Trading standards officer
Trading standards officers (TSO) 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. They generally work for local councils, advising on consumer law and investigating complaints but can also be employed in private advisory positions.
TSOs are also involved in preventing, detecting and prosecuting offences. They liaise with agencies including the police, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) , Citizens Advice Bureau , trade organisations and legal professionals.
Areas of work vary but may include animal welfare, agriculture, commercial fraud, counterfeiting, product labelling, weights and measures, safety and pricing, under-age selling, credit and loans.
Trading standards officers (TSOs) undertake a wide range of tasks, which may include:
The most direct entry route is via a degree accredited by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) , and then a trainee trading standards officer (TSO) post.
The following organisations provide TSI-accredited courses:
Local authorities sometimes sponsor students on these courses.
Accredited degrees provide potential exemptions from certain aspects of the Trading Standards Qualification Framework (TSQF) . You will need to provide the TSI education and training team with a copy of your degree certificate and results transcript. Further details of the TSI exemption policy are available on the TSI website.
It is also possible to enter a career in trading standards without a degree, via the TSQF, which allows trainees to combine study with paid employment and to undertake the various levels of training in accordance with their existing qualifications and experience and the needs of the employer. Operated by the TSI, the framework offers professional qualifications at five levels:
The minimum entry requirements for the FCATS are typically five GCSEs and two A-levels (or equivalent), while an applicant who has completed a TSI-recognised degree will be exempt from some of the foundation examinations, depending on the pass mark achieved and demonstration of equivalence between the degree module and FCATS examination. The exemption procedure is described in detail on the TSI website. Job changers are also welcome and there are no upper age limits to entry.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
As TSOs are required to enforce the law, an understanding of the implications of regulation on business is essential. They also need to be able to be diplomatic, firm and resilient in order to cope with occasional aggression.
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The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) qualification structure is intended to be flexible and to allow candidates to access or exit the qualification structure at any point. This means that the needs of the employing authority and the background of the student can be taken into account. The subject content of each level is described fully on the TSI website.
A voluntary continuous professional and personal development scheme (CPPD) has also been introduced by the TSI to link into the qualification structure as an aid to professional and personal development. The CPPD scheme encourages individuals to attend conferences, seminars and training events, read publications, conduct research and undertake work shadowing. It requires 20 hours each year and should be supported by a portfolio of evidence. CPPD hours can also be obtained through e-learning courses.
Trainees usually achieve qualified trading standards officer (TSO) status by successfully submitting their portfolio of evidence within 18 months of starting their traineeship. Promotion prospects are narrow but fairly clear. A typical example of the promotion route is as follows:
There are limited opportunities within local authorities for progression beyond principal trading officer grade, although developing a specialist area of work in a large local authority is possible.
Opportunities beyond senior TSO grade are limited for those unable to relocate geographically.
Career development can also include moving into a general management position in a larger local government department.
Other routes for career development include opportunities for specialists with government bodies such as:
There is also a growing demand for experienced TSOs in private industry, particularly retail and manufacturing, advising on consumer law or quality control. TSOs sometimes become consultants, running their own business or advising large companies. Experienced TSOs can sometimes obtain contract work via specialist employment agencies while some move into education and lecture in consumer protection.
Trading standards officers (TSOs) who provide a public trading standards service are employed by local authorities, including local, regional and county councils.
The trading standards service is often located in larger departments within local government, such as community protection, environmental health and the chief executive's office. Because of this, the designated responsibilities of TSOs differ from department to department, as does the budget allocation and management structure.
Examples of opportunities outside the trading standards service include licensing management for local authorities and quality/consumer law advisers for supermarkets, national retail outlets and manufacturers. There are also specialist roles within organisations such as:
Due to the nature of the work, opportunities exist throughout the country. Employment tends to be secure and many TSOs remain in the profession for the duration of their working lives.
Recruitment agencies do not handle vacancies for trainee posts, but a small number of specialist agencies recruit experienced trading standards officers (TSOs), primarily for contract work.
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