Apprentice Jointer - Level 3 in Reading

OCU Group is one of the UK's fastest-growing companies, delivering complex projects across power, utilities, water, and digital infrastructure. With sales growing five-fold to £1.1bn over the last five years, we are expanding both organically and through acquisitions, including recent growth in Australia and New Zealand.

Responsibilities

• Review drawings, instructions or information to understand the task (for example, work instructions, complex wiring diagrams, design specifications, utility plans, online search documents).
• Prioritise and plan work with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks.
• Receive and clear a safety document (permit to work). Brief a working party.
• Report or escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
• Identify apparatus to be worked on.
• Interpret network schematic diagrams and geographic records to identify running arrangements.
• Identify hazards and risks and apply control measures.
• Apply health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Carry out visual inspection to identify evidence of overhead services and buried utilities. Use electronic locating equipment. Mark the position of services and sub-structures on the work site.
• Apply measures to leave power work environments in a safe condition.
• Respond in the event of an emergency first aid situation including situations where there is electrical risk.
• Conduct plant or vehicle checks.
• Segregate waste for reuse, recycling, and waste transfer.
• Apply sustainability principles (for example, minimising waste).
• Apply security measures.
• Select, check, prepare, use or operate, and store personal tools and equipment.
• Set up spiking gun.
• Install cables and apply protection.
• Follow live working procedures.
• Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE insulated, PVC sheathed, and paper insulated lead sheath) for low voltage cable networks using cable connectors including fitting and terminating services into cut outs. Apply system earthing connections and joint protection.
• Joint and terminate cables (modern XPLE and paper insulated) using joint kits on high voltage cables up to 11kV operating voltage. Apply joint protection.
• Receive phasing colours for HV jointing tasks and interpret phasing diagrams.
• Make and break live conductor connections on LV underground networks.
• Perform testing procedures before and after making and breaking connections.
• Identify fault. Test to find the fault condition.
• Conduct fault diagnosis on underground cable networks to identify underlying cause.
• Make recommendations for the repair or restoration of plant or apparatus based on the findings of diagnostic procedures.
• Erect and maintain signing, lighting and guarding.
• Monitor works using mechanical excavators (banksman).
• Inspect excavation arrangements before work for safe access and egress.
• Identify areas for improvement in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and environmental impact.
• Apply team working principles.
• Communicate with others to give and receive information (colleagues, customers, and stakeholders).
• Record information.
• Produce or amend documents (handover notes, procedures, reports).
• Use digital and information technology; follow cybersecurity requirements and comply with GDPR.
• Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Qualifications / Skills

• GCSEs or equivalent (examples: five GCSEs with passing grades, typically grade 4 or above).
• Communication skills.
• Organisation skills.
• Team working.
• Patience.
• Physical fitness.

This description includes apprenticeship details and potential opportunities for progression. It references learning through working alongside skilled jointers, industry-recognised qualifications, and structured routes through apprenticeships, graduate programmes, and training academies.