Apprentice Craftsperson (Substation Fitters)

Summary

You will gain hands-on experience in a supportive environment, focusing on safety and professional growth. This is a 36-month apprenticeship, where you will gain a Level 3 ‘Power Industry Substation Fitter’ qualification.

Wage

£15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Power industry substation fitter (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 years

Positions available

4

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

60% Practical Skills Development & Field Support:

• Assist experienced craftspersons with the installation, maintenance, and repair of mechanical and electrical systems within substations
• Learn to use and maintain tools and equipment safely and effectively under direct supervision
• Follow technical drawings, work instructions, and safety protocols during all on-site activities
• Contribute to team-based projects, observing and participating in the complete lifecycle of substation upgrade tasks

40% Formal Training & Professional Development:

• Actively participate in all required hands-on training and classroom-based learning to work towards the IET Engineering Technician qualification
• Maintain an accurate and detailed logbook of all work performed and training completed to build an apprenticeship portfolio
• Ensure all work is performed in strict compliance with company and industry health, safety, and environmental (HSE) regulations
• Engage with mentors and senior engineers to build technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and professional conduct

Where you'll work

Innovation House
Bullerthorpe Lane
Leeds
LS15 9JL

Training

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

Training provider

HEART OF YORKSHIRE EDUCATION GROUP

Training course

Power industry substation fitter (level 3)

What you'll learn

• Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
• Prioritise and plan tasks 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.
• Receive and clear a safety document. Brief a working party.
• Follow substation access and egress procedures.
• Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, 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 condition.
• Apply security measures for example, set alarm system, remove climbing aides.
• Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
• Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
• Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
• Use working at height access equipment for example, scaffold towers and ladders.
• Select, inspect, and use working at height personal protective equipment.
• Select, check, prepare, use, and store hand tools and power tools.
• Select, check, and prepare resources.
• Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, or environmental impact.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Record information.
• Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, and reports.
• Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
• Read, interpret, and follow maintenance specifications.
• Conduct diagnostic testing to identify asset condition; identify action.
• Conduct continuity testing using a continuity test instrument or multimeter.
• Conduct joint or contact resistance testing using a contact resistance tester (ductor).
• Conduct insulation testing using an insulation test instrument.
• Conduct circuit breaker timing tests.
• Set up oil pumping equipment.
• Remove and replace insulating oil from substation plant avoiding contamination.
• Clean oil filled equipment following removal of insulating oil.
• Check circuit breaker contact condition; remove and replace or dress.
• Take oil samples from equipment.
• Clean and lubricate operating mechanisms using approved lubricants.
• Adjust, remove, and replace components for example, gaskets.
• Conduct functional tests of equipment - post maintenance or routine.
• Inspect substation site, buildings and equipment including steelwork and neutral earthing conductors and connections and identify defects.
• Conduct electrical testing of earth electrodes using a digital earth resistance tester.
• Joint earthing conductors using mechanical compression joints.
• Check battery connections for any damage, clean cells, check monitoring alarms, check function of charging equipment.
• Test substation batteries using voltage and analytical testing instruments.
• Conduct supply checks of a low voltage single and three phase supply to identify: correct polarity, voltage, earth fault loop impedance and phase rotation.
• Use electrical test instruments to diagnose a fault condition on low voltage distribution or control equipment for example open circuit, blown fuse, short circuit or out phase condition.
• Interpret network schematic diagrams and geographic records to identify running arrangements prior to operation.
• Prepare low voltage or high voltage switching operation schedules.
• Operate network switching equipment such as switches, circuit breakers, links or fuses on low voltage or high voltage distribution networks.
• Interpret network schematic diagrams prior to carrying out testing activities.
• Use mobile elevated work platforms.
• Use diagnostic equipment to identify asset condition; identify action.
• Conduct testing using a continuity test instrument or multimeter.
• Conduct resistance testing using a contact resistance tester (ductor).
• Remove and replace insulating medium for example, oil, SF6 or air from transmission plant avoiding contamination.
• Clean equipment following removal of insulating medium.
• Take insulation medium samples from equipment for example, oil, SF6.
• Adjust or replace components.
• Conduct functional tests of equipment, post maintenance or routine, to confirm operating to expected parameters.
• Conduct a visual inspection of transmission steelwork earthing connections; identify issues.
• Restore power.
• Conduct transformer maintenance including tap changers, Buchholz relay, WTI, qualitrol, breathers, surge arrestors, coordinating gaps, arcing horns, insulator checks and recalibrating (LNER).
• Conduct air system maintenance including making new pipework HP fittings, air leak detection and gas leak detection.
• Conduct ancillary equipment maintenance.
• Read, interpret, and follow representations, drawings, and graphical information to complete tasks. For example, multicore diagrams, schematics, and core sheets.
• Prove plant, equipment, cabling, and system is safe to work on. For example, prove dead, isolate.
• Check earthing is in place. For example, additional earths, equipment earths, and drain earths.
• Follow lifting plan.
• Install batteries. Check function and action as required.
• Position transformers.
• Locate and fix high voltage switchgear.
• Select, position, and install AC/DC supply power cable and power wiring.
• Apply mechanical connections, brazing, and welding techniques.
• Lay and fix earth tape within excavation and to plant and equipment.
• Produce wiring core sheets from wiring diagrams.
• Select, position, and install containment management system. For example, unistrut, ladder tray, and trunking.
• Select, position, and connect multi-core wiring including glanding, looming, crimping, and ferruling. For example, panel wiring within a protection panel and switchgear. Apply labelling and identification system.
• Use test instruments. For example, volt meters, multi-function tester, and resistance tester.
• Conduct mechanical testing. For example, torque and proof loading.
• Conduct alignment checks.
• Take oil samples for testing.
• Apply diagnostic fault-finding techniques.
• Interpret test results and action as required.
• Replace components within equipment.
• Remove cabling and equipment.
• Review drawings, instructions, or information to understand the task for example, work instructions, design specifications, utility plans, on-line search documents.
• Prioritise and plan tasks 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.
• Receive and clear a safety document. Brief a working party.
• Follow substation access and egress procedures.
• Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance. For example, 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 condition.
• Apply security measures for example, set alarm system, remove climbing aides.
• Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
• Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
• Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
• Use working at height access equipment for example, scaffold towers and ladders.
• Select, inspect, and use working at height personal protective equipment.
• Select, check, prepare, use, and store hand tools and power tools.
• Select, check, and prepare resources.
• Identify areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, or environmental impact.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information for example, colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Record information.
• Produce or amend documents for example, handover notes, procedures, and reports.
• Use digital and information technology. Follow cyber security requirements.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Training schedule

Power Industry Substation Fitter level 3.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English Language (grade 4/C)
• Mathematics (grade 4/C)
• Science (grade 4/C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience