Highway Electrician or Service Operative
Careers Explorer:
Supervising the installation and servicing of electrical equipment and systems on roads and motorways.
Overview
As a Highways Electrician / Service Operative, you’ll supervise the installation and servicing of electrical equipment and systems on roads and motorways.
You’ll be focused on the installation and servicing of street lighting, traffic signals, safety cameras and highway communications.
This may include fault diagnosis and repairs, inspect and test low voltage highway electrical equipment and systems.
A key task of these roles will be to carry out emergency attendance and emergency works (for example, where a car has hit a streetlight and ensure appropriate health, safety and environmental procedures, including the requirements of the Highway Electrical Registration Scheme, are applied.
Top 5 Tasks
- Install equipment (e.g. street lighting columns, traffic signal poles)
- Maintain that equipment (e.g. correcting faults)
- Carry out first line emergency attendance and emergency work
- Maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, managers and members of the public whilst carrying out the works
- Work in small teams or on your own.
Salary
Typically, an electrician starting out will earn around £20,000 and those at a more experienced or senior level will earn much more, approximately £42,000.
Salaries typically range depending on location, employer and overtime.
Am I Suited?
- Problem solver
- Hands-on
- Self-motivator
- Science geek
- Technically-minded
London’s new underground railway line Crossrail is currently the biggest single project in Europe.
Qualifications
There are no specific entry requirements, but GCSEs at 4 (C) or above are useful to have, with a science subject.
You can take a Level 2 and 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation, which may help you to find a trainee position with a company.
