2026 Telecoms Higher Apprentice, National Grid Electricity Distribution in Exeter

About us

The teams at National Grid Telecoms are all about networking. They join data technology in lots of different ways to deliver connected and bespoke communications solutions that meet customers\' needs. National Grid Telecom teams enable the electricity network to be managed remotely, enabling customers\' power to be restored more quickly without having to dispatch engineers into the location.

Our talented teams are some of the best in the business, working with the most advanced technology and infrastructure, and always adapting and innovating as the industry evolves. In fact, first class services and state-of-the-art facilities continue to drive our growth and create opportunities for people who share our commitment, energy and ambition. There are opportunities to get involved in innovative work in a sector that continues to grow dynamically, with career development supported and enabled by on-going training.

About The Role

The National Grid Telecoms team are looking for a people to join our higher apprenticeship scheme that will develop the knowledge, skills and understanding required to begin an exciting career.

Training will be provided over a period of approximately four years. It will be a mix of on-the-job and formal courses held in our Training Centre at Taunton and other institutions as appropriate.

The majority of on-the-job training will take place within local teams working alongside experienced professionals within the industry. You will be required to undertake placements at other locations across the NGED service area, so you will need to be flexible and able to travel.

The National Grid Telecoms team is responsible for designing, installing, commissioning and supporting Telecommunications services across the NGED region. These services include Radio Communications for monitoring the Electricity Network, Mobile Radio for all NGED vehicles, Data Communications between NGED Offices and many other associated technologies.

Effective liaison with customers and external contractors, at a variety of management levels, is a key part of delivering these services so the ability to communicate clearly and build relationships is very important.

As the post you are applying for attracts a National Security Vetting clearance there are further eligibility requirements, information can be found on the gov.uk website. To meet national security vetting requirements, you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 5 years for Security Clearance (SC) prior to the date of application. There are exceptions to this however and examples of these include:

• you have been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
• you were studying abroad
• you were living overseas with parents

If you have any further queries relating to National Security Vetting, please email nged.recruitment@nationalgrid.co.uk

What You\'ll Need

• An interest in telecommunications
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work effectively within a team
• Passion for technology and why things work

The successful candidates will hold or be expecting to achieve at least grade C/4 in GCSE Maths and English Language, two A\' levels at grades A* - C, one of which must be in one of the following subjects:
Mathematics, Physics, ICT, Computing or Design and Technology.

Alternatively, relevant Level 3 or Level 4 qualifications will be considered. Please ensure that you provide details of your qualifications within your application and be prepared to provide proof of these qualifications upon request.

If your qualifications are predicated, you must receive your confirmed results prior to the commencement of the scheme.

Whatever qualifications you hold, we will need to see evidence of them for you to be considered. If possible, please upload evidence of the required qualifications with your application. These can be scanned or photographed and attached as a PDF document.

If you are offered a position, you will be required to successfully complete a basic DBS check that shows any unspent convictions or conditional cautions.

Start date September 2026. Please note that we are unable to accommodate any annual leave during these first 12 weeks of training.

This role can be based at either our Plymouth depot (PL4 0SD) or Exeter depot (EX2 7WP).

Operationally we require you to live within approximately 45 minutes of the depot you are applying for. Please only submit one application. If you appear to be a good match for more than one location, we will consider your suitability during the process. Multiple applications will not be considered.

What You\'ll Get

Joining the UK\'s leading electricity distribution business means plenty of career opportunities and well-deserved recognition. We reward hard work and encourage ambition, which is why we offer a competitive starting salary of £26,899. You will then see your salary increase as you become more experienced, following the timeline below:

• Year 2 - £35,817
• Year 3 - £43,491
• Year 4 (Developmental role) - £47,197
• Apprenticeship Completion - £53,379

In addition to this, you will also receive the following benefits:

• 23 days annual leave, raising to 26 upon completion of the training programme
• Competitive pension scheme (Double matched up to 12%) and Sharesave options
• Earn whilst you learn and receive a fully funded qualification
• Develop well-rounded skills, learning from experienced and qualified professionals in the industry
• Employee Assistance Programme is there to take care of you and includes musculoskeletal and physiotherapy services if you need them

Our Values and Principles

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any adjustments that you require.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should sufficient numbers of suitable applications be received, so it would be best to apply as soon as you can.

*National Grid\'s Apprenticeship programme in the UK is open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria including an existing and valid right to work in the UK. As part of the application process this will need to be evidenced and verified before you can start the programme.

Applicants for our Apprenticeship programmes should be aware that we are unable to provide sponsorship if you require a visa for our apprenticeship programmes.

Please be aware that it\'s your responsibility to explore avenues of working in the UK, as were not able to provide advice on this.

For information about visas please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

More Information

At National Grid, it\'s our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us stronger, so we pride ourselves on placing diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of who we are and what we do and are committed to building a workforce of the future which represents the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office where and when needed. All our offers are based on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, the innovation from creating diverse teams and perspectives, as well as business need.