Trading Standards Officer
What is the work like?
As a trading standards officer (TSO), it would be your job to protect consumers by promoting a safe and fair trading environment. You would work for local councils, advising on consumer law, investigating complaints and prosecuting traders who break the law.
You could cover a range of issues, including:
- animal welfare
- counterfeit goods
- product labelling
- weights and measures
- under-age sales.
In some jobs you could be involved in all aspects of trading standards work, or you may specialise in one area. Your duties could include:
- visiting local traders and businesses for routine checks or to investigate complaints
- taking samples of goods for testing
- checking that weighing scales and measures are accurate
- making sure that labelling is correct and advertising is not misleading
- advising consumers and businesses about the law
- investigating suspected offences, which could include undercover or surveillance work
- preparing evidence and going to court in prosecution cases
- giving talks, writing reports and keeping records.
You would be supported in your job by enforcement or fair trading officers (who do similar work but do not deal with weights and measures), and consumer advisers, who are often the public’s first point of contact in a trading standards department.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
Degree route
The most common way into this career is to study for a consumer protection degree that is accredited by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI).
To get onto a consumer protection degree, you will normally need at least five GCSEs (A-C) including English, maths and science, plus two A levels. Other qualifications and relevant work experience may be accepted, so check entry requirements with universities.
If you already have a degree in a related subject (such as law, retail management or food science), you could instead take Manchester Metropolitan University’s one-year full-time Graduate Diploma in Trading Standards.
Some local authorities may sponsor you for the consumer protection degree. This means that you will get work experience whilst you study, and it may also lead to a job after you graduate.
When you have graduated from the consumer protection course, you must then get a job as a trainee TSO and study for the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) whilst you are working.
See the TS Careers website for more information and a list of accredited courses.
Getting in without a degree
If you do not have an accredited consumer protection degree, you could apply for work as a consumer adviser or trainee enforcement officer with a local authority. You could then study towards professional qualifications whilst working. At this level you would usually start with the TSI's Foundation Certificate, before moving on to the DCATS when you have more experience.
Local authority trading standards departments recruit people from a wide variety of backgrounds. For either route, you will find it useful to have previous experience of legal, retail or advice work.
What further training and development can I do?
Whilst you are working as a trainee TSO, you will learn on the job and also study for professional qualifications from the Trading Standards Institute. These are:
- Foundation Certificate in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards – an entry-level qualification in consumer law (you do not need to take this qualification if you already have a consumer protection degree)
- Module Certificates in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards – single-subject exams in nine specific areas of trading standards work
- Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) – the legal requirement to be a fully-qualified TSO.
To achieve DCATS you must pass at least three or four trading standards module certificates, and submit a portfolio of workplace evidence. DCATS usually takes around 18 months, and you can study for the exams by distance learning or with a local accredited training provider. See the TS Careers and TSI websites for more information.
You should keep on updating your knowledge and skills throughout your career. The TSI offers the Higher Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (HDCATS) for experienced trading standards officers, plus a range of short courses.
Where can I go for more information?
Sylvan Way
Southfields Business Park
Basildon
Essex
SS15 6TH
Tel: 0870 872 9000
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries for enforcement officers and trainee TSOs are between £16,000 and £20,000 a year.
- When qualified, this can rise to £25,000 to £32,000.
- Some senior TSOs can earn between £35,000 and £50,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
In most jobs you would work around 37 hours a week, with some unsocial hours if you need to visit pubs and clubs in the evening or market traders at the weekend.
You would have an office base, but would spend a lot of your time travelling around the local area, visiting traders and attending court.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good written and spoken communication skills
- good observation and attention to detail
- the ability to understand technical and complex information
- good judgement
- the ability to work alone or as part of a team
- patience, determination and resilience
- tact, diplomacy and assertiveness
- computer and mathematical skills
- a driving licence, as travelling is essential to the job.
What opportunities are there?
You would normally work for local authorities throughout England, Scotland and Wales (or for the Trading Standards Service in Northern Ireland).
Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press, local council websites, and on the LGjobs and TS Careers websites.
Most trading standards departments offer a clear promotion structure to senior TSO, team leader/section head, divisional officer and chief or principal trading standards officer. Alternatively, with experience you could move private consultancy work.
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