Enforcement Apprentice

Employer:

Natural Resources Wales

Location:

Welsh Government Building Rhodfa Padarn Llanbadarn Fawr, SY23 3UR, United Kingdom.

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Pay:

£26,861 per year

Hours of work:

31-40 hours per week

Training provider:

Coleg Cambria

Level:

Apprenticeship (Level 3)

Sector:

Agriculture and Environment

Pathway:

Environmental Conservation

Possible start date:

09 November 2026

Closing date:

05 October 2026

Positions available:

6

Vacancy ID:

7238

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About the apprenticeship

Duties

As an Enforcement Apprentice, you'll work alongside experienced officers who help protect Wales' rivers, fisheries, wildlife, land and communities. You'll gain practical experience supporting investigations, compliance checks and enforcement activity while building your knowledge of environmental legislation and regulation. Typical duties will include assisting officers with fisheries licence checks, investigating illegal waste sites and helping to provide a specialist enforcement service to the wider organisation. You’ll help build productive relationships with stakeholders, offering guidance and taking proportionate enforcement action where necessary to drive compliance with environmental legislation and protect our natural resources.

This is more than an Apprenticeship. It's an opportunity to contribute to work that helps protect Wales' natural resources for current and future generations.

This role requires regular travel to a variety of locations to undertake site visits, support enforcement activities and respond to environmental incidents. As a result, driving is an essential requirement of the post, and you must hold a full and current UK driving licence.

Additional information

We have six Apprenticeship opportunities available across Wales. When applying, please indicate your preferred location on the application form.
204373 | South West Wales
204374 | South East Wales
204375 | South Central Wales
204376 | North East Wales
204377 | North West Wales
204378 | Mid Wales

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method.

Due to the nature of the work the successful candidate must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. This generally requires five years’ continuous residency in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found on National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK. Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check.

Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.

Requirements

Skills

Support Place-based operational teams with enforcement and compliance activities, including evidence gathering and the preparation of case information, in line with relevant procedures, policies and legislation.
Provide support to operational teams in the delivery of environmental enforcement and regulatory activities.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams and external partners, assisting with the exchange of information, intelligence and advice to support regulatory and enforcement outcomes.
Develop knowledge and understanding of environmental regulation, enforcement processes and relevant legislation, ensuring work is carried out in accordance with established procedures and guidance.
Where appropriate, support experienced colleagues involved in legal proceedings, including the preparation of information and attendance at court proceedings for learning and development purposes.
Support incident response activities as required, following appropriate training and under supervision.
Contribute to a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture and comply with relevant health and safety requirements.
Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post
Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post
Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
Required to take part in incident response activities.
Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Qualifications

An interest in environmental protection, conservation, regulation or enforcement, and a willingness to learn and develop through the Apprenticeship programme.
Ability and willingness to undertake practical outdoor work in a variety of environments and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work safely in and around water environments following appropriate training and guidance.
Basic ICT skills and the ability to use standard workplace software and systems.
Basic literacy and numeracy skills, including GCSE Grade C/4 (or equivalent) in English and Maths, or a willingness to achieve these qualifications as part of the Apprenticeship requirements.
Previous environmental, conservation, land management or volunteer experience is desirable.
Full UK driving licence, or the ability to travel independently in order to undertake the duties of the role.

Language

Welsh Spoken Skills:

No

Welsh Written Skills:

No

Course details

Training provider:

Coleg Cambria

Training provider course:

Level 3 Environmental Conservation

About the employer

Welsh Government Building Rhodfa Padarn Llanbadarn Fawr, SY23 3UR, United Kingdom

Disability confident

Yes, we are part of the Disability Confident Scheme from the UK Department for Work and Pensions.

Interview arrangements

Interviews will be held in person during the week commencing 19 October 2026. As part of the selection process, candidates invited to interview will also be required to take part in a short role-play exercise, which will require them to read a short brief and then deal with a mock situation as they would being an NRW Enforcement Officer. The brief will also ask you to fulfil several key objectives during the encounter, which will be used to assess your performance. Further details, including the interview location, will be provided to shortlisted candidates when invitations to interview are issued.

How to apply

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