Environmental Health Apprentice

Summary

We are looking for a dedicated, enthusiastic person seeking a career as an Environmental Health Practitioner, with a specialist interest in Housing. No day is ever the same and your role will involve inspecting homes across North Somerset for lots of different reasons.

Wage

£21,742 a year

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Training course

Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday. Flexible working scheme available.

37 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 18 September 2025

Duration

4 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

On days where there are not taught classes at the University, undertake work in the Private Housing Service, building on the taught knowledge of the degree to develop the practical skills of an Environmental Health Practitioner. This will cover all aspects of environmental health.

Carry out a range of different types of housing inspections to support other officers on the teams
Investigate complaints about housing conditions
Keep accurate records
Talk to a range of customers and stakeholders to help improve the homes of people who live in North Somerset
Manage a caseload

Where you'll work

Town Hall
Walliscote Grove Road
Weston-super-Mare
North Somerset
BS23 1UJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Your training course

Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Provide specialist, professional and technical environmental health advice and guidance to a range of stakeholders such as residents, businesses, property owners, government agencies and partners
Plan, undertake and lead inspections, audits and other forms of investigations across the breadth of environmental health matters
Evaluate applications and grant relevant licences and permits eg. environmental permits, HMOs, caravan sites, skin piercing, tattooists etc
Negotiate with and influence a range of stakeholders in relation to a range of environmental health matters
Identify, evaluate and communicate environmental health risks and risk management solutions to a range of stakeholders
Ensure all activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance and codes of practice
Infer and apply a range of legislation related to environmental health, eg. the Environment Act, Environmental Protection Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act, Food Safety Act, Housing Act, Public Health Act, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, data protection legislation, anti-social behaviour legislation etc
Employ a range of research, analytical and problem-solving techniques to resolve environmental health issues through creative and critical thinking, devising practical solutions and applying problem solving strategies
Critically evaluate and analyse evidence and information
Formulate judgements and decisions based on the evidence available and applied knowledge eg. on acceptable levels of pollution emissions, water data, acceptable levels of noise etc
Manage objective measurement and analysis of scientific information to determine the appropriate course of action eg. noise measurement, air emissions etc
Appraise, implement and communicate relevant interventions eg. enforcement actions
Produce accurate records and reports and where appropriate, recommend interventions, including the collection and handling of evidence with a view towards legal proceedings
Assess and deal effectively with difficult and confrontational situations
Participate in health promotional activities in high priority environmental health areas eg. shisha, smoking, obesity, food safety etc
Implement effective decision making, exercising discretion, initiative and independence within the scope of own role
Communicate and influence effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders including spoken and written communication skills, presentation skills, giving advice and guidance / mediating / negotiating and persuading, handling private and sensitive information (eg. data protection)
Use a range of standard IT packages to undertake for example, word processing activities, produce reports and input / analyse data
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary and/or multi-organisational team and collaborate to achieve successful outcomes
Lead activities relating to environmental health matters
Carry out sampling and collect evidence for monitoring, investigations and/or enforcement purposes in accordance with legislation and current guidance
Examine and assess compliance with conditions
Plan, organise and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
Provide specialist, professional and technical environmental health advice and guidance to a range of stakeholders such as residents, businesses, property owners, government agencies and partners
Plan, undertake and lead inspections, audits and other forms of investigations across the breadth of environmental health matters
Evaluate applications and grant relevant licences and permits eg. environmental permits, HMOs, caravan sites, skin piercing, tattooists etc
Negotiate with and influence a range of stakeholders in relation to a range of environmental health matters
Identify, evaluate and communicate environmental health risks and risk management solutions to a range of stakeholders
Ensure all activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance and codes of practice
Infer and apply a range of legislation related to environmental health, eg. the Environment Act, Environmental Protection Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act, Food Safety Act, Housing Act, Public Health Act, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, data protection legislation, anti-social behaviour legislation etc
Employ a range of research, analytical and problem-solving techniques to resolve environmental health issues through creative and critical thinking, devising practical solutions and applying problem solving strategies
Critically evaluate and analyse evidence and information
Formulate judgements and decisions based on the evidence available and applied knowledge eg. on acceptable levels of pollution emissions, water data, acceptable levels of noise etc
Manage objective measurement and analysis of scientific information to determine the appropriate course of action eg. noise measurement, air emissions etc
Appraise, implement and communicate relevant interventions eg. enforcement actions
Produce accurate records and reports and where appropriate, recommend interventions, including the collection and handling of evidence with a view towards legal proceedings
Assess and deal effectively with difficult and confrontational situations
Participate in health promotional activities in high priority environmental health areas eg. shisha, smoking, obesity, food safety etc
Implement effective decision making, exercising discretion, initiative and independence within the scope of own role
Communicate and influence effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders including spoken and written communication skills, presentation skills, giving advice and guidance / mediating / negotiating and persuading, handling private and sensitive information (eg. data protection)
Use a range of standard IT packages to undertake for example, word processing activities, produce reports and input / analyse data
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary and/or multi-organisational team and collaborate to achieve successful outcomes
Lead activities relating to environmental health matters
Carry out sampling and collect evidence for monitoring, investigations and/or enforcement purposes in accordance with legislation and current guidance
Examine and assess compliance with conditions
Plan, organise and prioritise workload to meet deadlines

Your training plan

You will be pursuing a Level 6 Apprenticeship Standard in Environmental Health, through Weston College
As part of this program, you will attend Weston College once a week for workshops
An assessor will conduct on-site observations to evaluate your progress, as well as supporting you in college throughout your apprenticeship
At the conclusion of your program, your qualification will be assessed through an End Point Assessment

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4/C+)
Maths (grade 4/C+)

A Level in:

Or level 3 qualification (grade CCC)
Science or Technology (grade C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Team working

Other requirements

Please have a valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel. Relevant experience or prior learning may also be considered as an alternative for entry requirements but would be subject to agreement with the University.

About this company

North Somerset Council is an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our services matter to people and they are at the heart of the local community. We provide support to vulnerable adults and children whilst maximising their independence, and we protect and improve the environment to make it a thriving and sustainable place to live, work and visit. The position will be located within the Private Sector Housing Teams, and time shared across the housing disciplines. The teams deal with a wide range of duties including the delivery of disabled facilities grants, empty property work, licensing of houses in multiple occupation and caravan sites and improving housing conditions. Your role will involve assisting team members on inspections along with project work. You will be expected to work from the Town Hall initially but opportunities for remote working as you develop your experience will be available. Across the 4 years, opportunity will be given to gain experience in all areas of the profession.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Possible employment after the completion of apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WESTON COLLEGE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Charlotte Denning

charlotte.denning@weston.ac.uk

01934411594

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320721.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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