Trading Standards Apprentice

Summary

You’ll be a key part of our work, focussing on tackling the supply of illegal vapes and tobacco and support the work of the whole Trading Standards team. We’ll help you to play to your strengths, diversify your skills and build an influential and impactful career.

Wage

£27,711 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Trading standards professional (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday usually between 9.00am to 5.00pm, subject to local agreement.

37 hours a week

Start date

Friday 1 August 2025

Duration

2 years 5 months

Positions available

1

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

You will:

Assist with the enforcement of rules regulating vapes and tobacco, including the supply of illegal/illicit products
Be a supporting member of a demand team to respond to complaints and enquires from the public and businesses
Carry out intelligence led project work including basic visits and informal sampling as may be required to business premises to ensure compliance with legislation
Support Trading Standards Officers with enforcement action when necessary, including involvement in Criminal Investigations, test purchases, seizure of goods, taking witness statements, PACE interviews, and giving evidence in Court as required
Be a key member of our ‘frontline team’ with responsibility to receive and process incoming ‘demand’ into the system

Where you'll work

Landmark House
4 Egerton Road
Ipswich
IP1 5PF

Training

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

College or training organisation

CSA (SERVICES) LTD

Your training course

Trading standards professional (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Lead and manage investigations and interventions.
Apply investigative techniques and evidence gathering to produce reports with recommendations.
Analyse, interpret, challenge, and evaluate data and intelligence.
Interpret and apply relevant Acts, Regulations, Codes of Practice and Guidance in the consumer protection environment.
Influence, negotiate and challenge stakeholders in the delivery and decision-making process.
Use research, analytical and problem-solving techniques to resolve and prevent consumer protection issues.
Conduct and/or respond to formal interviews in line with legal controls and best practice collaborating with legal representatives.
Gather evidence for use for potential legal proceedings and acting as a witness when required.
Make legal and tactical decisions to improve the outcomes in consumer protection investigations.
Promote the improvement of compliance standards in consumer protection.
Promote social inclusion in the workplace with businesses, stakeholders, and consumers.
Promote environmental sustainability and support change to improve the environment.
Lead and manage operational projects to achieve time dependent outcomes.
Communicate complex information, best practice, and guidance in consumer protection, adapting delivery for different audiences.
Collaborate with stakeholders to achieve agreed collective outcomes.
Identify and apply industry developments to achieve continual service improvement.
Lead the development and monitoring of financial strategies and setting of organisational budgets based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or similar, and challenge financial assumptions underpinning strategies.
Build constructive working relationships across teams.
Identify the training and development requirements of the team and stakeholders.
Set strategic direction through the implementation of plans.
Lead and respond to risks using risk management techniques.
Provide support, specialist advice, and guidance for businesses, consumers, and stakeholders.
Act as an advocate for projects and transformation of services across organisational boundaries such as those impacted by sustainability and the UK Net Carbon Zero.
Lead and manage investigations and interventions.
Apply investigative techniques and evidence gathering to produce reports with recommendations.
Analyse, interpret, challenge, and evaluate data and intelligence.
Interpret and apply relevant Acts, Regulations, Codes of Practice and Guidance in the consumer protection environment.
Influence, negotiate and challenge stakeholders in the delivery and decision-making process.
Use research, analytical and problem-solving techniques to resolve and prevent consumer protection issues.
Conduct and/or respond to formal interviews in line with legal controls and best practice collaborating with legal representatives.
Gather evidence for use for potential legal proceedings and acting as a witness when required.
Make legal and tactical decisions to improve the outcomes in consumer protection investigations.
Promote the improvement of compliance standards in consumer protection.
Promote social inclusion in the workplace with businesses, stakeholders, and consumers.
Promote environmental sustainability and support change to improve the environment.
Lead and manage operational projects to achieve time dependent outcomes.
Communicate complex information, best practice, and guidance in consumer protection, adapting delivery for different audiences.
Collaborate with stakeholders to achieve agreed collective outcomes.
Identify and apply industry developments to achieve continual service improvement.
Lead the development and monitoring of financial strategies and setting of organisational budgets based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or similar, and challenge financial assumptions underpinning strategies.
Build constructive working relationships across teams.
Identify the training and development requirements of the team and stakeholders.
Set strategic direction through the implementation of plans.
Lead and respond to risks using risk management techniques.
Provide support, specialist advice, and guidance for businesses, consumers, and stakeholders.
Act as an advocate for projects and transformation of services across organisational boundaries such as those impacted by sustainability and the UK Net Carbon Zero.

Your training plan

Suffolk County Council – Landmark House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5PF - Hybrid
You will have a minimum of 6 hours off the job for training each week which may be completed in the office or at home

More training information

We welcome apprenticeship applications from all ages and backgrounds.

There's no upper age limit - it's never too late to start developing new skills. We want to provide opportunities for anyone interested in launching or advancing their career. 

The apprenticeship you're applying for must build on your qualifications. If you have experience in this field, the apprenticeship you're applying for must be at a higher level.

Completing your apprenticeship does not guarantee a full-time position. However, we are dedicated to helping you find a job. You will have priority access when you apply for vacancies. This applies during the final 3 months of your contract. 

Requirements

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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative

About this company

ABOUT US As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities. In return, you’ll enjoy: up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase training and encouragement to expand your knowledge a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation diverse and active staff networks flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day plus more! If you would like to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

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

Trading Standards Officer

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Suffolk County Council

Nousha Meek

nousha.meek@suffolk.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000323011.

Apply now

Closes in 5 days (Wednesday 11 June 2025)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

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