Highways electrician or service operative
Level 3 · AdvancedConstruction and the built environment 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Highways Electrician or Service Operative apprenticeship at Level 3 builds on entry-level highway electrical skills, training you to work independently on more complex highway electrical installations including traffic signal systems, intelligent transport systems, and motorway communications. You will have a higher level of technical knowledge and be able to supervise and check the work of less experienced operatives. It leads to senior technician and site supervisor roles in highways electrical contracting.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Advanced highway electrical systems - ITS, CCTV, and variable message signs
Traffic signal design principles and controller programming basics
Electrical testing, inspection, and certification to BS 7671
Supervising safe systems of work on highways sites
Fault diagnosis on complex multi-element highway electrical networks
NRSWA supervisor duties and streetworks management
Reading and interpreting highway electrical drawings and specifications
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Install and commission traffic signal heads and controller cabinets
Test and certify electrical installations to current regulations
Diagnose complex faults across highway electrical networks
Supervise operatives and check quality of their work on site
Manage streetworks notices and liaise with highway authorities
Programme and adjust traffic signal timings under instruction
Maintain detailed records of installations and test results
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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