Apprenticeship and trainee engineering FAQs

Apprenticeships and Trainee Engineering opportunities are open to anyone who meets the minimum age restrictions.

The only requirement is that you’re aged 16 or above when the programme begins. There is no upper age limit.

Yes. Existing employees can apply for all roles as advertised on the careers page as long as you meet the entry requirements for the programme.

For most of our apprenticeships, we recruit based on key strengths and qualities and look for our candidates to demonstrate these as opposed to specific entry requirements.

If you’re applying for a trainee position, you'll need a minimum of Maths and Science (preferably Physics) at A2 level (grade A-C) or in Scotland SQA Highers level (grade A-B). Alternatively, we will accept an equivalent qualification in a relevant Engineering subject, at a minimum of HNC level.

If you already have your visa in place and therefore have the right to work in UK you are welcome to apply.

However, we are unable to sponsor applicants whom require a visa to work in UK and therefore would not be able to progress your application if you are in this situation.

We have a number of different apprenticeships on offer plus our Trainee Engineering Programme. You can read more about each opportunity here.

You can apply for one vacancy and list a second choice in addition to this.

We typically advertise our roles from February – March and complete the majority of our online assessments in April.

Your contractual working hours will be 37 each week. Your start and finish times will be flexible in accordance with your placement location’s requirements.

Yes. Your contracted holidays will be 34 days each year, inclusive of bank holidays. These must be agreed in advance with your line manager.

Apprentices can expect to earn circa £20,000 after qualifying and Trainee Engineers can expect to earn circa £30,000.

No, a driving licence can be helpful but it’s not essential.

SSE values the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation, through the wide ranging knowledge and experience of individuals from all sectors of society.

SSE will not discriminate because of the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (which includes political belief in Northern Ireland), sex or sexual orientation and membership of a travelling community in Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We will not discriminate because of any other irrelevant factor.

SSE will build a culture that values openness, fairness and transparency, and in which all decisions are based on merit.

SSE recognises the need to maximise the value of its contribution to diversity and inclusion and will endeavour to maintain a highly skilled and motivated workforce, in an environment where all employees have an equal opportunity to progress within SSE.

SSE will take positive steps to encourage diversity and demonstrate inclusivity for all members of society in our workforce.

SSE reviews our conditions of service, benefits and facilities to ensure they are fair for all staff.

SSE will monitor the physical features of our premises to consider whether they place disabled workers, job applicants or service users at a substantial disadvantage compared to other staff and take efforts to make our premises accessible for all.

If you are disabled or become disabled, we encourage you to tell us about your condition so that we can identify what steps we can take to support you.

You’ll have a base location and your time will be split between here and college.

Becoming an SSE Apprentice or Trainee will allow you to achieve qualifications in your chosen area whilst receiving the practical work experience at the same time. Plus you will be earning a salary with all college costs being covered by SSE.

Most of our apprenticeships last between three to four years depending on the business area and the role. For example, some roles in Scotland are multi-skilled and require an additional year of training. Our Trainee Engineering programmes last three years.

No, this is full time programme.

No, if you choose a role out with the area you currently live you would need to find your own accommodation.

Our Apprentices earn circa £10,000 per year and our Trainee Engineers earn circa £19,000 per year.

At the start of your programme you would initially attend a week long induction either in Scotland or the South of England (depending on your location). During this week you will meet your programme coordinator, key members of SSE staff and SSE mentors.

In your second week if you are employed to our Contracting or Networks Businesses you would then attend your induction at the college at which you will complete your qualification. From then onwards you will work out of your SSE depot each week as you would in any other employed role but each academic term you will attend college for a block of 2 weeks at a time. All of this information will be given to you at your college induction so that you know where you should be and when.

Renewables Operations Apprentices within our Wholesale business follow a different schedule after the week long induction. Following your induction week you will then attend college on a full time basis for a period of 18 months. During this time you will also take the standard college holidays except for the Easter break when you will work within the business for 2 weeks. Likewise in the summer you will take 2 weeks of summer holidays and then you will spend the remainder of the summer holidays working at the SSE site you have been allocated to until college starts again in the September.

No, we supply all the tools and personal protection equipment you’ll need.

You’ll have a day-to-day supervisor, but we also have Apprenticeship Mentors who will regularly visit you at your base location and support you in your learning.

On successful completion of your apprenticeship, your Programme Coordinator and your Manager will work with you to look at your future opportunities at SSE. 92% of our Apprentices and Trainees remain in employment with SSE on completion of their training

Applications have to be made via our website. The vacancies will be announced in February.

We’ll do our best to let you know when the online interviews are likely to take place so that you can make sure you will be available should you be invited to attend but we understand that things can come up. We will do our best to arrange an alternative date but we cannot guarantee this. You can email our inbox if you find you have any issues at apprenticesandtrainees@sse.com.

Not for your application, however if you successfully secure a place on the programme our third-party Security Watchdog will ask for references.

Unfortunately, we can’t accept any applications after the deadline has passed.

You’ll receive an invitation to complete an online test approximately 1-2 weeks after submitting your application.

Our interviews will be run virtually. If we invite you for an interview, we’ll supply more detailed information on what to expect.

All of our assessments will be conducted virtually.

We recognise that some people may need special adjustments to make them more comfortable in an interview environment. For example, if you have a neurological difference such as dyslexia. We’ll work to accommodate any reasonable request, however please let us know in advance.

We initially make offers to candidates verbally over the phone. We will then confirm this offer to you in an email and if you accept our offer we will then begin the process to get your contract of employment sent out to you. This can take roughly 6 weeks.

Yes. Your application would be considered for another intake of the programme, you would however need to complete a brand-new online application the following year. We receive such a high volume of applications for the programme, that we are unable to provide feedback on applications that are unsuccessful before interview. If you are invited to a telephone interview or assessment centre then please ask our recruitment team and we’ll be happy to discuss your interview with you. Reach us on apprenticesandtrainees@sse.com