£6m investment in electricity trades powering future energy
Posted by: electime 12th November 2025
New Foundation Apprentice Induction 2025 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Picture By Nigel Bowles
UK Power Networks is investing £6 million in craft apprenticeships this year, including hiring 55 newcomers to support local communities and advance Britain’s clean energy goals.
The 55 appointments are part of a future-ready workforce that will keep power flowing to 20 million people and connect the low carbon future to the grid, enabling increasing renewable energy, Electric Vehicles and heat pumps. The positions received 2,052 applications.
Based in London, the South East and East of England, the recruits will follow the Power Networks Craftsperson (Level 3) Apprenticeship programme and specialise as either underground cable jointers, substation fitters, or overhead linespeople. These trades enable reliable electricity supplies to homes and businesses and support transition to low-carbon power.
Experienced apprentices
School or college leavers are ‘foundation apprentices’ and complete Outward Bound Trust training and the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme during three years’ technical training. Career changers are ‘experienced apprentices’ who also complete an Outward Bound programme and follow condensed two-year training.
Charlie Aston, engineering trainee manager at UK Power Networks, said: “Our apprenticeships nurture local talent and prepare the technical energy experts of tomorrow to power our regions’ future.
“We are building a strong, skilled workforce drawn from the very communities we serve, enabling recruits to play a vital role in maintaining, connecting and upgrading the electricity network for homes and businesses and helping power Britain’s low carbon future.”
After six years as part of the British Army’s elite airborne infantry the Parachute Regiment, serving all over the world, followed by three years in the telecommunications industry, Daniel Hinton, 29, from Cambridgeshire, is training as an overhead linesperson in Stevenage.
He said: “Breaking into the electricity distribution sector and becoming a skilled craftsperson gives me real purpose. A few months ago, there was a power cut on my street and everyone came out of their houses to see what was going on. That’s when you realise the importance of what we do. We keep everything running, and there’s real purpose and reward in that.”
Amba Cordell, 16, from Essex, is training as a substation fitter in Canning Town after completing work experience with her dad, an electricity engineer. She said: “The future is electric, which was part of why I wanted to join company. In the next five years there will be no new petrol vehicles; our role will only increase. My career goals are to go higher and higher, and be the boss of my dad one day!”
Once they qualify, most will work on maintenance, connections and upgrades across London, the South East and East of England. Seven will join UK Power Networks Services serving privately owned power infrastructure for clients in aviation, rail, defence, and industry. The new roles are based across Aldershot, Borehamwood, Brixton, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Camden, Canning Town, Chatham, Chilterns, Colchester, Covent Garden, Crawley, Dartford, Downham Market, Heathrow, Kings Lynn, Lea Valley, Maidstone, Norwich, Peterborough, Purfleet, Southend-on-Sea, Stevenage and Strood.
The apprenticeship programme has won several awards, including regional and national recognition from the Department for Education’s apprenticeship awards, gold at the Learning Excellence Awards, and top honours from Energy and Utility Skills Awards. Applications for apprenticeships starting in September 2026 are open now, see www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/careers
