Trading Standards Apprentice
About this role
Protect our community from rogue traders, champion fair business and launch a rewarding career in public service.
As a Trading Standards Apprentice, you’ll be a vital line of defence for our borough, helping to protect residents from scams and unsafe goods while supporting local businesses to thrive.
Working Style: You’ll be based in the Borough for five days each week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're working out in the field on inspections or supporting the service behind the scenes in the office, you’ll be part of a dedicated team helping to make a real difference to residents' everyday lives.
What you’ll be doing
Your day-to-day work will focus on supporting the investigation and management of a reactive caseload of trading standards work. Working closely with experienced officers, you’ll help conduct inspections, investigate complaints and take appropriate enforcement action.
You'll collect evidence, draft formal notices, prepare case files for potential legal proceedings and even attend court as a witness when necessary. This is a highly varied role where you'll also undertake test purchases, take samples and assist with the testing of goods to monitor compliance across the borough.
Alongside enforcement, a significant part of your role involves providing clear, practical advice to both consumers and businesses on their rights and obligations under consumer protection legislation. You’ll help local stakeholders navigate complex rules, ensuring businesses can operate fairly and residents are shielded from scams, counterfeit products and tobacco and vape enforcement. You’ll also accurately input data into computer systems to maintain reliable case records and contribute directly to wider trading standards projects as regulations change.
For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification
What you’ll bring
We’re looking for someone who is flexible, resilient and highly adaptable, as no two days in this team are ever the same. You’ll have excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, with the confidence to explain complex legal guidance to different audiences in a respectful and clear manner. A strong eye for detail is essential, particularly when handling evidence, keeping accurate records and working within strict legal procedures and policies.
To succeed in this apprenticeship, you’ll be highly organised, able to manage your time effectively to meet deadlines and comfortable working under supervision while also undertaking independent study. You must have achieved a pass in GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent) at Level 1 or above and typically hold at least five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, A-levels or equivalent qualifications. Most importantly, you’ll bring a proactive attitude, a strong willingness to learn and a commitment to working collaboratively to support our diverse communities.
Why join us
At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.
Our Trading Standards team is collaborative and supportive, offering a workspace where knowledge is shared freely and colleagues look out for one another. This 42-month apprenticeship offers a unique pathway to launch your career, allowing you to spend 20 per cent of your working hours gaining skills and knowledge towards a fully funded Trading Standards Professional Level 6 apprenticeship standard.
You’ll receive structured training, mentoring and support to successfully obtain a professional qualification from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute or the Institute for Apprenticeships. We also offer a competitive salary, excellent professional development and wellbeing support to help you thrive. By joining us, you’ll protect residents from unfair trading, help local businesses succeed and build a rewarding career in public service.
About us
Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.
As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.
In this role, you’ll bring a real sense of care and commitment to protecting our community from rogue traders, scams and unsafe products. Navigating complex legal casework and conducting business inspections isn't always smooth sailing, but your calm, practical and resilient approach will help vulnerable residents feel supported and ensure local businesses can operate fairly. By fully committing to this apprenticeship, you’ll find that every challenge becomes a valuable opportunity to grow professionally while making a positive, lasting difference to our borough.
Interview Details
Interviews will be held face to face at Kensington Town Hall, week commencing 24th August 2026.
This role will require an Enhanced DBS.
Ready to join us?
We’re all in – are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.
We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range.
Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises.
This vacancy will be open to all, with no geographical restrictions.
However, applicants who are either:
A resident in the Borough
An RBKC care leaver
An RBKC school leaver who left school in the past 5 years
and who meet the minimum requirements of the role as outlined in the Job Description, will be guaranteed an interview.
Company at a glance
Kensington and Chelsea is one of London’s most vibrant and recognisable boroughs. It has many unique buildings, famous museums and beautiful parks. Although the borough is geographically one of the smallest in London, at just over 4.7 square miles, it is one of the most densely populated and diverse areas in Europe. It is home to the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival.
Kensington and Chelsea Council (also known as RBKC) aims to provide high quality services to improve the lives of its residents and to make the borough greener, safer and fairer.
The Council has five directorates, sharing Children’s Services and Adult Social Care and Public Health with Westminster Council. Other directorates include Chief Executive, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Housing and Social Investment (including Grenfell recovery), and Resources.
Children's Services and Adult Social Care: This directorate covers children's services, education, family services, safeguarding, adult social care and public health. These services are consistently rated as being of a very high standard.
Environment and Neighbourhoods: Transport, leisure, planning, resident services, libraries and environmental health, all of which are supported by a safer, cleaner and greener streets agenda. This team also work to preserve the unique character of the borough.
Housing and Social Investment: In response to London’s affordable homes crisis, the Council is committed to building more social housing to help people on lower incomes to live, work, and raise their families in the borough. Housing also covers landlord services and estate management, planning, refurbishment, advice and support to help maintain healthy and safe homes, and build stronger communities.
Resources: This directorate includes Customer Services, Human Resources, IT, Finance. These services help the Council to run effectively and in turn benefit the wider community.
CEO manages strategy, Grenfell inquiry, governance and communications.
Top Benefits
- Fully Funded Level 6 Apprenticeship
- Professional Qualification from Chartered Trading Standards Institute or Institute for Apprenticeships
- Competitive Salary
- Professional Development
- Wellbeing Support
- Mentoring
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