Trainee Trading Standards Officer

Place & Economic Growth Directorate

Trading Standards and Animal Welfare

Trainee Trading Standards Officer

Ref: 001609

Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2029

Salary: £28,598 to £31,022 per annum (Grade 4)

Hours: 36.66 per week with the flexibility of hot desking / home working and field-based work.

Location: Sir Robert Peacock House, Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4LA

Closing Date: Monday 20 July 2026

Interviews: w/c Monday 3 August 2026

Role Overview

Do you have an interest in Consumer Protection and Trading Standards? If yes then read on as we have an opportunity for a trainee!

As a Trading Standards Officer you would be involved in a wide range of activities and projects, all aimed at ensuring a fair, safe, and legal trading environment in the Borough.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed and motivated trainee to take on a vital role of enforcing vape, cigarettes and tobacco legislation, as well as the range of other trading standards duties.

We are looking for a trainee who can work as part of our dedicated team, contributing to our aims of protecting consumers and supporting businesses.

Our Trading Standards and Animal Welfare Team protects consumers and ensures fair business practices by investigating and enforcing legislation on consumer protection, fair trading, product safety, tobacco control (vapes, cigarettes and tobacco), doorstep crime and scams, metrology, underage sales, animal welfare and licensing, animal feed and more.

As part of our investigation and enforcement work we collect evidence, seize products, obtain witness statements, interview offenders, compile prosecution reports, impose fines and give evidence in court. We work in partnership with other agencies such as the Police, HMRC, other councils and government agencies.

Join our Trading Standards and Animal Welfare Team as a trainee (level 6 apprentice) with the opportunity to have a varied workload involving enforcement, inspections, advice, surveys and project work.

What do we need?

Please apply now and check the person specification and ensure you can meet all the essential criteria. Please ensure you evidence all the essential criteria and as many of the desirable criteria as possible in your application.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake the Level 6 Trading Standards Professional Apprenticeship (max 29 months to complete the apprenticeship). This may include attending off-site training as needed.
• Under the supervision and guidance of qualified staff, 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.
• Where necessary, and after seeking advice from qualified staff, take enforcement action in line with the Council’s Enforcement Policy to ensure compliance is achieved and where appropriate take immediate enforcement action to maintain public confidence.

Key Requirements

You’ll need a good standard of education and the aptitude and commitment to study towards a professional qualification.

You’ll need to demonstrate an interest in consumer protection, fair trading matters and the role of Trading Standards in public health protection and improvement. You will also be able to work under minimum supervision and as part of a team.

You’ll also need to be self-motivated, have great organisational skills, have good attention to detail with a positive, flexible and ‘can do’ attitude. You’ll also need first class communication and customer service skills, patience, the awareness to quickly read situations, and the ability to remain calm in sometimes difficult circumstances.

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact:

A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and our Oldham Plan for further information.

Our Values and Behaviours

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘ Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out:

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following:

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to the link below for details for how to obtain your Certificates of Good Character. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to offer sponsorship.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer, someone who has served in the Armed Forces, or you’ve participated in the GM Elevate Programme, and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme .

Data and Privacy

For details of how we use your data please see our Privacy Notice

Important Information

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

Right to Work in the UK from 1st July 2021.doc