UK – The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards (CTSI) and an industry “Trailblazer Group” to help professionals further their careers in food and trading standards.
CTSI is a national not-for-profit established in 1881 that supports the UK’s trading standards profession and works to protect consumers and safeguard honest businesses.
CTSI’s members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services to local authorities and businesses.
“It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Trailblazer group to bring the Level 6 Apprenticeship to the launch stage.
“The group welcomes the recognition of the value of the apprenticeship by the FSA and I personally look forward to watching the programme develop and the positive impact this will have on Trading Standards, especially relating to the development and recognition of competence in food and feed,” said Richard Strawson, Chair of the Trailblazer Group.
The training christened, ‘ Level 6 Trading Standards Practitioner (TSP) apprenticeship scheme’ will involve apprentices being trained and assessed against both CTSI’s Professional Competency Framework and FSA’s Competency Framework for delivering Official Food and Feed Controls.
It will thus contribute to the pipeline of officers who can carry out official food safety controls.
“After a lot of hard work and discussion, I am delighted that we now have clarification on the Level 6 TSP Apprenticeship and how it aligns with CTSI’s existing Professional Competency Framework (CPCF).
“I would like to extend my thanks to the FSA, Trailblazer group, CTSI examiners, moderators, and lead officers, all of whom have put a significant amount of time and effort into the mapping exercise and development of this critically important Apprenticeship scheme,” said John Herriman, CTSI Chief Executive Officer.
It is expected that up to 100 candidates will start the Level 6 apprenticeship over the next 12 months.
Professionals in the field of trading standards often work in establishments that produce, store, distribute, advertise, and sell goods and services from offices or homes. They operate in both the public and private sectors.
The profession’s overall goal is to promote safe, equitable, and lawful marketplaces while promoting community safety and economic success.
They achieve this by defending the general public, as well as consumers of goods and services, from unfair business practices.
They can function independently while providing highly specialized legal and technical expertise, advice, guidance, and direction that effectively protects consumers.
To lead and manage inspections and interventions to ensure an organization’s compliance with consumer protection legislation, including any actions and improvements applied to meet legislation, and trading standards professionals need legal knowledge in addition to enforcement and investigative skills.
“We were delighted to work with the CTSI and Trailblazer Group and look forward to including the CTSI Recognised Level 6 TSP apprenticeship in the Food and Feed Law Codes of Practice in due course.
“We welcome the additional route for officers to become suitably qualified to deliver official food and feed controls,” Karen McCloskey, Head of Delivery Standards at the FSA remarked.
For all the latest food safety news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
