Overhead Line Apprentices begin their journey with Network Plus & SPEN

Earlier this year our apprentices began their journey with us in Wales as trainee-overhead linesmen. We spoke with their new recruits to see how they’ve found the programme so far…

Many of our new recruits are 2nd or 3rd generation linesmen, meaning they have prior knowledge in the world of Overhead Lines. 

Matt Woodfine is our Contracts Manager for our projects working with Scottish Power Energy Networks. Our works with SPEN cover the North Wales and Cheshire area and our training school, where the new recruits will be learning for the next 24 weeks, is positioned in Conwy, North Wales (Coleg Menai).

 We asked these two apprentices how they’ve got on so far…

We are making an investment in this area to build our future talent pool in overhead lines, an area of work that has increased significantly for us in the last 12 months. 

Our Overhead Lines contracts include: National Grid Electricity Distribution, UK Power Networks, Scottish & Southern Energy Networks, Electricity North West and Scottish Power Energy Networks. 

This partnership with long-standing client, SPEN, shows a lasting commitment to bringing a sustainable workforce to these projects. 

The programme

The Coleg Llandrillo-Menai Group is based in Conwy, North Wales. There they will deliver the knowledge and certificates required to begin a career in Overhead Lines.

Feedback so far…

We spoke with Joe Barret who is currently on the course (filmed above on the right), to see how he’s getting on and what he’s learnt so far.

Tell us about yourself and how you came to join our apprenticeship programme…

I’m 28 and from Mid-Wales and come from a long line of linesmen; my dad and grandpa and 

uncle had all been on the lines as well, so I have people I can talk to about it and share experiences with. However, I come from a farming background and I’m the oldest on the course, so it does feel totally new to me. I’m big into my gym and fitness and being outdoors, so it was a good choice for me!

How are you getting on with your fellow apprentices?

There’s 5 of us from the same area so it’s been nice to train with some friendly faces. Being so far away from home can be difficult, but being put up in AirBnBs whilst we train has been honestly amazing – having good digs whilst we train has been great! I’m really enjoying it, it’s going really well.

How is the course been so far?

We started on the 18th January and it’s a 24 week course. During that time we are shown all about the electrical theory, with site facilities from the Coleg Menai. With an instructor from SPEN, we are shown how to use the materials, tools, equipment and PPE correctly. On the first week, we got up on the pole and learnt all about the safety side of things. 

You’re learning something new everyday, it’s a new industry for me and though it can be a task working out the heights, you just have to trust in your equipment. 

To find out more about this scheme, please contact Matt.Woodfine@networkplus.co.uk

 Matt Woodfine on the programme:

It’s great to see the next generation of linesmen flourishing with us. It’s a great time to get into this industry, with a high demand on the network, it’s a big step up for us as a business. Our partnership with SPEN can only grow stronger with this.

Our new apprentices in Wales:

Declan Beddoes, Bryn Davies, Josh Elliot, Jack Davies, Taylor Wozencraft, Joe Barrett

Welcome aboard!