Apprentice IT Tester in Preston

SP Electricity North West manages and invests in the power network that supplies electricity to the 2.4m homes and businesses across the North West. Our 2,400 colleagues manage the 13,000km of overhead lines, 44,000km of underground cables and thousands of electricity substations to keep power flowing and supporting green growth. We’re one of six distribution network operators in the UK and are regulated by Ofgem. We’re proud that in December 2024 we were named Utility of the Year by Utility Week magazine who said we punched above our weight and used innovation to solve some of the industry’s most difficult challenges. Come and be part of our team and make a difference.

Now part of the Iberdrola and ScottishPower group, we’re collectively building smarter, greener electricity networks that will get Britain growing by investing in a better future, quicker.

Are you curious about how software works behind the scenes? Do you enjoy problem-solving and want to play a key role in ensuring technology runs smoothly for thousands of users? Join our IT Testing Apprenticeship Programme and help us deliver high-quality software that powers our business.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the quality assurance stage of software development and deployment
• Conducting manual and automated testing to identify bugs and ensure functionality
• Working closely with developers and business users to deliver reliable solutions

What’s In It For You?

• Study for a Level 4 industry-recognised Apprenticeship
• Receive support from a dedicated work-based mentor
• Starting salary of £18,500 with opportunities to grow
• 23 days holiday + bank holidays (increasing annually)
• Access to discounts on retail, travel, leisure and more
• Membership to our pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution

What We’re Looking For

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English (Grade 4-9 / A*-C)
• Plus one of the following:

• Two A Levels (A*-C), including one STEM subject
• BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in a relevant subject (Merit or Distinction)

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you meet the criteria and are excited to start your journey in tech, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now and take the first step toward a future in IT.

Assessment Day: Interviews to be held in March 2026 (subject to change)

Please Note: While we understand that AI tools can support the application process, we ask that applicants ensure their submissions reflect their own experience, voice, and capabilities. Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may not accurately represent the candidate and could be excluded from consideration. We value authenticity and personal insight in every application.

We are a Disability Confident Employer, however it is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practical or appropriate to interview applicants that have opted into the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations; high number of applications, seasonal and high-peak times etc we may limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to candidates with and without a disability.

Should you require any additional support with your application, or any adjustments please contact our Recruitment team.

Any offer made will remain conditional until pre-employment checks are complete to a level deemed satisfactory by Electricity North West. Due to the nature of this role, the following pre-employment checks will be required; references from previous employers, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and a Drug & Alcohol test.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. We don’t accept speculative CVs from agencies. Any received we will assert ownership of the candidate and no fee will be payable.