2026 Portfolio Planner Higher Apprentice, Network Operations, Warwick

About The Role

As a Portfolio Planner Higher Apprentice at National Grid, you’ll be part of the Electricity Transmission Network Operations and Intelligence team helping to keep the UK’s energy flowing safely and efficiently. You’ll play a key role in making sure our electricity network is well-maintained and ready to meet the demands of a cleaner, greener future.

You will be part of a team that’s driving innovation projects to strengthen the network and support the UK’s journey to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. From planning how we upgrade our systems to helping deliver more clean energy across the country, your work will directly contribute to building a more sustainable world.

Within the Portfolio Planner Higher Apprentice role you will learn how the network operates, collaborate with teams across the business, and contribute to delivering complex projects on time, on budget, and to high standards.

Key Responsibilities Of The Role Include

• Plan and package projects helping to organise and bundle different types of work including maintenance, upgrades, and customer connections into efficient, deliverable plans.
• Work with experts across teams, collaborating with engineers, planners, and customer teams to create realistic and achievable project timelines.
• Understanding asset priorities by learning how to interpret asset data and strategies to help decide which projects should be prioritised.
• Balance complex investments and support the planning of large-scale investments, making sure they’re scheduled in the most cost-effective and efficient way.
• Keep plans accurate and up to date by regularly reviewing and updating your project portfolio, ensuring all data is correct and timelines are achievable.
  
  

Location for this role

This role is based in the office headquarters in Warwick and offers flexible, hybrid working.

You will also spend time at Loughborough College to study for your HTQ in Electrical/ Electronic Engineering and our National Grid Training Academy in Eakring, Nottinghamshire to complete a variety of in-house, specialist training programmes.

About You

• You will have a minimum of five GCSEs with grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, Maths and a Science.
• Have or be predicted to achieve two A-Levels at grade C or above including one STEM subject OR BTEC National Certificate OR Diploma Level 3 in a STEM discipline at Grade Merit or Distinction.
• You will need to have a valid UK driving licence within the first 12 months of starting the programme.
  
  

You don’t need prior work experience; the determination and will to succeed is far more important as we will teach you everything you need to know. The role will provide you with a variety of skills including transferrable skills to support your career development within National Grid.

What You'll Get

We are proud to offer a starting salary of £31,310 for this apprenticeship which will increase annually.

Benefits

As a first step to your career in the energy industry, our Higher Apprenticeship programmes are like no other! You’ll gain an insight into how we work at National Grid, understand what a career with us can offer, and receive some great rewards and benefits:

• Upon successful completion of your 2 year apprenticeship, you will achieve a nationally recognised accredited qualification; a Level 4 HTQ in Electrical/ Electronic Engineering.
• 26 days annual leave + statutory holidays.
• Pension scheme and sharesave options.
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work, buy/sell holiday to name a few.
• Opportunity to enrol in our sharesave/share incentive plans.
• You’ll develop well-rounded skills through practical experience.
• A permanent position upon successful completion of your Apprenticeship.
  
  

About Us

National Grid is at the heart of the energy future, and our people are at the heart of National Grid. We’re 30,000 colleagues strong. In the UK, National Grid doesn’t generate or sell energy – we join the dots to get energy from A to B. From making a cup of tea in the morning, to keeping the lights on in hospitals, our electricity network puts power in the hands of people. Without it, the world as we know it would grind to a halt.

The world of energy is changing beyond recognition as we focus on building a cleaner, greener future. Working at National Grid, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in the UK – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Our values and principles

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any adjustments that you require.

Further Information

You can only apply for one Apprenticeship opportunity during this recruitment cycle.

We recruit on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close our vacancies once we have enough applications/based on volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure you obtain the place you want in the application process.

Assessment centres will be held between January - April 2026.

National Grid's Apprenticeship programme in the UK is open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria including an existing and valid right to work in the UK. As part of the application process this will need to be evidenced and verified before you can start the programme.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Please be aware that it’s your responsibility to explore avenues of working in the UK, as we're not able to provide advice on this.

For information about visas please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

At National Grid, it’s our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us stronger, so we pride ourselves on placing diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of who we are and what we do and are committed to building a workforce of the future which represents the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office where and when needed. All our offers are based on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, the innovation from creating diverse teams and perspectives, as well as business need.