Trading Standards Officer

Protect residents, support businesses and help create a fairer, safer borough.

As a Trading Standards Officer at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, you’ll play a key role in protecting consumers and ensuring fair business practices across the borough. Your work will have a real and visible impact — safeguarding vulnerable residents, tackling unfair trading, and supporting businesses to operate responsibly.

Working Style:

You’ll be based in the Borough for 3 days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you’re working on the frontline or behind the scenes, you’ll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents’ lives.

Please note that we have two positions available.

What you’ll be doing:

You’ll deliver the full range of Trading Standards duties, promoting fair and safe trading across the borough. Each day will bring something new — from investigating complaints and conducting inspections to offering specialist advice to consumers and businesses.

You’ll provide detailed guidance to local enterprises and Primary Authority partners on consumer protection law, helping them meet their responsibilities and maintain high standards. Your enforcement work will include gathering evidence, carrying out test purchases, preparing reports and, where necessary, presenting evidence in court or at hearings.

You’ll work collaboratively with partner agencies such as the police, HMRC and other council services — including Safeguarding and Adult Social Care — to detect and prevent offences. You’ll also play an active role in protecting vulnerable residents, intervening in cases involving scams or financial abuse to safeguard their wellbeing.

Beyond enforcement, you’ll contribute to education and prevention initiatives, delivering awareness campaigns, coordinating projects and helping measure their success. This is a hands‑on, community‑focused role where your judgement and commitment will make a real difference to the safety and fairness of local life.

You’ll hold a Diploma in Trading Standards (DTS), a Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS), or an equivalent qualification. You’ll bring proven experience in Trading Standards or a similar enforcement field, showing your ability to apply a wide range of investigative and regulatory tools.

You’ll have an in‑depth knowledge of relevant legislation and procedures, including PACE, CPIA and RIPA, as well as key consumer protection laws such as the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) and Business Protection Regulations (BPRs).

Strong communication skills are essential — you’ll be able to explain complex issues clearly and confidently to residents, businesses and partners. You’ll be highly organised, skilled at managing multiple priorities and deadlines, and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.

You’ll also demonstrate curiosity and adaptability, keeping your knowledge of legislation and emerging trends up to date. Above all, you’ll share our core values of Putting Communities First, Respect, Integrity and Working Together — ensuring your work always reflects fairness, professionalism and care.

At RBKC, we’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future.

You’ll be joining a small, skilled and supportive Trading Standards team that plays a key role in keeping our borough safe, fair and informed. From enforcing consumer law to educating businesses, your work will directly support the community’s wellbeing and trust.

We’ll invest in your professional growth through ongoing training, mentoring and opportunities to build your expertise. You’ll have the chance to develop your career in a diverse, fast‑paced environment — from the markets of…