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See your career going places with the
ESB Networks
Apprenticeship Programme
“My apprenticeship journey so far at ESB Networks has been
hugely rewarding and I would encourage anyone looking for a
great career where they can make a difference to consider an
apprenticeship for an exciting and rewarding training experience”
Joseph O’Sullivan, a current ESB Networks apprentice.
In 2015, ESB Networks announced a
five-year plan to recruit new
apprentices as part of a large-scale
recruitment and development
programme. Since then, over 200
apprentices have been recruited, with
72 new recruits; 12 female and 60
males starting in our Networks Training
Centre in September 2018. We will be
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recruiting up to 72 apprentices across
the country again in 2019.
Applications will be accepted via the
ESB Networks website from the
middle of February.
The 2018 ESB Networks
Apprenticeship Programme
recruitment campaign received 6,400
applications, highlighting the level of
interest in the programme and a career
that is diverse and challenging.
As an Apprentice Network Technician
(Electrician), recruits receive on the job
training, working as part of front-line
teams, as well as classroom-based
learning. Apprentices benefit from
varied work experience, working
indoors and outdoors, and learning
about technology, customer service,
and delivering results under pressure.
They learn a variety of electrical and
practical skills and, upon completion of
the programme obtain a QQI
Advanced Level 6 Electrical Trade
Certificate.
The ESB Networks Electrical
Apprenticeship is SOLAS standards-
based, consisting of 208 weeks over
four years. During this time, there are
seven SOLAS phases and ESB
Networks off job training, including
phases 1, 3, 5 and 7 are on the job,
working closely with a qualified
Network Technician on varied sites
across ESB Networks. The SOLAS
phases 2, 4 and 6 consist of off the job
training modules, with phases in a
SOLAS Training Centre and one of the
IT Colleges around the country. Finally,
there are 24 weeks of ESB Networks
off the job training which takes place in
the ESB Networks Training Centre,
Portlaoise.
Having completed the four-year
programme, apprentices will have
gained experience working with a
leading utility company. ESB Networks
serves 2.3 million customers in Ireland,
providing a safe and reliable electricity
supply to homes, businesses and
communities throughout the country -
ESB Networks apprentices play an
important part in delivering this service.
Customer service is at the heart of
ESB Networks, through their
experience, ESB Networks apprentices
will be at the fore in delivering and
providing services to our customers.
Though the job requires an element of
physicality, there is much more to the
programme than climbing poles and
heavy lifting, the role combines both
physical and logical activity.
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