Trading standards officer

Trading standards officers act on behalf of consumers and businesses to advise on and enforce laws that govern the way goods and services are bought, sold and hired

You'll protect the public, support fair and safe trading, and help businesses understand and meet their legal obligations. Advising on consumer law, you'll also carry out inspections, investigate complaints and assess compliance with regulations.

You'll typically work for local councils, although opportunities also exist with national bodies and in the private sector. Alongside enforcement, you'll provide guidance to businesses to prevent problems before they arise.

You'll liaise with agencies including the police, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Citizens Advice, trade organisations, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and legal professionals.

Areas of work

Trading standards is responsible for enforcing a wide range of legislation related to consumers, businesses and environmental protection. These laws regulate the production, storage, supply and marketing of goods and services through the whole of the supply chain.

Areas of work vary but may include:

• agriculture
• animal welfare and animal disease control
• commercial fraud
• consumer safety
• counterfeiting
• credit and loans
• digital markets, e-commerce and online trading
• environmental protection, such as the sale and disposal of hazardous goods
• food standards and allergen labelling
• intellectual property protection
• licensing
• pricing
• product labelling
• product safety
• scams and rogue traders
• underage selling
• weights and measures.

Responsibilities

Your activities will depend on whether you're involved in all aspects of trading standards work, or whether you specialise in a particular area. Typically, you'll need to:

• visit trading premises, such as shops, pubs, farms, factories and markets, to carry out inspections, licensing and test purchasing
• check that goods and services meet legal standards - for example, food and product labelling, weights and measures, and pricing
• identify and remove hazards such as unsafe goods, counterfeit items or unroadworthy vehicles
• take samples for testing and use enforcement tools such as issuing improvement notices, seizing goods or initiating prosecutions
• offer comprehensive advice and guidance to businesses to help them comply with trading standards legislation
• investigate suspected offences, sometimes working undercover or alongside the police and other agencies
• give information and legal advice to the public about consumer rights
• raise awareness through talks, campaigns or targeted outreach work
• prepare investigation reports, witness statements and case files, and present evidence in court
• keep up to date with changes in legislation, case law and professional guidance.

Salary

• Salaries for trainee or apprentice trading standards officers in local government typically range from £26,400 to £31,000.
• With experience, you can earn £32,000 to £43,000, rising to £46,000 for senior trading standards officers.
• Lead officers and managers may earn £50,000 or more, with some principal or chief officer roles exceeding £55,000 in London and larger councils.

Salaries vary depending on your employer, location, qualifications and level of responsibility. Some councils offer relocation packages. Benefits usually include a pension and opportunities for flexible working.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll usually work around 37 hours per week. Evening or weekend work may be required to inspect venues such as nightclubs or markets.

Many local authorities operate flexi-time and hybrid working arrangements. Part-time and job-share opportunities are usually available. There are some fixed-term contracts available, working on a particular trade sector. Overtime or time off in lieu (TOIL) may be offered for unsocial hours.

What to expect

• You'll be office-based but will travel regularly for visits, inspections, court appearances and outreach work.
• Protective clothing may be needed on construction or industrial sites. Smart dress is required in court or for formal meetings.
• You may work alone within a local authority area, but collaboration with colleagues, neighbouring authorities and partner agencies such as the police, HMRC and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is common.
• Opportunities are available with local authorities and regional authorities across the UK, and occasionally with national bodies or the private sector.
• With significant experience you could work as a consultant, providing compliance advice to large businesses.

Qualifications

You can train to become a trading standards officer with a degree in any subject. Subjects such as law and business, or any degree that includes modules on consumer protection, may be particularly helpful. It's also possible to enter without a degree if you have a good standard of education.

Many local authorities recruit trainees and support them through the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) professional qualification pathway:

• Trading Standards Practitioner Certificate (TSPC)
• Trading Standards Practitioner Diploma (TSPD)
• Trading Standards Advanced Practitioner (TSAP).

The level of training you complete depends on your existing qualifications, experience and employer needs.

You can also qualify via the Level 6 Trading Standards Professional apprenticeship, which combines paid work with structured part-time study.

In some cases, for example if you have contact with children and/or vulnerable adults, you'll need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check (England and Wales) or the equivalent check in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with people from many different backgrounds
• strong analytical, investigative and observational skills
• determination and resilience when dealing with challenging traders
• attention to detail when investigating potential issues
• confident decision-making skills and the ability to remain calm in challenging situations
• the ability to organise and prioritise workloads effectively
• the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• negotiation and influencing skills, with tact and diplomacy
• written skills to prepare clear reports and present evidence in court
• a good understanding of how regulation affects businesses, balancing enforcement with practical advice
• a full driving licence and access to a car (usually required).

Work experience

Experience in legal, retail or advice work or in compliance, investigations or customer service is useful. Anything that develops your people and decision-making skills will help.

Some councils offer internships, placements or volunteering opportunities, advertised on their websites or through CTSI. Volunteering with Citizens Advice, consumer protection groups or charities that support vulnerable people can also help you build relevant skills and show your interest in a career as a trading standards officer.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Typical employers are local authorities, including district, county, metropolitan and unitary councils (or the Trading Standards Service in Northern Ireland). Trading standards is often part of larger local government departments such as environmental health.

Opportunities also exist with:

• Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)
• Trading Standards Scotland
• Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)
• Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
• HMRC
• consumer protection teams within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
• private sector employers, including large retailers, manufacturers and specialist consultancies in regulatory compliance or investigations.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) - Job opportunities
• Jobs Go Public
• LG Jobs
• LocalGovJobs
• local council websites - for a list, see Find Your Local Council.

A small number of specialist agencies, such as Kenyon Block Consultants, recruit experienced trading standards officers, primarily for contract work.

Professional development

Once qualified, you'll need to keep up to date with changes to the profession and you're encouraged to take part in the CTSI Continuous Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) scheme. Relevant activities can include:

• attendance at conferences, seminars and training events
• conducting research
• undertaking work shadowing
• reading industry publications such as the Journal of Trading Standards
• completing short courses or modules in specialist areas, such as e-commerce, food standards, product safety or intellectual property law
• engaging in mentoring, either by receiving guidance from experienced practitioners or acting as a mentor to new colleagues.

Members of the CTSI with appropriate qualifications and experience can apply for chartered trading standards practitioner (CTSP) status - a recognised mark of professional competence.

Networking through CTSI conferences, local branch meetings and specialist forums is also a valuable way to share knowledge and build contacts.

Career prospects

Following training, you'll gain experience working as a trading standards officer and may progress to senior officer roles with responsibility for a team of officers.

There are opportunities to specialise in areas such as product safety, food standards, e-commerce or weights and measures, particularly within larger local authorities. Achieving CTSP status can support career progression.

At more senior levels, roles include section head or team leader, divisional officer or manager, or chief or principal trading standards officer. Progression is competitive, with relatively few higher-level posts available. You'll usually need significant experience and leadership skills, as well as geographic mobility.

You may also move into policy, training or inspection co-ordination, or contribute to CTSI committees, regional groups and working parties to broaden your professional profile. Career development may include moving into senior or general management within local government or taking posts with national bodies such as the OPSS.

In the private sector, opportunities exist in retail, manufacturing and consultancy, advising on consumer law, compliance and quality control. With the right knowledge and experience, you could establish yourself as a consultant or obtain contract work through specialist agencies.

International opportunities are limited but may be available through projects linked to consumer protection, regulatory reform or training, often in partnership with government agencies or international networks.