Apprentice Trading Standards Officer (Tobacco and Vapes)
City of York Council
York (YO10 3DS)
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 2 August 2026)
Posted on 15 July 2026
Contents
Summary
An exciting opportunity has become available to join our Trading Standards Team as an Apprentice Trading Standards Officer (Tobacco and Vapes).
You will play a key part in tackling illegal sales of tobacco and vaping products, supporting businesses to comply with a wide range of regulations designed to protect consumers.
- Wage
-
£20,932.73 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Annual leave - 25 days' holiday in addition to 8 public holidays per annum (full time employees)
Pension - You will be automatically enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme - a contributory scheme.
- Training course
- Trading standards professional (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. We offer a flexi time working arrangement.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 21 September 2026
- 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
- Undertake the Level 6 Trading Standards Professional (tobacco and vapes) apprenticeship and any additional qualification requirements required by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute’s qualification framework; making sure that all targets are achieved.
- Procure sample products, to ensure that legal requirements are being complied with which may include occasional out of hours working
- Actively gather and process intelligence regarding business malpractice, community concerns and breaches of relevant legislation; prioritising complaints and enquiries from businesses and consumers
- Respond to complaints and enquiries received by the service, providing customers and businesses with legally sound and technically accurate but practical information, advice and guidance, ensuring that matters raised in complaints and enquiries are investigated and appropriate action taken
- Under the supervision and guidance of managers, undertake investigations, investigate complaints, interview complainants and obtain comprehensive witness statements. Attending court to give evidence, if required
- Ensure that all systems are up-to-date and correctly maintained.
Where you'll work
The Ecodepot
Hazel Court
James Strees
York
YO10 3DS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CSA (SERVICES) LTD
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.
Training schedule
Training will take place at work and during virtual session with CSA our Training Provider
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
A Level in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted 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
About this employer
We are a modern council, with high standards in all we do, living up to our values and making it a great place to work. We have a supportive culture that enables our employees to make the most of their skills and enjoy a healthy work/life balance, offering you an exciting place in which to develop your career. You will be able to make a real difference to people’s lives in a cosmopolitan city that boasts a strong local economy and a growing number of prominent companies.
https://www.york.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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
There may be an opportunity to apply for a role within the Council, but this is not guaranteed.
We believe that the experience you will gain throughout your apprenticeship will significantly enhance your ability to find employment inside or outside our organisation.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CSA (SERVICES) LTD
apprenticeships@york.gov.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000042938.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Sunday 2 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.