Level 3 Electrical and Instrumentation Apprenticeship

National Grid plc; Peterborough, Hatton, Huntingdonshire; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy provider in the UK is offering a 4-year Electrical and Instrumentation Apprenticeship based in Peterborough. Ideal candidates are proactive learners who thrive on hands-on experiences. Responsibilities include maintaining electrical systems and sensors, attending college for the first ten months, and gaining practical skills alongside seasoned technicians. Starting salary is £24,242 along with generous benefits, including holidays and pension contributions.

Benefits

Starting annual salary of £24,242

26 days holiday plus bank holidays

Paid volunteer days

Generous pension scheme

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• A cover letter is essential to demonstrate fit for the role.
• Comfortable with travel and overnight stays; must have a driving license by September 2026.
• Must pass enhanced National Security Vetting with 5-year UK address history.

Responsibilities

• Develop core engineering knowledge and hands-on experience.
• Work on maintaining electrical power, control, and protection systems.
• Perform routine maintenance on electrical and instrumentation equipment.

Skills

Willingness to learn

Problem solving

Curiosity about engineering

Education

5 GCSEs grade 5-9/C or above including maths, English Language, and Science

Job description

Level 3 Electrical and Instrumentation Apprenticeship - Peterborough/Huntingdon/Hatton

Date: 9 Feb 2026

Location: Peterborough, GB, PE6 7HH; Hatton, GB, LN8 5QE; St Neots, GB, PE19 5NX

Company: National Gas

Requisition ID: 2484

Join us and help be the energy behind the change.

National Gas is the backbone of Britain's energy system. We're responsible for securing the UK's energy, whilst leading the way to a net-zero future.

This four year Electrical and Instrumentation Apprenticeship is based at one of our compressor sites in the East region, depending on your location. You’ll develop the skills needed to help maintain the safe and reliable operation of the gas network.

National Gas runs the huge network of pipes that move gas around the UK, helping supply power stations, factories and around 23 million homes. As an apprentice, you become part of the team that keeps all of this running smoothly, which means your work actually helps keep the lights on and heating working for people across the country.

What you’ll be doing

To kick‑start your Electrical and Instrumentation apprenticeship with National Gas, you’ll begin your journey at college, developing the core engineering knowledge and fundamentals that will set you up for success. This solid foundation will prepare you for the hands‑on experience to come, where you’ll later work alongside our skilled technicians and play a part in keeping our equipment running safely and reliably.

During the first ten months of your apprenticeship, you’ll spend Monday to Friday based full‑time at HETA College — typically either Grimsby or Hull. This weekday residential setup gives you focused time during the working week to grow your technical skills, build confidence and learn as part of a supportive cohort, while still returning home at weekends. Throughout this period, you’ll stay closely connected with National Gas through regular check‑ins with your local team, ensuring you feel supported and on track. After completing this initial learning phase, you’ll return to site to put your knowledge into practice, developing real hands‑on experience with our expert technicians.

By the end of the programme, you’ll learn how to repair, test and maintain the electrical power, control and protection systems that keep our sites running safely. You’ll gain hands on experience with instrumentation, working on the sensors and monitoring tools that tell us how our pipes and compressors are performing, helping the whole network operate at its best. You’ll need to enjoy practical work and be curious about how things work.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll build confidence working safely in hazardous areas and following the essential safety standards that protect our people and sites.

• Using modern electrical, control and monitoring technologies
• Carrying out routine maintenance on electrical and instrumentation equipment
• Working with pressure, flow and temperature sensors
• Fault finding with specialist tools and control system data
• Completing key health and safety tasks, including risk assessments

Your day to day could include checking and calibrating sensors, testing circuits, diagnosing faults, supporting planned maintenance or helping technicians during equipment upgrades. No two days will be the same, and you’ll quickly grow your skills working with real equipment in real environments.

