Substation fitters are responsible for electrical power stations around the UK, which bring electricity to homes and communities. Their role is to maintain and inspect them, and generally ensure the buildings are operating properly and effectively.
To gain employment the ideal way into the career is through an apprenticeship scheme, which are often advertised in recruitment agencies and electrical firms. This ensures academic and vital practical on-the-job training is undertaken before being qualified in this high-risk and demanding job. It is also desirable for staff to have good GCSEs in science, maths and English as well as technical, practical and dexterity skills and the ability to work at height.
Working Environment and Salary Information
The working environment involves both indoor and outdoor tasks and a substation fitter is expected to be methodical in the electrical and mechanical fields. The largest employers of such workers are utility companies and government organisations. The power industry is an exciting phase at the moment thanks to increasing demands for new ways to create electricity at the fore.
Substations are based all over the UK and so there is demand for them in every region. Fitters usually work about 37 hours a week, however standby duties and some overtime may be required. Apprentices are usually paid between £8,000-£9,000 per year and fully qualified substation fitters earn about £35,000.