At a Glance
- Tasks: Perform maintenance and emergency response activities on high-pressure pipelines.
- Company: Join a leading energy company focused on safety and environmental standards.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous holidays, and a double-match pension scheme.
- Other info: Great career progression opportunities and supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Be hands-on in a practical role that ensures safety and efficiency in the field.
- Qualifications: Mechanical experience and a good understanding of engineering principles required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
As an Operative, you’ll undertake a wide range of maintenance and emergency response activities across our network. You’ll support the protection and performance of high‑pressure pipelines, assist Technicians and Supervisors, and play a key part in ensuring that operational, safety and environmental standards are met every day. You’ll be out in the field line‑walking remote pipeline routes, monitoring third‑party works, supporting inspection programmes, maintaining marker posts and equipment, and ensuring our sites remain safe, compliant and secure. You’ll also be involved in emergency readiness and may participate in duty standby and occasional shift patterns. This is a practical, safety‑critical role where good judgement, reliability and mechanical understanding are essential.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Delivering scheduled maintenance tasks safely and to required technical standards.
- Supporting Operations Technicians with pressure systems inspection requirements (PSSR).
- Carrying out physical line walking of pipelines (up to 200 km per year), often in rural and remote areas.
- Monitoring third‑party works, responding to aerial sightings, and protecting pipeline integrity.
- Supporting in‑line inspections and cathodic protection monitoring.
- Ensuring full understanding and adherence to emergency, security, operational and environmental plans.
- Participating in emergency response activities, including standby rota duties.
- Providing accurate records to the Operations Supervisor and closing out work orders correctly.
- Undertaking Safe Control of Operations (SCO) roles relevant to your level of competence (e.g., Competent Person for low‑risk tasks, Working Party Member for more complex ones).
- Proactively supporting the wider operations team to deliver business objectives.
About you
You’re hands‑on, mechanically minded and enjoy practical problem‑solving. You’re reliable, safety‑focused and comfortable working outdoors in varied terrains and weather conditions. You take pride in doing things properly and supporting the team to keep the network safe and operating efficiently.
Key Requirements & Experience
- Proven mechanical maintenance and/or operational experience.
- Experience in maintenance, fault diagnosis and mechanical rectification.
- Understanding of mechanical engineering principles and associated equipment.
- Knowledge of Safe Systems of Work and risk assessment processes.
- Awareness of relevant legislative requirements (PSSR, Health & Safety regulations).
- Relevant training certifications and evidence of competencies.
- Good standard of general education (5 GCSEs incl. English, Maths, Science/Technical subjects).
- Valid full driving licence.
- Time‑served apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering.
- BTEC National Certificate / City & Guilds / NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering or similar.
What we can offer
- Annual bonus of up to 6% based on personal and company performance.
- 26 days’ holiday plus statutory holidays - option available to buy extra holiday day.
- Generous double‑match pension scheme - for every £1 you put in, we’ll add £2 (max company contribution 12%).
- An optional flexible benefit scheme, including private healthcare, dental insurance, technology plans, travel insurance.
- Death in service 10x your basic salary.
- Financial protection if you're unable to work due to long‑term illness or injury.
- Excellent family friendly provisions - maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental leave.
- Professional development and career progression.
- Employee assistance programme offering free confidential professional counselling 24 hours per day.
- Financial support to help you cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, relevant to your role.
Inclusive recruitment
At National Gas, we are disability confident and signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage you to let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may need.
Operative in Exeter employer: National Gas Transmission Plc
At National Gas, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises safety and employee well-being. As an Operative, you'll benefit from a generous benefits package, including a double-match pension scheme and professional development opportunities, all while working in a dynamic outdoor environment that values your mechanical skills and judgement. Join us to be part of a team that is committed to operational excellence and community engagement.
Contact Details:
National Gas Transmission Plc Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operative in Exeter
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like National Gas Transmission Plc.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like National Gas Transmission Plc love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of National Gas Transmission Plc and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Operative in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for National Gas Transmission Plc and the Operative role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at National Gas Transmission Plc
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at National Gas Transmission Plc.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at National Gas Transmission Plc.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with National Gas Transmission Plc, making you a more appealing candidate.
