Trainee Trading Standards Officer Tobacco & Vapes - L6 Apprentice
Oxfordshire County Council
Oxford (OX2 0BY)
Closes in 21 days (Friday 21 August 2026)
Posted on 30 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Are you interested in a career in consumer protection, regulation and enforcement? We are recruiting a trainee (level 6 apprentice) Trading Standards Officer to enforce new regulations on cigarettes, tobacco and vapes as well as the full range of trading standards duties. This role will be focused on vapes and tobacco enforcement.
- Wage
-
£29,064 a year
- Training course
- Trading standards professional (level 6)
- Hours
-
37-hours week, Monday - Friday, working hours TBC.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 1 October 2026
- Duration
-
3 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
- Undertake the Level 6 Trading Standards Professional apprenticeship and any additional qualification requirements required by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute’s qualification framework; making sure that all targets are achieved. This may include attending off-site training as needed
- To work towards being able to undertake the full duties of a Trading Standards Officer, as defined by the 15 duties contained within the Trading Standards Professional apprenticeship standard
- Under the supervision and guidance of managers, to actively contribute to the work of the trading standards service and its priorities and objectives, in particular but not limited to regulation of vapes, cigarettes and tobacco products
- Support with enforcing relevant legislation, the carrying out inspections of trading premises and the sampling of products, to ensure that legal requirements are being complied with which will include occasional out of hours working appropriate to grade
- Provide support, advice and guidance to local businesses to help them develop and grow
- To actively gather and process intelligence regarding business malpractice, community concerns and breaches of relevant legislation; prioritising complaints and enquiries from businesses and consumers and appropriately respond to/investigate these enquiries, having regard to the Service’s policies
- Under the supervision and guidance of managers, undertake investigations, investigate complaints and provide relevant advice and assistance to businesses and consumers, attending court to give evidence, if required
- Any other duties as may be deemed necessary to carry out the full remit of the role
Where you'll work
Graham Hill House
Electric Avenue
Ferry Hinksey Road
Oxford
OX2 0BY
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
Trading Standards Professional Level 6.
More training information
The programme will be delivered by CSA Services via a blended learning model including a combination of group workshops, e-learning, structured workplace learning, tutorials, and mini projects and will be fully integrated with wider internal training and organisational needs.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- 3 other subjects (grade 9-4 or A* - C)
- English (grade 9-4 or A* - C)
- Maths (grade 9-4 or A* - C)
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
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
You’ll need to be able to get around all parts of Oxfordshire (and sometimes further afield) easily and efficiently. Having a driving licence is one of our desirable criteria.
About this employer
We're the local authority for Oxfordshire, committed to delivering top quality services and value for money on behalf of the county's 600,000+ residents.
http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
The council is one of the region’s largest employers and as one of its employees, you’ll have access to a range of benefits and rewards.
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).
On completion of the apprenticeship and associated professional qualifications you will be able to apply for posts as a qualified Trading Standards Officer where you can expect to earn an initial salary of more than £38,000.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Oxfordshire County Council
Emily James
emily.james@oxfordshire.gov.uk
07770 832987
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000045591.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Friday 21 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.