Electrical Apprenticeships

The broad purpose of the occupation is to install, maintain and repair electrical systems in industrial, commercial and residential environments including communal areas.

The scope of an Electrician’s work encompasses using engineering knowledge and understanding to apply technical and practical skills. They contribute to the design, development, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of products, equipment, processes, of electric systems or services. Electrical equipment and systems may include switchboards, motors, cables, fuses, thermal relays, protective devices, heating, lighting, air conditioning and metering equipment as well as property and life safety installations and renewable energy technologies plus the installation and maintenance of electrical connections of new and emerging technologies supporting low carbon targets. The new technologies will include enhanced connectivity, green and renewable technologies including heating and cooling technologies, using where appropriate, Modern Methods of Construction including offsite and prefabricated components.

Electricians may work in both indoor and outdoor settings on a range of electrical equipment and systems.  They can work on their own proficiently and work without immediate supervision in the most efficient and economical manner.

They may contribute to the design of electrical systems. They can set out jobs from drawings and specifications and requisition the necessary installation materials.

Electrical safety is an important area of Electricians’ work. On completion of their work the electrical installation must be safe to use. Electricians must comply with statutory and non-statutory requirements including the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR), the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE), and Working at Height Regulations, BS 7671 and related codes of practice and industry guidance including but not limited to the Building Safety Act. 

To fully understand and work in full compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, building regulations, industry guidance notes, relevant codes of practice, the requirements of the current edition of the Wiring Regulations (BS7671) and other relevant standards.

To carry out electrical installation, initial verification, maintenance, and testing work on a variety of voltages; both AC and DC, single and three-phase.

To carry out maintenance regimes, periodic inspection and testing and electrical installation condition reporting of existing electrical installations in accordance with manufacturer instructions and the requirements for electrical installations.

To undertake the installation of both wired and wireless solutions in achieving a desired outcome appropriate to client need in accordance with the requirements of BS 7671 and other relevant industry standards, and assess electrical loads on such new installations to ensure safe and suitable solutions are provided .

To plan and deliver the best solution for the client, incorporating and integrating new technologies as required, within agreed budget, including the installation, maintenance and inspection of special installations, including but not limited to electric vehicle charging systems, PV and thermal panels, battery storage, and stand by generation in accordance with the requirements of BS 7671 and other relevant industry standards.

To decide the correct location for, and to site and install mains powered life safety systems for industrial, commercial and residential installations.

To design and install wiring and connections for known and novel heating and cooling systems, for industrial, commercial, and residential installations which need electrical connections.

To install cables within the fabric of the building for internal and external installations while maintaining the integrity of fire compartments.

Understand the need for appropriate consideration towards, and knowledge of specialist requirements when working in historical installations and settings.

To communicate and liaise effectively with own project team, and those in other teams, such as clients or specialist contractors, and with internal or external stakeholders, respecting the need for the security of data and information.

To understand the different types of novel technologies being developed relating to electrical installations including the smart grid, use of prefabricated products and components (plug and play), energy efficient lighting technologies, lower carbon electric power generation and the IoT and how new technologies can be retrofitted to existing installations.

To restore your work area and return tools, and unused materials and equipment to a safe and reliable condition, to prescribed standards of cleanliness on completion of installation or maintenance work.

To prepare and complete relevant work documentation from quotation to certification, including fault finding during commissioning, and handover stages in accordance with organisation policy and procedures and any other relevant information and guidance.

To understand how to plan and project manage typical Electrician work to maximise quality of outcome and efficiency of workflow.

To develop and maintain skills in using a range of practical and workshop skills, selecting, and applying appropriate materials, equipment, technologies and processes to install or maintain electrical installations.

You will attend college on a day release basis giving you ample time to complete your academic studies as well as allowing you time on our sites to gain valuable practical experience.

In Years 3 & 4 you will prepare for your AM2S Assessment.

We work throughout the East Anglian region meaning you will be required to travel to our sites. We strongly believe this gives you a unique and exciting opportunity to work on a variety of different projects and sets our apprenticeships apart. Don’t worry, although it can be daunting at first our experienced teams are always on hand to provide help and support. After all 79% of our site team and 32% of our office personnel started as an apprentice with us too so they understand exactly what you are going through.

An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard.

The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.

Observation with Questions

You will be observed by an independent assessor completing your work. It will last around 16 hours hours. They will ask you at least 10 questions. 

Interview Underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence

You will have an interview with an independent assessor. It will last at least 90 minutes. They will ask you at least 12 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You can use it to help answer the questions.

Multiple-Choice Test

You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be open book, meaning you can have access to some books or reference materials.

The test will have 40 multiple-choice questions. You will have 90 minutes to complete it.

At the end of your Apprenticeship you will need to successfully complete your AM2S Assessment in order to become a fully qualified Electrician.

The AMS2 Assessment is broken down into the following sections;

Section A1 : Safe Isolation & Risk Assessment (45 Minutes)

You will need to demonstrate that you can carry out a safe isolation procedure in the correct sequence to ensure the safety of not only yourself but everyone else on site. You’ll also undertake and document an assessment of any risks to safety that may be present.

Sections A2 - A6 : Composite Installation (10 Hours)

Following the diagrams and instructions you’re given, you’ll prepare, install, connect and terminate conductors at a TP&N Distribution Board and equipment outlets to industry standards. To complete this section, you must demonstrate occupational competence in accordance with statutory and non-statutory regulations and approved industry working practices.

Section B : Inspection, Testing & Certification (3.5 Hours)

You will carry out a visual inspection of your installation and complete a series of tests following practices and procedures that take into account electrically sensitive equipment. You can change any part of your installation that you find is incorrect or not complete

Section C : Safe Isolation of Circuits (30 Minutes)

This second safe isolation test covers three specific scenarios: the replacement of single-phase equipment, three-phase equipment and the isolation of the distribution board.

Section D : Fault Diagnosis & Rectification (2 Hours)

From information provided, you will identify faults in a circuit. You’ll need to record the type of fault and its specific location, then recommend how each fault could be corrected, including any works needed to prove the fault has been rectified.

Section E : Assessment of Applied Knowledge (1 Hour)

This is an online test consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions designed to assess your knowledge of the health and safety regulations, building regulations and BS7671:2018.

The AM2S Assessment takes around 16 hours and is split over 2.5 days.

Applicants will require a minimium of grades 4-9 in English, Maths, Science and 2 other subjects.