Regulatory Enforcement Trainee Programme

Job summary

About OPSS

Do you care about the safety of products and want to protect people and places? Can we use your skills, knowledge and experience to enable UK business to thrive? If the answer is yes, then we would like to hear from you!

We are the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business Innovation Science & Trade. We are here for the purpose of making regulation work to deliver real world impact. Regulation is a powerful Government tool to address market failures, influence behaviour and promote positive action. Crafted and delivered well, regulation can be an enabler of growth, innovation and efficiency.

Since early 2018 we have been building a positive and creative team that enjoys a position of influence and respect within an organisation that continues to grow.

Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence

Further information can be found on our website here.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. We embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (DCS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We are Inclusive

We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Job description

The Role and Our Team

We are responsible for ensuring that businesses follow and comply with a range of regulations. Some of our teams help ensure the products that people buy are safe and some help to protect the environment.

We do this by supporting businesses and making sure they have the information they need to make themselves compliant and, where needed, taking enforcement action against non-compliance. Our work helps to protect people and places.

As a Regulatory Enforcement Trainee, you will have the opportunity to rotate around four different teams, giving you a range of experiences to draw on no matter what you focus on in the future. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic and varied role as part of a high-profile national regulator.

You will be part of our Apprenticeship Programme, studying for a Level 4 Regulatory Compliance Officer apprenticeship qualification. This is equivalent to the first year of a University Degree. Our apprentices are our future enforcement officers and leaders. Whether you are at the start of your career, or are an experienced professional looking for something new to move your career forward, we believe in supporting people to develop and grow. ​

Key Responsibilities:

• Support businesses to understand and comply with relevant regulations by providing advice and signposting to appropriate resources.
• Assist with regulatory activity by reviewing products, businesses, and information to assess compliance and identify potential risks to people and places.
• Contribute to investigations and enforcement cases, gathering and analysing information, maintaining accurate records, and supporting case progression ib line with established processes.
• Build effective working relationships with businesses, regulators, and partner organisations to support compliance and help resolve regulatory issues.
• Research, analyse, and interpret information from a variety of sources, producing clear reports and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across OPSS to share knowledge, contribute to projects, and help deliver regulatory outcomes that maximise impact.
• Learn and develop the skills you need to be an effective regulator through the Apprenticeship and the Continuing Professional Development we offer to our officers.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage:

• Career in Regulation: Demonstrates a strong interest in developing a career within regulation, with a commitment to continuous learning.
• Analytical Skills: Able to use and understand complex information, including legislation and technical details, with confidence and curiosity.
• Communication and Influence: Comfortable speaking confidently, handling challenging conversations, and building positive relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Team Collaboration: Works effectively within a team, openly sharing knowledge and skills to achieve shared goals.
• Time and Task Management: Manages multiple priorities efficiently, meets tight deadlines, and adapts to changing demands while maintaining attention to detail.
• Creativity and Initiative: Follows procedures carefully yet can think creatively, proposing solutions to support our objectives.
• Digital Literacy: Proficient in Microsoft Office and adaptable to learning additional digital tools as required.
• Driving Licence: Holds or is actively working towards a full driving license, as some duties may require travel.
• Attendance and Travel Requirements: As this is a development programme, 60% office attendance is expected. Visits off site will also be required.
• Training: You are happy to undertake any training which will enable you to develop as an excellent regulator.
• Eligibility: You meet the eligibility requirements for the apprenticeship.

We are looking for diverse candidates including school leavers, university graduates, and people seeking a career change. Experience in an office environment is not required.

Please note that this role is open to candidates working in either our Birmingham or Teddington office. When you are required to give a preference, Twickenham will appear rather than Teddington, so please be aware that you should choose this option if you wish to be based in Teddington.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade values and promotes learning and development for all its staff. As part of this offer, all our Executive Officer (EO) roles are offered with the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship. For this role, the apprenticeship we are offering is:

The Apprenticeship

Alongside this role, you will be required to undertake the Level 4 - Regulatory Compliance Officer apprenticeship. More details on the apprenticeship can be found here on the OPSS careers site.

To be eligible to apply for the apprenticeship, applicants must:

• be aged 16 or older
• not be in full-ti