Help Needed - Western Power apprenticeship

I've asked on here before about any engineering apprenticeships and was told to keep an eye out for Western Power Distribution. I applied and been invited to an assessment in Pontypridd next week.

Does anyone know anything about the recruitment stage or can give me any information or tips for engineering interviews etc?

Research the company you want to join on line as they will most probably ask you what you know about them and why you want to join them.
They will ask you why you want to join them.
Have you any experience relating to the position applied for.
What have you got to offer them I.e. I am hard working, trust worthy, a quick learner, punctual etc.
Take any qualifications you have with you.
You may be asked to sit some tests these usually are maths/English questions starting off easy and getting harder the more you answer, you will have a time limit to answer the questions.
Ensure you are dressed smart, no jeans and tee shirts.
When you enter the interview room don't sit until you are asked to.
Always make eye contact when talking, don't speak with your head lowered, sound confident.
Do not bullshit.
You will be asked about previous jobs and why you left them or why you want to leave.
Don't ask the salary or holiday entitlement, wait until they offer you the position.

Hope some of this helps, let me know how you get on.

I think you were speaking to me. I've worked for them for 26 years and the apprenticeships are some of the best around.
The prospects are fantastic. There aren't many places where you can get a 'job for life' but this is one of them.
Go onto the WPD website and learn the 'About us' and 'Social responsibility' sections off the front page. The company is really pushing health and safety at the moment and thats included in the second heading. Read through the rest of the website to get a general idea of what we are about...e.g WPD are now the largest regional electricity company in the UK after taking over the Midlands areas and cover all of Cornwall, Devon, Bristol, South and West Wales and all of the midlands right up to Lincolnshire.
Also they are interested in who you are.......hobbies and interests, your family, your education etc. They will also find out whether you are reliable and are willing to travel....the training is mainly from Taunton and Tipton in the West Midlands.
If you need to ask anything PM me and I'll try to help you.

Both replies very helpful, thanks

I've had a nose on the website, feel like I know enough about the company now. Just unsure what I'll be doing at my assessment, the paperwork sent to me says that it will involve

Ability tests - verbal evaluation and interpreting data.
Safety and dependability questionnaire
Group exercise.

I can understand the group exercise will be a challenge of some sort to build something but unsure of the ability tests. Can you shed any light?

Also what is it you do with WPD? I understand there's different roles like jointer, fitter etc..

How old are you? Is it straight from school or an adult apprenticeship?
The apprenticeships are for the main 3 roles within the company on the industrial side.....linesman, where you'd be climbing poles, repairing overhead lines and putting in new supplies, jointers, where you'd do the same but working on underground cables and the fitter role, where you'd be working in my department....maintaining switchgear and building assemblies.
Not sure what the ability tests involve - in my section its a task to make something within a given time....you are shown what to do, then given the tools to replicate it. Its to see what your hand skills are like.
The health and safety bit is on the website as I said. The group exercise is more to do with how you work in a group (as every apprentice works in a team). Also its to see if you have leadership qualities and can work under pressure.
You have a bit of time.....keep reading the website info......and learn the company ethos under the heading 'customer service'.
Its all very much focused on customer service so this is important.
If you have any more queries, message me.

Don't tell them you are a Cardiff City supporter .

Tell them you are a die hard Pontypridd rugby supporter and you will not rest until "the Celtic Warriors" are re-formed.

Good luck. We are counting on you.

Church village will be a theory test
Multichoice questions, you would of been sent examples
Some maths, physics type stuff
They give you a web site to look at examples, with your letter.
Common things for most craft apprenticeships jobs

If you pass that, you will go to Cwmbran and do practical tests, in groups and individual
Pole climbing and bench tests I believe


If you pass that then you get interview

Different to old days in the Sweb days, most things done in the St Mellons head quarters

How old are you? Is it straight from school or an adult apprenticeship?
The apprenticeships are for the main 3 roles within the company on the industrial side.....linesman, where you'd be climbing poles, repairing overhead lines and putting in new supplies, jointers, where you'd do the same but working on underground cables and the fitter role, where you'd be working in my department....maintaining switchgear and building assemblies.
Not sure what the ability tests involve - in my section its a task to make something within a given time....you are shown what to do, then given the tools to replicate it. Its to see what your hand skills are like.
The health and safety bit is on the website as I said. The group exercise is more to do with how you work in a group (as every apprentice works in a team). Also its to see if you have leadership qualities and can work under pressure.
You have a bit of time.....keep reading the website info......and learn the company ethos under the heading 'customer service'.
Its all very much focused on customer service so this is important.
If you have any more queries, message me.

