands-on experience.
• Technology
  Designed so you can develop the skills you need to become an IT and business analyst professional.
• Engineering
  Accredited by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), this gives you all the teaching and experience you need to become a Chartered Engineer.

First year
You’ll be based in one of our three network areas: London, the South East or the East of England, where you’ll divide your time between your home base and shorter placements in other business areas.

Second year
You’ll progress to your first supported role in the business, where you’ll gain valuable work experience. This will contribute to your development into a business manager professional. An experienced mentor will guide and support your development.

Career progression
At the end of your first two years, you can either work in your base location or apply to other suitable opportunities across the business. Our graduate career progression policy will make sure you continue to be supported in your professional development. Our Graduate Alumni Network group will also allow you to meet with previous and current graduates in the business.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary of £31,199 per annum and discretionary annual bonus
• Minimum of 23 days’ holiday
• Pension
• Healthcare
• Hands-on experience and countless opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge through courses and placements in other departments within UK Power Networks
• A professional mentor to support your development (Chartered Engineer for engineering grads and a Senior Management team member for commercial and technology grads)
• Engineering graduates will receive a fully paid for membership of the Institute of Engineers and Technology

Winner
The JobCrowd Top 100 Company 2017/2018

Winner
The JobCrowd Top 100 Company for Graduates to work for: Energy & Utilities 2018/19

Winner
The JobCrowd Top 100 Company for Graduates to work for: Enjoyment of Role 2018/19

Winner
The JobCrowd Top Companies for Graduates to work for 2018/19

UK Power Networks Services

We are experts in distributed energy solutions and power distribution, helping our clients increase the productivity of their assets, decarbonise their infrastructure and increase the value of their power distribution networks.

Unlike the regulated business of UK Power Networks, our operations are not confined to London and the south east of England; we operate throughout the UK and beyond. Our expertise ranges across industries such as airports, rail, defence, water, logistics and fleet, manufacturing, local and central government, and commercial buildings.

Our clients are some of the highest profile organisations from the public and private sector and trust us to deliver safe and reliable fit for purpose energy solutions allowing them to concentrate on their core business.

Our portfolio includes London’s five main airports, High Speed 1, Network Rail, London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Ministry of Defence and Canary Wharf.

We provide end-to-end energy solutions that include energy technology consulting, asset financing, major project delivery, design and build, operations and maintenance, and asset management. We have expertise in distributed energy resources and integrating new technologies, such as electric vehicle infrastructure, battery storage and microgrids.

We pride ourselves on the expertise of our people and we employ world-class engineers and professionals to deliver for our clients.

From airside at Heathrow, to trackside at High Speed 1, and providing electric vehicle solutions for logistics companies, we’re looking for commercially driven people to join our team to take on the exciting and varied projects we deliver for our customers.