protecting your community in local government trading standards

Introduction

Local government trading standards officers work to safeguard the public – they help to protect businesses and consumers from rogue traders and illegal trading practices.
Trading standards officers can be found in county, unitary and metropolitan councils.

Work Environment

Local government trading standards officers are office-based, but spend most of their time visiting traders and suppliers.  Appearances at court to give evidence may be required, and they have to enter all sorts of premises, some of which are dirty and unpleasant. They may work alone, or within a team depending on the scale of an investigation.

They work a standard 37 hour week.

Daily Activities

If you’ve ever bought designer clothing with a fake label or an unsafe electrical product, you may have needed the help of a trading standards officer.  Local government trading standards officers protect consumers against fraud, counterfeit or unsafe products and criminal practice.

Trading standards work has three broad aims:

• to educate, inform and advise consumers;
• to educate, inform and advise businesses;
• to ensure that trading takes place in a fair and safe environment.

Local government trading standards officers have a number of important roles.  They provide advice to consumers about their rights, monitor the standard of products and services, make routine inspections to businesses, investigate complaints and on occasions have to enforce consumer law.

The work varies according to location. Those working in rural areas might spend a lot of their time on animal health and agriculture, those based in more urban areas might be concerned with street traders, shops and factories and those based in ports work closely with customs examining import goods.

Some of the tasks a local government trading standard officer might expect to be involved in are:

• ensuring the correct transport of livestock to market;
• checking weighing machines and food labels in shops;
• checking beer and spirit measures in pubs;
• dealing with traders selling faulty goods;
• investigating misleading advertising campaigns;
• identifying potential hazards, such as unsafe electrical goods or unroadworthy vehicles;
• giving legal advice to people about their consumer rights;
• giving evidence in court cases against rogue traders.

Enforcing legislation through the courts is always a last resort and trading standards officers get involved in collecting evidence, preparing the case, as well as giving evidence.

Most local government trading standards officers also undertake a public relations and education role, spending some time giving talks to schools and interested groups.

Skills & Interests

Local government trading standards officers need:

• to be excellent communicators and able to talk to people from many different backgrounds,
• good problem solving and investigative skills,
• good practical ability,
• to be good at working on their own initiative and in a team,
• to be calm under pressure,
• to enjoy a challenge.

Entry Requirements

The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) professional qualifications in consumer affairs and trading standards are at four levels: Foundation Certificate in Consumer Affairs & Trading Standards; Module Certificate in Consumer Affairs & Trading Standards; Diploma in Consumer Affairs & Trading Standards (DCATS); Higher Diploma in Consumer Affairs & Trading Standards (HDCATS). You can combine study with paid employment and work up through the qualifications, or you can study for a TSI accredited degree and start professional qualifications at a higher level. The following organisations provide TSI accredited degree courses:

• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Manchester Metropolitan University Graduate Diploma
• University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
• University of Teesside
• Queen Margaret’s University College, Edinburgh
• South West Regional Assembly (Distance Learning)

Foundation degrees are also available at:

Estimated salary range

Local government trading standards officers might expect to earn £24,000 - £34,000.

Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities
There is a clear career path, from technical and assistant level, through to consumer adviser, trading standards officer and then principal or senior officer and managerial positions.  It might be necessary to move to a different local council to gain promotion.  However, there might also be opportunities in other local government public protection services such as environmental health, planning or building control.

Related Occupations
Follow this link to view a list of all related occuptions in Protecting Your Community.

Further Information & Services

Trading Standards Careers information www.tscareers.org.uk

Trading Standards Institute www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

You may find further information about this area of work in your local Connexions service/careers office/school careers library - under AC.
 

What should I do next?

Look for current local government Trading Standards Officer vacancies in the following places:

• LGjobs.com - our official recruitment website for local government.
• Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly jobs bulletins produced by local councils themselves, available from libraries, community centres, town halls/main civic buildings and central council personnel departments.
• Local council websites.
• Local newspapers
• National newspapers - The Guardian is particularly well known for its public sector job advertisements on a Wednesday.

Find out about the council and get some work experience if possible by:

• Making the most of work experience placements arranged through your school, college or university.
• Contacting councils close to your home to find out about the work experience opportunities they offer.
• Talking to someone who does the job you are interested in - ring your local council to see if someone can spare some time.
• Making an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.