Excavation Operator / Cable Layer

SP Electricity North West manages and invests in the power network that supplies electricity to the 2.4m homes and businesses across the North West. Our 2,400 colleagues manage the 13,000km of overhead lines, 44,000km of underground cables and thousands of electricity substations to keep power flowing and supporting green growth. We’re one of six distribution network operators in the UK and are regulated by Ofgem.

We’re proud that in December 2024 we were named Utility of the Year by Utility Week magazine who said we punched above our weight and used innovation to solve some of the industry’s most difficult challenges. Come and be part of our team and make a difference.

Now part of the Iberdrola and ScottishPower group, we’re collectively building smarter, greener electricity networks that will get Britain growing by investing in a better future, quicker.

A Fantastic Opportunity: Excavation Operator / Cable Layer

Base location will be dependent on where the successful candidate lives, however we are ideally looking for someone North Lakes based as the role will work across Cumbria, North Lancashire and the Settle district.

Our role

As an Excavation Operator / Cable Layer, you will carry out excavation and backfill work associated with the delivery of Domestic Connections and Fault Response work on LV and HV underground networks.

In this role, you will be responsible for all aspects of Safety, Health, and Environment relevant to the position, including conducting risk assessments and maintaining safe working practices. You will carry out pre-site checks to ensure designs are achievable, meet customer standards, and comply with SP ENW Standards and Procedures. You will be required to operate handheld IT equipment to receive job instructions and accurately record site information, while ensuring that all work meets current quality procedures and guaranteed service standards.

Additionally, you will be responsible for the security of vehicles, tools, plant, and equipment. Acting as the lead person within an excavation team of up to three people, you will also be expected to undertake any other reasonable tasks in line with company requirements.

What we’re looking for

We welcome applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who meet the following criteria:

It is essential you have experience of leading Excavation teams, in addition to proven experience working on the electricity network. We also require the following:

• NRSWA Units 001-009
• Experience of pre-siting schemes of work & performing Risk Assessments
• Full UK Driving Licence, C1 as a minimum
• Towing Licence
• Abrasive Wheel
• CSCS Operatives card
• Emergency First Aid
• Machine Operator ticket
• Trench Support (deep excavation) (desirable)
• Moling qualification (desirable).

What we’re offering

We value your expertise and in return, you’ll receive:

• An annual bonus scheme
• 26 days annual leave increasing with length of service
• An employee rewards portal offering discounts on several well-known brands
• A market-leading contributory pension scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Opportunity for professional development through our L&D function.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We’re proud to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We believe that embracing our differences makes us stronger.

If you need any adjustments or support during the application process, please contact our Recruitment Team on (phone number removed) (option 2).

Any offer made will remain conditional until pre-employment checks are complete to a level deemed satisfactory by SP Electricity North West. Due to the nature of this role, the following pre-employment checks will be required; references from previous employers, a Medical Appointment, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a Drug & Alcohol test.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

We don't accept speculative CVs from agencies. Any received we will assert ownership of the candidate and no fee will be payable.