Chartered Trading Standards Institute

The CTSI was formed from a merger of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration, created in 1956, and the Incorporated Society of Inspectors of Weights and Measures, established in 1881.{{cite web|title=TSI appoints new chief executive|url=http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/extra/news-item.cfm/newsid/989|website=Trading Standards Institute|accessdate=20 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518090930/http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/extra/news-item.cfm/newsid/989|archivedate=18 May 2015}} It was granted its Royal charter by the Privy Council of the United Kingdom on 1 April 2015.

The Hampton Report, commissioned in 2004{{cite web|title=Hampton Review of regulatory inspection and enforcement|url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr04_hampton.htm|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407171200/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr04_hampton.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2010|website=National Archives snapshot|accessdate=20 June 2014}} and published in 2005,{{cite news|title=Time called on inspectors|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2005/mar/17/publicfinances.budget2005|accessdate=20 June 2014|work=The Guardian|date=17 March 2005}} led to the creation of the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO). Previously the Consumer and Trading Standards Agency (CTSA), and then the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO), it set standards on how trading standards and other business regulators carry out their work to minimise the impact on legitimate business. The Hampton Report also gave an enhanced role for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).Sections 4.14, 4.15, p.41, Implementing Hampton: From enforcement to Compliance (November 2006) [http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120709025634/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/hampton_compliance281106.pdf PDF on National Archives website], Retrieved 20 June 2014. The OFT set national priorities and coordinated performance management of local authority trading standards services.

CTSI engages with, and makes representations to, government, UK and EU Parliamentary institutions, and key stakeholders in the local government, community, business and consumer sectors, and other regulatory agencies. It aims to sustain and improve consumer protection, health and wellbeing, together with the reinforcement of fair markets, facilitating business competitiveness and success.

The Institute also hosts the UK International Consumer Centre (UK ICC), which provides consumer advice with regards to cross-border disputes within the EU,{{cite web|title=UK European Consumer Centre|url=http://www.ukecc.net/|publisher=UKECC|accessdate=20 June 2014}}

CTSI aims to bolster consumer protection and improve customer service standards by:

• the approval and promotion of codes of practice
• setting out the principles of effective customer service
• recognising trusted traders - via the CTSI approved code logo

In April 2012, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) invited the TSI to establish a successor to the Office of Fair Trading on a self-funding basis from April 2013. The management of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) has now transferred to the Consumer Codes Approval Board (CCAB) operated by CTSI.{{cite web|title=Finding a trader - Trading Standards Institute Consumer Codes Approval Scheme|url=http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_protection_for_the_consumer_e/consumer_finding_a_trader_you_can_trust_e/trading_standards_institute_consumer_codes_approval_scheme.htm|website=Advice Guide|publisher=Citizens Advice|accessdate=22 June 2014|archive-date=30 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530155033/http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_protection_for_the_consumer_e/consumer_finding_a_trader_you_can_trust_e/trading_standards_institute_consumer_codes_approval_scheme.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Smithers|first1=Rebecca|title=Consumer codes scheme aims to improve customer confidence|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jun/18/consumer-codes-scheme-customer-confidence|accessdate=22 June 2014|work=The Guardian|date=18 June 2013}}

1 October 2015 the Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive came into force,[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-dispute-resolution-for-consumers/alternative-dispute-resolution-for-consumers Alternative dispute resolution for consumers]. Retrieved 1 December 2018. and the CTSI was appointed to carry out the approval functions on behalf of the Secretary of State.

CTSI's strategic objectives for 2021 -2031 can be found in the [https://www.tradingstandards.uk/media/3177631/ctsi_vision_2022.pdf CTSI Vision & Strategy]

Since 1988, the CTSI has held an annual National Consumer Week. Its 2018 theme was consumer rights and online market places, held 26 to 30 November. This underpinned by research conducted by the Citizens Advice Partnership Knowledge Hub.[https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/our-campaigns/all-our-current-campaigns/NCW/what-are-your-rights/ Citizens Advice campaign on consumer rights] (accessed: 30 November 2018). The 2019 event has been postponed until the beginning of 2020 due to Brexit uncertainty.

In June/July it holds an annual Conference that delivers a full education and training programme of the course of the event.{{cite web | url=https://www.tradingstandards.uk/business-hub/events-and-sponsorship/ctsi-conference/ | title=CTSI Conference }}

CTSI holds the Heroes Awards annually in the autumn, this provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate those who have contributed to the profession and the protection of consumers.

File:Trophy Hero.jpg

The CTSI publishes a bi-annual magazine and website under the title Journal of Trading Standards,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy/publications|title=Publications {{!}} CTSI|website=www.tradingstandards.uk|access-date=2019-01-31}} produced on contract by Fourth Estate Creative.{{Cite web|url=https://fourthestatecreative.com/our_work/jts-print-magazine/|title=Journal of Trading Standards|website=Fourth Estate Creative|access-date=2019-01-31|archive-date=2019-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201013617/https://fourthestatecreative.com/our_work/jts-print-magazine/|url-status=dead}}

CTSI's headquarters is in the Southfields area of Laindon, south of Ford's Dunton Technical Centre, off the B148.

CTSI members typically work in one of approximately 200 UK local authority trading standards offices, except in Northern Ireland where trading standards is provided by central government. Trading standards professionals work with consumers and businesses to maintain fair trading and safety of consumer goods. The CTSI also has members working in the private sector (they have their own section within the CTSI: the Business Members Group).

John Herriman took over as chief executive from interim chief executive Paul Ramsden in April 2021.[https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy/news-room/2021/breaking-ctsi-appoints-john-herriman-as-new-chief-executive/ Breaking: CTSI appoints John Herriman as new Chief Executive], 4 March 2021. Accessed: 6 March 2023. The current CTSI chair is Nikki Pasek, elected at the September 2024 AGM, who took over the role from Tenday Lindsay.

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• East Midlands
• London
• Midlands
• Northern
• Northern Ireland
• North West
• Scottish
• South Eastern
• South East Midlands
• South West
• Southern
• Wales
• Yorkshire and the Humber

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Sections of the Institute

• Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO)
• Business Members Group (BMG)
• Civil Service Forum (CSF)
• Consumer Empowerment Alliance (CEA)
• Welsh Heads of Trading Standards (WHOTS)
• Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS)

Trading Standards services work in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau consumer service to provide free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. If consumers have concerns they are advised to report their concerns to the Citizens Advice consumer service (see external links) so that crucial intelligence can reach trading standards.{{cite web|title=Reporting a problem to Trading Standards|url=http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_protection_for_the_consumer_e/protection_trading_standards_e/reporting_a_problem_to_trading_standards.htm|website=Advice Guide|publisher=Citizens Advice|accessdate=22 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214055544/http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_protection_for_the_consumer_e/protection_trading_standards_e/reporting_a_problem_to_trading_standards.htm|archivedate=14 December 2013}}[http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm Help and advice] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624172748/http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm |date=June 24, 2014 }} Trading Standards Institute. Retrieved 22 June 2014.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute is a private company which supplies membership services and training for trading standards professionals; it does not handle consumer complaints.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.adviceguide.org.uk Citizens Advice consumer service]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150524003510/http://www.tradingstandards.uk/ Trading Standards Central]
• Local Government Regulation [https://web.archive.org/web/20060901041600/http://lacors.com/ LACORS Coordinating body for Trading Standards and related enforcement functions]

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Category:1881 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Organizations established in 1881

Category:Trading standards

Category:Trade associations based in the United Kingdom

Trading Standards

Category:Borough of Basildon

Category:Organisations based in Essex

Category:Consumer protection in the United Kingdom