Hertfordshire Trading Standards Lead Officer Vicki Burch wins Hero Award

Posted 09/10/20

Trading Standards lead officer for product safety at Hertfordshire Trading Standards and Chair of the East of England Product Safety group, Vicki Burch, is a “driving force that can be relied on at all times without fail.”  

Vicki receives this year’s prestigious Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Trading Standards Hero Award from CTSI Council Vice Chair, Wendy Potts, as the overall winner of the Branch/Section Awards 2020 in recognition of her leading work over the past year. The announcement was made on Friday 9 October at the CTSI Virtual Hero Awards 2020, which celebrates those who make outstanding contributions within consumer protection in our communities.

In Hertfordshire, Officers were able to draw on Vicki’s invaluable expertise to shape a response and support local businesses including Hertfordshire County Council and protect the public through these challenging times. Vicki and her team tackle professional, organised doorstep crime and cold-calling fraudsters who prey on susceptible individuals. Vicky’ dedication ensured that team members were upskilled by producing Officer’s guides and FAQ documents so that team members were prepared to deal with all queries. Most recently, Vicki and her team produced messaging around technical issues across the Eastern region which was also shared with government regulators. During her service Vicki has developed strong partnerships in this legislative area with both industry via Primary Authority partners; Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) and the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), as well as central government regulators the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the Medical & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).

Alongside her team, Vicki produced simplified guides for businesses and FAQs for the Hertfordshire Growth Hub advisors to help them deal with similar queries and requests.

CTSI Service Director Profession Relationships, Phil Owen, added: “CTSI, OPPS and the profession are grateful that Vicki stepped up to deliver the latest PPE requirements to enable the enforcement community to assist the Government during the pandemic. Overall feedback on the training has been very positive and this is particularly encouraging as Vicki was new to the delivery of training. I hope CTSI can work with Vicki again in the near future.”

Richard Lewis, who nominated Vicki for the award, said: “Vicki has long held the informal go-to role in the service on complex product safety issues.”

Charlotte Edwards, Trading Standards Manager at Thurrock Council and EETSA Senior Management Group lead for product safety, said: “I wholeheartedly support Vicki for a hero award. Vicki is the driving force behind the Product Safety group and has been highly responsive to the COVID pandemic crisis and all the challenges it has presented for Product Safety officers.”

ENDS

CTSI Press Office: [email protected], 01268 582240

Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)

CTSI is a training and membership organisation that has represented the interests of the Trading Standards profession since 1881 nationally and internationally. We aim to raise the profile of the profession while working towards fairer, better informed and safer consumer and business communities. CTSI's members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services in local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk

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