News

Press officer receives award for significant contribution to consumer protection

Posted 02/07/14

Press officer Murray Evans received a Hero Award at the Trading Standards Institute’s (TSI) Conference in Harrogate on Wednesday for the significant contribution he made to consumer protection in Kent.

When Mr Evans joined Kent County Council as a press officer in April 2013, he was only meant to be maternity cover. But with his background in marketing and journalism combined with a proactive approach, Mr Evans knew that trading standards had plenty of stories waiting to be picked up by the media.

Working hard to raise the profile of the profession, Mr Evans provided a platform for trading standards officers to reach the most vulnerable and at risk. 

As a result of Mr Evan's hard work, Kent trading standards has been featured on BBC Radio 4's 'You and Yours' programme and BBC1's 'Fake Britain', as well as in local radio and newspapers. 

TSI chief executive Leon Livermore said: 'As the recent TSI Workforce Survey shows, funding for trading standards services across England and Wales will decline on an average of more than 40% over the lifetime of this parliament. While we work toward a more consistent funding mechanism, heroes like Murray play a vital role in helping trading standards officers protect vulnerable members of the community. 

“I am delighted to present Murray with a TSI Hero Award, giving it well deserved national recognition both at the level of the individual volunteers and at the collective trading standards level.”

The Hero Award is a fantastic opportunity for TSI to celebrate outstanding contributions by individuals or groups of people to consumer protection in our communities.

Every year TSI is deeply inspired by the stories of winners from around the country – their bravery, altruism and hard work, which too often does not receive due recognition – and presents them with an award at TSI's annual conference. 

For more information please contact press office at [email protected] or 08456089430 / 07780675815. Follow us on Twitter @tsi_uk or #TSIConf