Electrical Power Network Engineer - Apprenticeship

Base

Location:

Reading and Portsmouth

Salary: Circa £26,239 per annum + a range of other benefits to support your family, finances, and wellbeing. Salary upon finishing the programme is circa £37k per annum.

Working Pattern: Full Time | 3 year programme

Start Date: August/September 2026

Kick‑start your career in electrical engineering and help shape the UK’s energy future.

Are you ready to build a career that powers homes, businesses and communities? Our three‑year Electrical Power Networks Engineer Apprenticeship blends academic study with hands‑on experience, giving you the skills and confidence to thrive in a fast‑growing sector. You’ll gain an industry‑recognised Level 4 qualification, contribute to the UK’s Net Zero transition and receive support from mentors and experienced colleagues throughout.

If you enjoy solving problems and making a real impact, this could be the perfect path for you.

• Study Toward a Recognised Qualification – you’ll work towards a Level 4 Electrical Power Networks Engineer qualification, building strong technical knowledge and industry‑specific skills.
• Hands‑On Learning – outside of college, you’ll work alongside experienced SSE engineers within our Distribution business. You’ll gain exposure to fieldwork, as well as specialist teams such as Design, Planning, and Protection – all key to operating a safe and resilient electricity network.
• Growing Responsibility – as you progress into your third year, you’ll take on more complex technical tasks, such as carrying out safety‑critical assessments, supporting or designing protection schemes, and coordinating work with craftspeople or contractors.
• Your Future Career – once qualified, you’ll be ready to step into roles such as Protection Engineer, Designer, or Field Engineer, with a competitive salary of circa £37k.

This programme is a great fit for people who enjoy practical tasks, want to learn how power networks work, and are keen to develop their engineering skills. You should be:

• Comfortable getting involved in hands‑on work, learning new technical tasks as you go.
• Organised and dependable, especially when balancing study with practical work.
• Happy working in a variety of environments, including outdoors and at different sites.
• Able to travel and stay away from home at times for training and college sessions.
• Safety‑minded, understanding the importance of following instructions and procedures.
• Working towards your driving licence – not essential at the start, but you’ll need a full UK licence by the end of the programme.
• Qualifications – you’ll need to have five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English, Maths and Science. You’ll also need a further qualification – either a Level 3 qualification in Engineering or A Levels in Maths and Physics.

This programme is designed to provide training at a specific qualification level. To ensure it remains appropriate and beneficial for participants, we’re unable to accept applicants who already hold an HND or higher in Electrical Engineering. If you do have a higher‑level qualification, we encourage you to explore other Early Careers opportunities at SSE that align with your existing experience.

SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.

SSEN Distribution, part of the wider SSE group, powers 3.9 million UK homes and businesses. Our team of more than 4,200 skilled engineers, customer service advisors and energy experts keep customers connected to a safe, reliable supply of electricity while investing in and developing the flexible networks needed for our low carbon future.

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle…