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Apprenticeships are available for either Lightning Conductor Engineers or Steeplejacks. Information for both can be found on this page. Information regarding Adult entry is included at the end of each section.
The annual prize giving for the Training Group took place on Thursday 10 December 2009 at the National Construction College, Bircham Newton. Opposite is a photo gallery of images of some of the Steeplejack Award winners and Lightning Conductor Award winners.
For further information on apprenticeships, please contact ConstructionSkills.
Lightning Conductor Engineers work at heights on all types of structures carrying out a variety of lightning protection and earthing installations from the most basic to the highly complex.
In order to create a safe working environment Lightning Conductor Engineers begin by carefully planning the job to be carried out, working to a technical drawing of the installation to be fitted. On site they put up access ladders, mobile scaffolding, mobile elevated work platforms and the traditional bosun's seat (harness) and fall arrest devices. They would also work off existing scaffolds erected by the main contractor or client. In many circumstances Industrial Rope Access (Abseiling) techniques are used. They would have to climb or be elevated to the place of work with their tools to carry out the operations of protecting the building. Projects of protection are usually in different phases, so a visit to do further work on the same structure is normal. Once the job is completed they would dismantle any access equipment and return the structure to normality.
Lightning Conductor Engineers work on all types of structures, ranging from supermarkets, flats, schools, hospitals, communication towers and office tower blocks to industrial structures such as chemical works and power stations.
There are no specific entry qualifications but GCSEs/S grades (A-E/1-5) in maths, English, science subjects and CDT are useful. Lightning Conductor Engineers particularly need knowledge of maths to help them learn basic electrical theory.
Young people applying for Apprentice sponsored training through the Steeplejack Industry Training Group Association and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have to sit an aptitude exercise involving maths, and problem solving. They also have to be checked for literacy.
Each year there are 24 places for trainee Lightning Conductor Engineers on the two-year course organised by the CITB. For further information please contact CITB.
Trainees are sponsored by an employer and spend about six months, spread over two years at the CITB residential National Construction College in Bircham Newton, Norfolk. They work towards NVQs/SVQs Levels 2 or 3 in Lightning Conductor Engineering. Qualifications Attainable include:
Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships may be available for young people in England. Skillseekers and Modern Apprenticeships (Scotland), Modern Apprenticeships (Northern Ireland) and Foundation Modern Apprenticeships and Modern Apprenticeships (Wales) may also be available. Contact your local Connexions Partnership, Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Local Enterprise Company (LEC), Jobcentre in Northern Ireland or the National Council - (ELWa) in Wales
People of any age can start work with a Lightning Conductor Engineering company, receive training and gain recognition of their skills through working towards NVQs/SVQs, but this is likely to be more difficult for people over the age of forty.
Steeplejacks work at heights on tall structures carrying out a variety of building, repair and maintenance jobs and installing basic lightning protection systems. Much of the work involves renovation, e.g. on power station chimneys, cooling towers, oil refineries, tower blocks, bridges, church spires or even castles.
In order to create a safe working environment Steeplejacks begin by carefully planning the job to be carried out, on site they put up access ladders, scaffolding, work platforms (cradles) and the traditional bosun's seat (harness) and fall arrest devices.. In many circumstances Industrial Rope Access (Abseiling) techniques are used. They would have to climb up to high places with their tools to carry out operations such as repairs, painting, inspection, demolition and rebuilding. Once the job is completed they would dismantle all the access equipment and return the structure to normality.
There are no specific entry qualifications but GCSEs/S grades (A-E/1-5) in maths, English, science subjects and CDT are useful.
Young people applying for Apprentice through the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have to sit an aptitude exercise involving maths, and problem solving. They also have to be checked for literacy.
Each year there are up to 12 places for trainee Steeplejacks on the three-year course organised by the CITB. For further information please contact CITB.
Trainees are sponsored by an employer and spend about six months, spread over three years at the CITB residential National Construction College in Bircham Newton, Norfolk. They work towards NVQs/SVQs Levels 2 or 3 in Steeplejacking. Qualifications Attainable include:
Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships may be available for young people in England. Skillseekers and Modern Apprenticeships (Scotland), Modern Apprenticeships (Northern Ireland) and Foundation Modern Apprenticeships and Modern Apprenticeships (Wales) may also be available. Contact your local Connexions Partnership, Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Local Enterprise Company (LEC), Jobcentre in Northern Ireland or the National Council - (ELWa) in Wales.
People of any age can start work with a Steeplejack company, receive training and gain recognition of their skills through working towards NVQs/SVQs, but this is likely to be more difficult for people over the age of forty.