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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

New graduates keeping the lights on

Eighteen graduates have started essential jobs in their communities, keeping the lights on.

The graduates are filling key roles with Britain’s biggest electricity distributor, UK Power Networks and with its commercial division, UK Power Networks Services.

UK Power Networks employs 5,700 staff to deliver electricity to more than eight million homes and businesses while UK Power Networks Services designs, builds and maintains private electrical networks for clients in defence, rail, airports and other industries.

Competition for the popular training programme was as fierce as ever. A total of 1,600 applications were received, resulting in nearly 90 graduates chasing every position.

The new recruits will be working as graduate quantity surveyors, project managers, electrical design engineers, innovation engineers, connections project design engineers and in technology-based roles in locations across London, the East and South East.

Over the next two years they will receive technical training, work placements, leadership development and support from directors, mentors and buddies. They also run events for their own alumni of graduates and undergraduates in the first four years with the company.

Chris Degg, Director of Human Resources at UK Power Networks, said: “Graduates fill key roles as technical experts and future leaders within our business at a time of rapid and exciting change. We are establishing a pipeline of talented individuals including graduates, apprentices and external recruits from the market place, as well as developing our own staff with the skills needed to ensure that we continue to supply safe, secure and reliable electricity to millions of homes and businesses.”

With 41% of its technical workforce aged over 50 UK Power Networks needs graduates with specialist engineering and business skills to fill essential roles in the electricity distribution industry. The selection process is rigorous and involves aptitude tests, video interviews, an assessment centre and face-to-face interview.

For more information about graduate jobs visit http://www.ukpowernetworkscareers.co.uk/.