Trading Standards is a small team of professional officers who take pride in making a really positive contribution to protecting consumers (particularly the most vulnerable), tackling criminality and those causing the most consumer detriment while supporting legitimate businesses to maximise their potential.

We’re responsible for enforcing well over 200 pieces of legislation in subjects as diverse as product safety, animal health and welfare, age restricted goods, safety of sports grounds and fair trading to name just a few. We also operate the Buy With Confidence approved trader scheme across a number of local authority areas in the East of England and are the licensing authority for petroleum, explosives and massage/special treatments.

We spoke with Matthew Sanctuary our Trading Standards Manager:

“Hi, I’ve worked for ECC for over 30 years now, starting back in 1990 as an Assistant/Trainee Trading Standards Officer. From there I progressed through my training to qualify as a Trading Standards Officer and within 5 years was managing a team specialising in legal metrology (weights and measures). In 2017, I was appointed as the Service Manager and since then have taken pride in ensuring the service is fit for purpose and focussed on the right things, delivering the best possible outcomes for the residents and businesses of Essex.

One of the great things about working for Essex and for Trading Standards is the flexibility.

No two days are ever the same and you’re able to strike the right balance between work and home life. There’s training and development opportunities on tap, both professional and personal, and a team of highly skilled and competent colleagues to provide support and guidance when needed.

We are committed to bringing new talent into the profession, growing our own Trading Standards Officers, as well as giving existing staff the skills needed to progress when opportunities become available.”

If you’re interested in working for our Trading Standards Team, then please click here to view our current vacancies and apply now!

If you don’t see a role that matches what you’re looking for right now, please join our talent pool. Tell us about the type of roles you are interested in and we’ll notify you if they become available.