HireVue is named by National Grid itself
Official sourceThis is the strongest kind of vendor evidence there is: the employer’s own page naming the platform. National Grid’s UK early-careers pages link candidates to "Hire Vue's Video Interview Tips" at Stage 2 and to "Hire Vue's Candidate Support Centre" at Stage 3, and the support link resolves to HireVue’s own candidate support site. You do not have to take a prep site’s word for the platform.
Source: National Grid careers, Early careers — How to apply (UK)
The official stage order is video interview, then games
Official sourceNational Grid numbers the video interview Stage 2 and the game-based assessments Stage 3, on both the how-to-apply page and the Graduates page. Several candidate accounts describe playing the games first, or completing both parts in one sitting of roughly an hour — so expect one combined HireVue session rather than two invitations weeks apart, but prepare both parts separately because they demand completely different things.
Source: National Grid careers, Graduates (UK)
What the video interview covers, in National Grid’s words
Official source"The video interview will consist of a series of questions. You will be asked competency-based questions that look at different elements of your personality and workstyle. You'll be able to record and complete your interview anytime and anywhere." National Grid does not publish how many questions there are; candidates report somewhere between three and six, and that likely varies by programme. We have a researched question page for this stage at /hirevue/questions/national-grid.
Source: National Grid careers, Early careers — How to apply (UK)
There is an unlimited practice question before you start
Official sourceThe FAQ is explicit: "You do have the opportunity to complete a practice question as many times as you want." Use it. It is the only part of the process where a retake costs you nothing, and it is where you check your framing, lighting and audio. The same FAQ recommends business casual dress, a well-lit location, and testing your microphone and camera beforehand. How many attempts you get on the real questions is not published, so do not plan around getting a second take.
Source: National Grid early-careers FAQs (UK)
What the games are, in National Grid’s words
Official source"Complete a series of short online games that look at different elements of your cognitive, emotional, and social traits. You will need access to a device that can connect online and be used in a quiet space." That is the entire official description. No game names, no count, no timings. The identical wording appears on the US early-careers page under the heading "Profile assessments", but the US page names no vendor.
Source: National Grid careers, Early careers — How to apply (UK)
The game names are the weakest claim on this page
Single sourceCandidates report Numerosity and Shape Dance. That naming reaches us through one prep site summarising uncited candidate reports — the candidate forums and review sites that would corroborate it could not be read directly, and the game descriptions circulating in search results are generic HireVue prep copy rather than National Grid-specific testimony. So treat this as single-source. National Grid names no game, HireVue names no game for National Grid, and reported counts run from two to four. Practising these two is a reasonable bet; assuming they are the whole battery is not.
Source: AptitudePrep, National Grid digital assessment (prep site)
Adjustments and extra time are available
Official sourceThe FAQ states that the tests include a practice question and that adjustments, including extra time, can be arranged. If you normally receive adjustments, ask the recruitment team before the invitation window starts rather than after.
Source: National Grid early-careers FAQs (UK)
Overseas candidates can sit the online stages abroad
Official sourceThe FAQ confirms that overseas candidates can complete the application, the online tests and the video interview from abroad, but must attend the UK assessment centre in person. Plan travel around Stage 4, not around the HireVue stage.
Source: National Grid early-careers FAQs (UK)
What the assessment centre is, and is not
Official sourceNational Grid commits to very little: "You will be invited to attend one of our assessment centres, where you'll experience a number of exciting activities. We will provide more details about the assessment centre closer to the time. We have prepared to hold these either virtually or in person." The FAQ adds that centres are held regularly at different UK locations, travel expenses are refunded, and feedback is always given including specific assessor feedback. Older prep-site and candidate accounts describe a two-day event at a Warwick conference venue with a case-study presentation and a group exercise; no current official page says that, at least one recent account describes a virtual centre, so do not treat that format as the current cycle’s.
Source: National Grid careers, Early careers — How to apply (UK)
Claims that National Grid uses SHL aptitude tests are not supported
No evidence foundTwo prep sites assert SHL or "CEB SHL" verbal and abstract reasoning tests for National Grid. Neither cites a source, neither mentions HireVue anywhere, and one of them was last updated in May 2024 while elsewhere on the same page conceding that National Grid uses game-based assessments. That reads as stale material rather than competing evidence, and it is contradicted by National Grid’s own current pages, which name HireVue twice. Do not spend preparation time on SHL-style aptitude tests for this process.
Source: Comparison of prep-site claims against National Grid’s current early-careers pages, September 2026
The US route uses the same words but names no vendor
Official sourceThe US early-careers page describes an application of about 30 minutes, a "Digital interview" you record anytime with multiple recordings allowed, "Profile assessments" using the identical cognitive-emotional-social wording, and then a final interview "held using Microsoft Teams". It never names HireVue, and National Grid states the US and UK programs operate independently. The structure is the same shape; the vendor is confirmed only for the UK.
Source: National Grid careers, Early careers — How to apply (US)