Our courses

Two National Grid Person courses are available: Person (Substations) and Person (Overhead Lines).

These are full day courses which are held at National Grid’s Academy at Eakring in Nottinghamshire, they are run four times a week for Person (Substations) (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday) and once a week for Person (Overhead Lines) (every Thursday).  These courses consist of e-learning and assessment element and a practical health and safety element. Individuals must bring their own PPE for the practical assessment. 

These courses are suitable for individuals who:

• Work for National Grid as contractor employees, and
• Carry out duties as a member of a working party, and
• Have sufficient technical knowledge or experience to avoid danger.

Individuals only need to take one course - Person (Substations) or Person (Overhead Lines) - which best matches their main working environment. Upon successful completion of the course, individuals will hold a National Grid Person authorisation for 3 years.  National Grid Person authorisations are also held on the Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR).

Person Renewal e-learning courses

There are two National Grid Person Renewal e-learning packages available for individuals needing to renew their Person authorisation status. To take a Person Renewal e-learning package, an individual must have an in date Person authorisation which has been completed since January 2020. If an individual’s Person authorisation has expired, then the individual must take the full day face to face Person course at National Grid's Academy in Eakring.

There is no longer a requirement to hold BESC as a separate registration as elements of BESC are included in Person courses since January 2020.

Course pre-requisites

Individuals or their employer are required to confirm that general health and safety awareness has been successfully undertaken prior to course attendance. Some examples include SHEA Power and courses affiliated to the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS card) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB card).

Dress Code and Personal Protective equipment (PPE)

Dress code is smart casual (no shorts, tracksuit bottoms, combat trousers, flip flops, sandals, vests, sports tops, caps, or beanie hats please), individuals will be refused entry if not dressed appropriately. Please note the Training Centre facilities are based within an office environment and not a work environment, therefore individuals attending in PPE (for example with mud, oil or paint stains) will be asked to leave the premises. PPE should not be worn in the Main Building or the Lodge during the classroom based learning.

Individuals must bring their own PPE for the practical assessment. This includes hard hat (helmet not bump cap), safety glasses, hi-vis overalls or overalls with hi-vis waist coat or hi-vis overcoat, ear defenders/protection, gloves and safety boots (steel toe cap with mid-sole protection and ankle support, not rigger boots or wellingtons). Failure to bring this PPE will result in you being refused access to training. PPE must be worn in all areas requiring PPE, training will be stopped if the correct PPE is not being worn by attendees. Please speak to the reception staff on site in advance of the training if meeting this requirement is not possible, owing to specific requirements in line with your faith or religion. The telephone number is 01623 870100.

Reasonable adjustments

Speakers of other languages

Individuals for whom English is not their first language can have an interpreter to support them during the classroom training and practical assessment. If you need an interpreter  to support you please contact National Grid (01623 872783) before booking your course to discuss this.  Please be advised that failure to contact National Grid to make the necessary arrangements may result in you being refused access to training.  Interpreters must be sourced and paid for by the individuals attending the training or their employer and have the required PPE. 

Reading English

If you have difficulties with reading English, please contact KeFax (by e-mail admin@kefax.co.uk or telephone 01623 422099) at the time of booking your course to arrange this. Please be advised that failure to contact KeFax to make the necessary arrangements may result in you being refused access to training.

Wheelchair access

If you need wheelchair access please contact KeFax (by e-mail admin@kefax.co.uk or telephone 01623 422099) at the time of booking your course to arrange this. Please be advised that failure to contact KeFax to make the necessary arrangements may result in you being refused access to training.

Course feedback

To request feedback on your course assessment, please contact Kefax by email (admin@kefax.co.uk).