Power Station Worker

Job Description:

Power station workers operate and maintain equipment in power stations.

Job Category:
Energy & Utilities

What you will do:

You could work in the following types of power generation:

  • coal and gas
  • nuclear
  • hydro-electricity
  • wind
  • solar
  • biomass (burning timber and waste)

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

  • operating machinery in a power plant, or running it remotely from a control room
  • finding and fixing faults
  • handling materials used to generate electricity
  • testing equipment
  • reacting to emergencies, for example shutting down a system

You’ll need to follow strict safety procedures and environmental good practice.

Skills:

You’ll need:

  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • observation and recording skills
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • knowledge of maths
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

As well as:

Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship. You could also start as a trainee.

Experience in engineering or maintenance work could help you get into this career. Engineering qualifications could also help.

Most employers will expect you to have studied the subjects:

  • English
  • maths
  • science or engineering, or design and technology

You must register with a power industry safety scheme.

Working Hours and Environment:

You’ll usually work 40 hours and do a 5-day week. You may work shifts including nights and weekends or be on standby for emergencies.

You could be in a clean control room or a dusty repair workshop. You’ll wear protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression:

With experience, you could become a supervisor, control and instrumentation engineer or operations or maintenance technician.

You could also take a foundation degree or degree in power engineering and become an electrical or mechanical engineer.