Environmental Health Officer Apprentice / Trainee at London Borough of Brent

Summary

Working in Regulatory Services alongside experienced officers in gathering information and evidence through investigations, working with local businesses, members of the public, carrying out inspections and providing education on food safety & standards, health & safety, licencing, public health, environmental protection, pest control.

Wage

£25,998.45 a year

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At Brent we pay LLW for all of our apprenticeship schemes.

Training course

Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

This is a 36-hour week. Monday - Friday, based at Brent Civic Centre. The post holder could expect to work outside of normal working hours (between 08.00 to 18.00). This may include, on occasion, working at weekends.

36 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 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

To follow an agreed development programme with the aim of gaining comprehensive work experience in the broad areas of Environmental Health.
To undertake training duties as specified, which in general will include such matters as undertaking projects, carrying out inspections/investigations, preparing formal notices/documentation, writing reports, and preparing cases for prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court and attending court as a witness in line with our enforcement policy.
Assist officers with, and progress towards, undertaking independent, proactive inspections, compliance visits, investigations and interventions, as directed by other officers.
As knowledge and competence develops, you will undertake a case load of reactive work, including responding to and investigating complaints, as well as proactive project work and educational activities where required.
Organising and managing own workload within corporate priorities and agreed personal objectives.
The post holder could expect to work outside of normal working hours. This may include, on occasions, working evenings and weekends as required.

Where you'll work

Brent Civic Centre
Engineers Way
Wembley
Middlesex
HA9 0FJ

Training

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

College or training organisation

MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6)

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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 based at Brent Civic Centre with some on-site and off-site training, whilst studying for your degree one day a week at university.
Qualification: BSc (Hons) degree in Environmental Health/BSc (Hons) degree in Environmental Science.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade C or L4)
Maths (grade C or L4)

Desirable qualifications

A Level or equivalent in:

Geography (grade C)
Science (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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness
Interest in local government
Community Support
Brent resident

Other requirements

An interest in developing a career in Environmental Health, there will be off-site visits. Keen to learn, a flexible & positive approach to work, teamwork, reliable, punctual, with good communication & customer service skills, the ability to deliver presentations and be able to produce clear & concise reports. Ideally a Brent Resident.

About this company

Brent Council is committed to the continued expansion and development of all apprenticeship programmes for our residents. Our apprenticeship schemes at Brent are just one of the ways we grow our own talent within the borough. We work hard to represent our community and are looking for likeminded Brent residents to join us. Working in Wembley Park, alongside our neighbours Wembley stadium, Wembley arena, Box Park and LDO, makes Brent an exciting location to work.

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

Company benefits

- 27 days Annual leave & 8 days bank holidays. - Public Sector Pension. - Discounted parking. - Good local transport links. - Employee benefits scheme.

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

At the end of this apprenticeship, you should be able to work in an Environmental Health Officer role, within the regulatory service in the public sector, confident in the skills and knowledge you have gained.
You should be able to apply for the Environmental Health Officer role.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: