Apprentice Environmental Health Officer

Epping Forest District Council; Epping Forest; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is offering an apprenticeship in Environmental Health. As an apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience across various environmental health disciplines while working towards a Level 6 Degree in Environmental Health. The role includes shadowing professionals, leading site visits, and maintaining records. The apprenticeship provides a competitive salary starting at £25,932, ongoing support, and development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working hours

Entry to Local Government Pension Scheme

Support for personal development

Qualifications

• Commitment to learning tasks in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to manage a variety of tasks independently.
• Understanding of environmental health regulations.

Responsibilities

• Shadow officers and assist with their duties during initial training.
• Lead site visits and provide accurate advice.
• Maintain digital and handwritten records.

Skills

Commitment to work in Environmental Health

Good communication skills

Team player

Proactive and flexible

Desire to learn

Education

At least one A level or equivalent in a science or technology subject

Job description

Are you thinking about starting a career in Environmental Health?

Do you have an interest in Environmental Health? Are you keen to learn what it’s like working in a challenging and risk-based environment whilst also developing your skills and experience?

If the answer is yes, then Epping Forest District Council have the apprenticeship you’re looking for. As an environmental health apprentice, we will give you experience across all disciplines of environmental health, place you within the heart of the decision-making processes that occur on a daily basis, allow you to work closely with a variety of colleagues, agencies, businesses, employers, employees and residents. provide you with the opportunity to visit authorities across Essex to gain experience, provide you with mentor/s and supportive workplace welfare, give you the necessary time and support to study for your degree in Environmental Health be within a dynamic and changing authority as we move from being a district council to unitarisation as part of Local Government Reform (LGR) in Essex.

About the role

As an Environmental Health apprentice, you will primarily be working towards achieving your Lev 6 degree in Environmental Health. You will be supported to achieve that goal by a wide variety of experienced colleagues, within and external to the organisation. You will be expected to be committed to learning in a practical and dynamic way. You may at times have a variety of different tasks that you will learn to prioritise and manage, whilst always having the support of colleagues. You will also be expected to work and achieve task independently.

You will be an active member of the teams that you are working with as you progress through your apprenticeship. You will initially shadow officers as they go about their duties but gradually, as your experience grows, you will begin to lead on site visits, provide accurate advice, manage requests for service and complaints by residents and businesses. You will be expected to maintain accurate digital and handwritten records that could, if necessary, be used as evidence in court.

You will spend time within each of the core departments that regulate environmental health across the Epping Forest District. Whilst based within the Environmental Health Team (Food H&S, Air Quality, Integrated Pollution Control (Permitted processes) you will work within our Private Sector Housing and Grants Team, Safercommunities and Neighbourhoods who deal with environmental crime, nuisances and anti-social behaviour, Environmental Protection Team dealing with water quality, contaminated land and drainage and our Licensing Department. You will gain experience of the integration of environmental health across the wider remit of the local authority including planning and public health.

You will gain experience in working with external partners such as local UKHSA Public Health Teams, the Health and Safety Executive, Food Standards Agency, Trading Standards, Housing Associations, DEFRA, as well as other local authority colleagues.

You will work in a supported learning environment to develop the skills and knowledge required of an environmental health apprentices and ultimately as an environmental health practitioner.

Who are we looking for

We really want to hear from you if you:

• have a commitment to work within environmental health and dealing with the challenges it brings,
• are enthusiastic about learning and contributing to the compliance and prosperity of businesses and the welfare of employees, private renting tenants and the residents of EFDC,
• meet the standard of education required to study for the Degree in Env Health,
• have good written and verbal communications skills, and an understanding of how to communicate with different audiences,
• enjoy a varied workload,
• are an excellent team player, pro-active, dynamic, and flexible,
• hold or are working towards a full driving licence,
• are aligned to our Corporate behaviours of Trust, One Team, Performance, Innovation, Customer.

Benefits of an Apprenticeship with Epping Forest District Council

• Earn while you learn with release each week as required for studying towards your Degree (lev 6) in Environmental Health.
• A competitive salary, commencing at £25932, increasing annually over the apprenticeship (currently £26093, £27298, £27851) subject to completion of milestone objectives.
• The support of assigned Mentor/s including individuals who have assessed students on behalf of CIEH
• Additional training and personal development opportunities and wellbeing support (including employee assistance & benefits).
• Flexible working with 28 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays).
• Entry to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Epping Forest District Council has an excellent track record in supporting Apprentices to achieve their qualifications and kickstart their career goals.

The environmental health apprenticeship can be a gateway to a range of diverse and exciting career prospects for the future.

Entry onto the Apprenticeship scheme

We would be seeking candidates who have at least one A level or equivalent in a science or technology subject drawn from Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology, Physics, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Nutrition, Food Science or similar.

Relevant or prior practical work-based knowledge or skills may be considered as an alternative.

The successful candidate must be able to commence their apprenticeship in the 25/26 academic year.

Further details of student entry requirements can be found on Middlesex University website.

https://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/degree-apprenticeships/environmental-health-apprenticeship-bsc-honours/

Apprenticeships into Environmental Health are supported by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and further information can be found on their website https://www.cieh.org/professional-development/apprenticeships/

How to Apply

Complete our on-line application form at Jobs - Epping Forest District Council

Closing date for applications is 23:59hrs 25^th August 2026.

The successful candidate must be able to commence their apprenticeship in the 25/26 academic year.

Want to know more?

If you have any further questions, please contact:

Brian Stalabrass, CEnvH, MCIEH,

Environmental Health Team Leader, Food, H&S and Air quality,

tel [phone], e-mail [e-mail]

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