Ashley Evans: From classroom to cable jointer
03/09/2026

Ashley Evans: From classroom to cable jointer

After six years of working as a design technology, engineering and art teacher at a secondary school, Ashley Evans’ career journey took a very different path in 2021, as she headed back to night school to become a qualified domestic electrician.

Following the successful completion of her Level Three Diploma in Electrical Installation and subsequent adult craft apprenticeship, Ashley now works for SP Energy Networks (SPEN) as a cable jointer – a role which she says brings more variety, satisfaction and opportunity for development. 

Ashley said: “After completing a BA Honours degree in graphic design and animation, I got a summer job working as an assistant to my university tutors who ran summer school animation workshops. This is where my passion for teaching began, and I returned to university to complete a PGCE in teaching. 

“I subsequently worked as a secondary teacher of design technology, engineering and art at an all-boys private school. I loved being in the classroom and the teaching element but knew the desk-based part of the job wasn’t for me.

“Every day is different and every fault is different.  You need to think on your feet, be organised, methodical and good at communicating with customers"
Ashley

“I decided to take the leap and retrain as an electrician, going to night school to do my level three diploma in electrical installation. Due to Covid, I couldn’t complete my final domestic electrical assessment with a company, so decided to research apprenticeship opportunities at SPEN, and applied to become an adult craft apprentice.”

Ashley initially joined in July 2021 completing an appreciation course in overhead lines, before switching to train as a cable jointer. 

Ashley said: “I loved that first apprenticeship, and it made me realise I’d made the right decision. Being hands on, solving problems and making things work was something I loved from the start, even though the work was extremely physical. I then made the switch to cable jointing, completing my training at ScottishPower’s training centre in Hoylake.”

In her role as cable jointer, Ashley is first to arrive at site when a fault is reported. She diagnoses and fixes the fault or escalates it to a jointing team to get people back on supply as quickly as possible. 

Ashley says she has brought a lot of skills from her previous career to the role.  As someone who thrives on developing people, she hopes to get more involved in the training academy, supporting others through their apprenticeships.