It's the adult apprenticeship, I'm 19 soon and due to finish my BTEC level 3 in electrical engineering this summer. Thanks for the replies, much appreciated

Church village will be a theory test
Multichoice questions, you would of been sent examples
Some maths, physics type stuff
They give you a web site to look at examples, with your letter.
Common things for most craft apprenticeships jobs

If you pass that, you will go to Cwmbran and do practical tests, in groups and individual
Pole climbing and bench tests I believe


If you pass that then you get interview

Different to old days in the Sweb days, most things done in the St Mellons head quarters

It's not the craft apprenticeship I applied for it's the engineering apprenticeship. Should generally be the same sort of thing though I'd imagine

Hi all,
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but just wondered if anyone had anymore info on western power as a company and what their apprenticeship schemes are like? Has anyone had an interview with them?

Cheers

Mate I've had dealings with similar companies and know people in their HR and trust me that if you don't do your research beforehand then forget it. Companies like that give you the first few minutes of the interview to impress them otherwise you wont get any further.

And always remember at the end when they say 'do you have any questions for us' your response should always be 'I think it's best if I turn the question around because I know I'm the right person for the job so do YOU have any further questions for me ?'

Mate I've had dealings with similar companies and know people in their HR and trust me that if you don't do your research beforehand then forget it. Companies like that give you the first few minutes of the interview to impress them otherwise you wont get any further.

And always remember at the end when they say 'do you have any questions for us' your response should always be 'I think it's best if I turn the question around because I know I'm the right person for the job so do YOU have any further questions for me ?'

That reply at the end would make you sound arrogant or cocky, id def not recomend that. I know you work in recruitment mate, but thats just ridiculous
A joke surely ?

Confidence sells big time

Mate I've had dealings with similar companies and know people in their HR and trust me that if you don't do your research beforehand then forget it. Companies like that give you the first few minutes of the interview to impress them otherwise you wont get any further.

And always remember at the end when they say 'do you have any questions for us' your response should always be 'I think it's best if I turn the question around because I know I'm the right person for the job so do YOU have any further questions for me ?'

That reply at the end would make you sound arrogant or cocky, id def not recomend that. I know you work in recruitment mate, but thats just ridiculous
A joke surely ?

I agree Double G.A comment like that would almost certainly get a line put through your application as no-one wants a smart arse young tw*t.Ask about the company and prospects for advancement,training,etc.Be knowledgeable about the position your applying for and ask questions.

And what experience in HR do you have to make such a comment ? Compared to my 15+ in recruitment ?

And what experience in HR do you have to make such a comment ? Compared to my 15+ in recruitment ?

Enough to know that if your going for a sales job then I agree the kind of bullshit you espouse is applicable but as he's not going for an interview down Nev's place in Swansea your advice is your usual dross.

So none then. I don't tell you how to do your job so pipe down will you

So none then. I don't tell you how to do your job so pipe down will you

You stupid man.I don't compare the size of willies.Its all about giving a kid the right advice not point scoring.

Im an Engineer and have plenty of experience in Interviews on both sides of the table.
Your on a forum so aint i entitled to an opinion ? HR hasnt got a clue when it comes down to an Engineering way of thinking

Just have a few questions prepared, like what are the promotion prospects etc. so you look keen and looking long term to the future

I dont know what you lot are squabbling about but I do know that any interview questions in Western Power are set by two members of the department the job is associated with and not HR.
i.e. if its a job for an engineer (or Technician as we now call them), on the panel there will be 2 Team Managers who set the questions and a member of the HR Team as an observer only, They ensure everything is done fairly and above board.
Likewise, if we are advertising for a job in my department, there will be a manager familiar with fitting, another Team Manager and the HR bod.
HR do not set interview questions in Western Power.

Thanks for all the responses and advice. I didn't mean to start an argument! There are some useful points.
Bluemellons I am applying for an apprenticeship for a position as a craftsman, linesman I think at the depot I've applied for. Do you have any ideas what things might crop up?

Thanks for all the responses and advice. I didn't mean to start an argument! There are some useful points.
Bluemellons I am applying for an apprenticeship for a position as a craftsman, linesman I think at the depot I've applied for. Do you have any ideas what things might crop up?

Is this a grade 3 post Will ?
They will not give you sneaky questions that you'd have no way of knowing the answers,e.g specific to that role. The website will give you a great insight into general WPD stuff. Learn the 'About us' section plus 'Social Responsibility' and get a good understanding about what we do.
Have a look at no supplies/new supplies and customer care.....and as I said before, HEALTH AND SAFETY!!! Read up on the effects of lost time accidents in the workplace and the consequences to WPD. Also the responsibility we have to our customers....guaranteed standards etc.
There's loads on the website. PM me if you need any help.

Thanks for that bluemellons. I am applying for the gcse level apprenticeship.
I have been researching using the website, they certainly do have a vast amount of information on there!