CTSI is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February) by promoting Trading Standards as a ‘career for all’. The Institute, which represents the Trading Standards profession, is working alongside the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Institute of Licensing to encourage employers to explore the benefits of apprenticeships.
CTSI says it is keen to highlight the variety and inclusivity of the Trading Standards profession, and to celebrate a diverse workforce ‘united by a dedication to serving and protecting communities’.
Trading Standards can offer a varied and rewarding career that is open to people from all walks of life, and apprenticeships have proven to be an increasingly effective means of attracting new recruits to the profession.
John Herriman, Chief Executive at CTSI, said: “It is wonderful to be able to celebrate and showcase the benefits of a Trading Standards apprenticeship during National Apprenticeship Week for 2025. Our careers are varied and exciting, whether you are starting out into the world of employment or wanting to change and find a more satisfying career.
“At CTSI, we are passionate about supporting the next generation of Trading Standards professionals and encouraging people into the profession. Apprenticeships are vital to this and will help secure the longevity and future of this amazing, diverse and varied profession. With something for everyone, it really is a career for all.”
Apprenticeships can play a vital part in reinforcing existing Trading Standards teams, as well as in helping to attract new talent to often stretched workforces. CTSI has supported the development of apprenticeship schemes, through trusted providers, providing opportunities for people starting their careers or looking to change career direction. They offer the additional benefit of being able to learn and earn at the same time.
From an employer perspective, apprenticeships offer a cost-effective solution with incentives such as the apprenticeship levy, and can help determine the strengths and weaknesses of a future practitioner.
“The cost-effectiveness of apprenticeships brings a multitude of benefits to the apprentice, employer and the communities which are served,” Herriman added. “In our Manifesto, we recognised and called for investment into the pipeline of Trading Standards professionals, and those are still calls we are making today.”
Sophie Leney, Head of Trading Standards at Norfolk County Council, said: “In Norfolk we have embraced the new Level 6 Trading Standards Practitioner apprenticeship as it is a great platform to enable us to develop our Trading Standards Officers (TSOs) of the future. In the early 2000s, we were struggling to recruit qualified TSOs so made the decision to fill our vacant posts with apprentices.
“We work closely with our training provider who give us excellent training and mentor support for our two cohorts of apprentices. This is supplemented with in-house coaching, shadowing and support so that our apprentices benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience of our qualified officers. In return, our apprentices are working hard on their studies and on building their competencies and, where competent to do so, on delivering our service. They have brought in an amazing enthusiasm for Trading Standards and this has rubbed off on all of us, reminding us of why we joined the service and recognising the public service we provide.”
Ian Simpson is a Specialist Trainer for the Regulatory Compliance Officer course at training provider Babington and a previous chair of the CTSI Board. He said: “There are skills shortages across all Regulatory Services in Local Government including Trading Standards, Environmental Health, and Housing and Licensing Services. Councils across England are using the Level 4 apprenticeship to help address the crisis they all face.
“In just 15 months apprentices get to learn and apply their regulatory craft whilst being paid. They get to feel increasingly valued, and their employers gain that much-needed capability to get the job done. And all the course fees are paid for by their employer’s apprenticeship levy – what’s not to like!”
Harvey Watson, Learning & Development Director at training provider CSA, said: “Apprenticeships are an incredible way to combine earning while learning through a structured learning programme. CSA’s Level 4 and Level 6 apprenticeships are a great way to get hands on experience while working with expert dedicated coaches in your chosen field. With that comes the opportunity to learn from peers, mentors and open doors for your career progression by creating a wealth of brilliant contacts including industry specialists.”
More information on Trading Standards apprenticeship opportunities is available here.
