Degree Apprentice Environmental Health Officer

Summary

You will undertake the Environmental Health (Apprenticeship) BSc (Honours) Course at Middlesex University London, commencing in September 2025, to acquire the knowledge, skills and qualifications to ultimately work confidently as an Environmental Health Officer, while learning from and supporting experienced professionals.

Wage

£23,557 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Annual increase on 1 April each year which will be based on the negotiated new pay rates.

Training course

Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with at least 6 hours spent on your studies on-site at Middlesex University.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

Duration

4 years

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

Main Duties (To be carried out whilst receiving on-the-job training):

Under the general direction of the Team Leader of the Commercial Team or the Service Lead - Environmental Health & Enforcement, Shared Environmental Health & Licencing Service to:

Undertake work in the Commercial, as well as the wider EH&L teams, on the taught knowledge of the degree to develop the practical skills of an EHO, which will cover all aspects of environmental health. (On days when there are no classes taught at the university).
Shadow Officers whilst working towards and completing the Environmental Health Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard, including a BSc in Environmental Health.
Assist and support other members of the EH&L teams to deliver services including food safety, health and safety at work, public health, residential and environmental pollution, dependent on relevant stage of knowledge and experience and subject to service requirements.
To communicate effectively with members of the Commercial, and wider EH&L teams, listening actively to instructions and asking questions where necessary.
To assist officers with, and progress to undertake independently, proactive inspections, compliance visits, investigations, surveys, sampling and interventions in commercial and domestic premises and the wider environment, as directed by other officers.
Undertake appropriate training and provide a supportive role in the Commercial team and other teams within the EH&L Service for the period before qualifying as an EHO.
Support officers to carry out enforcement duties, including collation and collection of evidence, preparing reports, drafting formal notices, and preparing cases for prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court and attending court as a witness in line with the EH&L published enforcement policy.

Where you'll work

Pippbrook
Reigate Road
Dorking
Surrey
RH4 1SJ

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)

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

To study for a degree in Environmental Health via a tailored apprenticeship programme. Working in collaboration with Middlesex University London, the postholder will gain a BSc (Honours) degree, which takes place over four years.

More training information

Following the completion of the course starting in September 2025, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to become registered as an Environmental Health Officer (EHO).
To combine both classroom and practical learning, the postholder will benefit from ‘hands-on’ experience supporting the Commercial Team, as well as the wider Environmental Health & Licencing Team, and further develop their knowledge and acquire necessary practical skills as an Environmental Health Officer (EHO).

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Math’s GCSE (grade 4 or equivalent)

A Level in:

ideally with a minimum of one science or technolog (grade CCC or Level 3 equivalent)

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
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Influencing and negotiation
produce clear reports and case

Other requirements

Desirable Requirements of the job: To have your own transport or be willing to learn how to drive. A qualified Environmental Health Officer will need their own transport to fulfil the requirements of the role. Tuition fees will be fully funded by the Mole Valley District Council levy, meaning that you will not need a tuition fee loan.

About this company

At Mole Valley District Council, we are focussed on delivering high quality, value for money services, both in-house and through partnerships for Mole Valley’s residents and businesses. We are one of 11 councils in Surrey and work closely with Surrey County Council. You can read more about our key projects and our teams to give you a sense of how we work and what we work on.

https://jobs.molevalley.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Hybrid working. Pension scheme. 24 days annual leave. Free parking. Discounted memberships at our Sports and Leisure Centre. Bike hire tax-free. Wellbeing advice and support. Professional subscription. Annual eye test. Annual flu jabs.

After this apprenticeship

The successful candidate will undertake the Environmental Health (Apprenticeship) BSc (Honours) Course at Middlesex University London, commencing in September 2025, to acquire the knowledge, skills and qualifications to ultimately work confidently as an Environmental Health Officer.

Building on the taught knowledge of the degree, you will develop the practical skills of an Environmental Health Officer, while learning from and supporting experienced professionals. Upon successful completion of the four-year degree programme, you will have the opportunity to gain professional status as an Environmental Health Officer.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Mole Valley District Council

Trish O’Callaghan

Trish.o’callaghan@molevalley.gov.uk

01306 879229

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000324139.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Tuesday 24 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.

Cookies on Find an apprenticeship

Contents