We’ll look to review your progress at regular intervals, providing feedback and guiding your development. You’ll have a tailored personalised plan that ensures you have appropriate support and training.

About You

If you’re ready to kick-start your career with top-notch training and hands-on-experience, this is a great time to join National Gas. A willingness to learn and put yourself out there will be essential for making the most of this opportunity and give you the tools you’ll need to set yourself up for an exciting and long-lasting career with us.

This apprenticeship is perfect for someone who is proactive and thrives on getting stuck in. You’ll be curious about how things work and enjoy problem solving. You’ll take pride in your work and be excited by the opportunity to learn how we keep energy flowing safely and efficiently.

The Essentials

This is a 4-year fixed-term apprenticeship. To be considered for this scheme, you’ll need:

• 5 GCSEs grade 5-9/C or above (predicted grades if you are yet to achieve) MUST include maths, English Language and Science (or equivalent)
• A cover letter is essential to help us understand why you're a great fit for the role. Check out our guidance below!
• You’ll need to be comfortable with travel and overnight stays. This means that you’ll need to have a driving license by the time you would be joining us (September 2026!)
• You'll need to have permanent right to work in the UK for the entirety of this programme, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
• As you’ll be working on Critical National Infrastructure, you’ll also need to pass enhanced National Security Vetting, meaning you’ll need to be able to provide a 5-year UK address history. Your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK

Studies suggest that women tend to apply only if they meet 100% of the criteria. If you resonate with our mission, the role excites you and your skills align, we encourage you to apply.

What should you include in your cover letter?

A cover letter is a chance for us to get to know you as a person – we understand you may not have workplace experience yet, and that’s absolutely fine! Let us know about your personal qualities and interests. Your cover letter should be no more than one A4 page. Make sure it includes:

• Why you’re interested in working at National Gas
• What personal skills and qualities you have that would make you a great apprentice
• Why you want to become an Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentice. This could be anything from an interest in engineering or practical, hands‑on activities to enjoying science and how things work.

What you can expect from us

You’ll receive a range of benefits that reward your great work.

• Starting annual salary of £24,242, with annual performance-based increases
• A generous holiday allowance of 26 days plus statutory bank holidays, with the option to buy and sell additional days (capped at 5 days)
• 2 paid days each financial year to volunteer for a worthwhile cause
• A generous pension scheme with a double-match contribution – if you contribute 6%, we’ll contribute 12%, helping you build a strong financial future
• Professional development and career progression
• Employee assistance programme offering free confidential professional counselling 24 hours per day

At National Gas, we pride ourselves on a supportive and collaborative work environment. We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and support our employees in achieving it. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can perform at their best. Whether you’re starting out after school or looking to build on your existing experience, you’ll find an apprenticeship where you’re valued, supported, and encouraged from the moment you join.

You'll be mentored by experienced professionals and have opportunities to work on impactful projects. We ensure that you gain hands-on experience, with opportunities for career advancement and professional development.

We encourage all apprentices to take ownership of their journey. You'll strive to grow and develop, taking advantage of all that National Gas has to offer.

The 'nice to knows'

You'll start in a large cohort of other graduates and apprentices, where you'll attend an in-person induction in early September 2026, fostering strong workplace relationships that will build the foundation of your future networks.

You'll be offered additional support and guidance throughout the application process by our Early Careers team. Eligible applications will be reviewed by a human, every step of the way.

You're only able to apply for one of our apprenticeship schemes, so please consider this carefully. When reviewing your application, if we feel you might be a good fit for something else, we'll be sure to let you know.

If your online application is successful, you’ll be invited to complete a virtual solo-interview. The final stage is then an in-person Assessment with the team you’ll be joining, so please keep this in mind. Support is available towards travel costs if required.

Applications close on Sunday 8th March 2026. Each year, we receive a large volume of applications, so we'd encourage you to apply early.

If you require reasonable adjustments to complete the application process, please contact us at [e-mail]

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