Electricity distribution worker Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Electricity distribution worker

Hours

37 per week
Starting salary

£11,000 + per year

The work

As an electricity distribution (or 'transmission') worker, you would look after the network that supplies electricity from power stations to homes, industry and businesses.

You could work in one of three main areas of electricity transmission:

overhead transmission or lines work – building and repairing overhead power lines
work as a cable jointer – joining and repairing underground cables, and connecting customers to the electricity supply network
electrical fitting – installing, repairing and maintaining equipment in substations, to control, protect and monitor electricity flow.

Whichever area you worked in, your duties would generally include:

keeping equipment in good working order
switching operations
installing and dismantling equipment such as transmission cables
assembling or removing components
adjusting and configuring electrical systems
finding and diagnosing faults
inspecting and testing cables and other equipment
following strict health and safety procedures at all times.

Hours

You would work a 37-hour week which may include shifts, as you would often take part in a standby rota for emergencies outside normal working hours. Overtime may be necessary.

Conditions can vary. Much of the work takes place outside, in all weather conditions. Overhead lines work is at height, using safety access equipment.

Income

Apprentices can earn between £11,000 and £15,000 a year
Experienced and qualified workers may earn between £20,000 and £45,000.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You don't always need qualifications to work in electricity distribution, although you will need a good standard of general education and you may have an advantage with some GCSEs or similar. You should check entry requirements with individual employers.

However, you will often get into this type of work through an Apprenticeship scheme. For this, most employers ask for at least four GCSEs (A-C), including maths, English, and another relevant subject such as science, engineering or design and technology.

The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.

Apprenticeships

If you are not joining the industry through an Apprenticeship, you will find it useful to have previous experience or qualifications in electrical engineering and maintenance.

Training and development

You will be trained by your employer, through a mixture of learning on the job and taking some formal courses at a training centre.

Your training will usually include the chance to achieve one of the new work-based City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering, with the following options:

Overhead Lines
Underground Cables.

These replace the former NVQ Level 2 in Electricity System Technology Engineering Support and Level 3 in Electricity System Technology Engineering.

You could also take short courses in subjects such as high voltage safety, through a training company such as AFAQ-ETA – see their website for details.

AFAQ-ETA

Many employers will want you to register in an appropriate safety passport scheme to prove that you have the knowledge and safety awareness to work on site. Relevant safety passport schemes for electricity distribution include:

Basic Electrical Safety Competence Scheme (BESC) – Substations, Overhead Lines or Underground Cables
Construction Safety Certification Scheme (CSCS) White Card (Construction-related Occupations).

See the Energy & Utility Skills Register or CSCS websites for more information.

Skills and knowledge

good practical skills
physical fitness and stamina
a basic knowledge of physics and maths to understand the principles of electricity
good communication skills
problem-solving ability
the ability to work both as part of a team and also on your own without supervision
awareness of health and safety.

More information

Energy & Utility Skills (Opens new window)
Friars Gate
1011 Stratford Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 4BN
Tel: 0845 077 9922
www.euskills.co.uk

Energy & Utility Skills Register (Opens new window)
Tel: 0845 077 9922
www.eusr.co.uk

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) (Opens new window)
Tel: 0844 576 8777
www.cscs.uk.com

Opportunities

You could work for one of the four national transmission companies (such as National Grid), or a regional distribution company. Prospects are good for skilled workers – for example, there is currently a shortage of qualified overhead transmission workers.

National Grid

Jobs may be advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus or on employers' own websites.

With experience, you could progress to team leader, or choose to study further and become an electrical engineering technician or electrical engineer.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and further reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The power industry is part of the energy and utility sector, represented by Energy and Utility Sector Skills Council, which also includes: gas; waste management; and water. The UK energy and utility sector employs an estimated 536,200 people.

The power industry covers the activities associated with the production, transmission and distribution of electricity. The industry starts at the point of production and ends at (and including) the meter on the customers’ property. The means of production and the fuel used to generate electricity can vary whether generated by conventional methods (e.g. gas‐fired power stations) or by renewable resources (e.g. wind or wave power). Activities of the industry can be divided into:

Production of electricity – operation of generation facilities that produce electricity from gas, coal‐fired and hydroelectric power stations and various renewable sources
Transmission of electricity – operation of high voltage transmission networks that convey electricity from the generation facility to the distribution networks. This is primarily the operation and maintenance of the national grid network.
Distribution and trade of electricity – operation of regional distribution networks that convey electricity from the high voltage transmission network to the consumer, plus the retail sale (or supply) of electricity to the customer.

Key facts:

There are 87,000 people employed in the industry, which includes:
- 18,000 working in generation
- 38,000 working in distribution and transmission
- 21,500 working in supply
- 6,500 working in corporate functions
- an estimated 3,000 people who are self‐employed and working in the industry.
There is a strong gender bias, with only 16% of the workforce female. There are high concentrations of female workers in administrative and secretarial, sales and customer service roles.
The age profile is similar to that of the whole UK workforce, although it does employ slightly fewer 16‐24 year olds and more 25‐54 year olds.
Around 2,000 new workers per year will be required by the electricity industry between 2008 and 2017.

Jobs in the industry range from:

Generation – control and instrumentation engineer, operations technician, maintenance technician, electrical engineer, supervisor
Transmission and Distribution – overhead line worker, cable jointer, electrical fitter, electrical engineer, supervisor
Supply Sector – meter operative, meter technician, supervisor.

National and regional data

East Midlands – There are around 3,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 50 companies; which makes this region the smallest in England.

East of England – There are around 5,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 80 companies.

London – There are around 4,000 people employed within the industry in the London region in approximately 100 companies.

North East – There are around 6,000 people employed within the industry in the North East region in a very small number of companies.

North West – There are around 5,000 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 90 companies.

South East – There are around 7,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 120 companies.

South West – There are around 7,000 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 90 companies.

West Midlands – There are around 11,500 people employed within the industry in the region in approximately 75 companies; which makes it the largest in England in terms of the number of people employed in the electricity industry.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are around 6,000 people employed within in approximately 70 companies.