Learners on the right grid

Electrical Installation learners found themselves in pole position when they attended a ‘Grid for Good’ masterclass.

Presented by a partnership between National Grid and Young Enterprise UK, students took part in an interactive session of gaming-based assessments, team building, and problem solving aimed at helping students secure work experience and job opportunities.

When asked what their own career plans entailed, more than 60 per cent of students said they would like to find an apprenticeship.

Annabelle Armes, Programme Manager for the Grid for Good Programme at Young Enterprise UK set the students team challenges close to those they would experience at the company’s assessment centre when applying for an apprenticeship.

Students also experienced the challenge of the STAR method used at interviews. The technique based on Situation, Task, Action, Results gave learners the chance to work in teams to structure their answers.

Full-time level 2 Electrical Installation learner Josh Hall said, ‘I found the masterclass fantastic as it really helped to understand the structure of how to prepare for and answer interview questions.’

Marina McQuade, one of the National Grid volunteers supporting the session explained the company is seeking to fill apprenticeship roles to deliver cleaner, renewable energy to reach their ‘net zero’ goal and electrical engineers and technicians will be recruited to fill these jobs in the future.

Andy Clarke, Responsible Business Community Lead and STEM Administrator at National Grid asked learners what they took away from the masterclass? Maddie Curson, studying T-Level Electrical Installation responded, ‘Finding out more about the brilliant apprenticeship opportunities National Grid offer in the energy industry.’

Photo: From left to right, Level 2 Electrical Installation learner Josh Hall, Marina McQuade Head of Risk and Compliance for UK Electricity Distribution, T-Level Electrical student Maddie Curson and Andy Clarke Responsible Business Community Lead and STEM Administrator for National Grid.