Apprentice Trading Standards Officer

About the Role

This is an exceptional opportunity to gain a career for life.  We are offering a full training package designed to take suitable candidates from entry level through to fully rounded and qualified Trading Standards Professionals. 

During your 3 year apprenticeship learning journey you will receive top class training from accredited bodies and professionals, coupled with continuous on the job training from our current professional team. 

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• Visiting local traders and businesses for routine checks or investigating complaints
• Taking samples of goods for testing
• Checking that weighing scales and measures are accurate, like beer and spirit measures in pubs and clubs
• Making sure labelling is correct and advertising is not misleading
• Finding unsafe electrical goods and toys
• Advising consumers and businesses about the law
• Investigating suspected offences through undercover or surveillance work
• Preparing evidence and going to court in prosecution cases

• Giving talks, writing reports and keeping records

This role is permanent and will be generally working office hours; however there will be times where unsociable hours will be required…Rogue Traders don’t always stick to 9-5! 

Due to the nature of the role a full driving licence and access to your own vehicle will be essential.

About You

Needless to say you will need to be an excellent communicator, have a professional yet personable manner and be extremely self-aware. 

We are not looking for specific academic achievements (although a good grasp of mathematics and science is required); more important to us is your aptitude, drive, ability and commitment to completing both the academic and practical coursework necessary to gain the recognised professional qualification.

We are interested in receiving applications from people who can be impartial, dedicated, flexible, pay attention to detail and remain calm in stressful situations.

A full person specification is available within the Job Description which is attached on the LCC site.

If you feel you can offer all of the above and more, then we can offer you fantastic training and a career for life.

Please Note: this role is subject to Police vetting.

About the Team/Trading Standards

In the last year our Trading Standards Team has made some very significant progress;

• Removing 9578 illegal disposable vapes from the market,
• Removed or prevented almost 9585 unsafe good from being sold to consumers,
• seized nearly 191,520 illegal cigarettes and 32.95 Kg of hand rolling tobacco,
• Awarded the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Hero award for best Trading Standards project for Operation June,
• Responded to 10 outbreaks of avian influenza around the County,
• Secured our longest custodial sentence of 6 years and 9 months against a rogue trader who defrauded at least 23 consumers across the east Midlands.
• Completed nearly 800 compliance inspections and over 400 service requests and

• Initiated 37 investigations for offences relating to illicit tobacco, product safety, rogue trading and animal health.

What could you help us achieve next year?

About Our Offer

Along with a competitive salary we are offering;

• A Contributory pension
• Comprehensive benefits package including excellent discount schemes and cycle to work
• Flexible working policies
• Career progression opportunities

• A generous annual leave entitlement plus the option to buy more

Further details can be found in our rewards and benefits brochure

What Next

If you would like an open and informal discussion regards this role then please contact; Daniel Brown via email daniel.brown@lincolnshire.gov.uk or Emma Milligan via email emma.milligan@lincolnshire.gov.uk 

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your covering letter/personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

Applications close 21/07/2024 with interviews being held W/C 05/08/2024.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. 

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Fluency Duty

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.