Inspectors of standards and regulations

If you're an existing police officer, you can apply for fast-track development through the ranks. You can also apply for a promotion if you're currently an inspector.

If you're a middle or senior manager working in commerce or industry, and have relevant skills and experience, you can apply for the Direct Entry to Inspector or Superintendent programmes. You'll usually need a degree or postgraduate qualification to apply.

The programmes last between 18 and 24 months and offer the training and support you'll need to make the switch from your current job to an operational police leader.

After completing the training and with several years' experience working at operational level, you can apply to become a chief inspector.

You can get useful experience by volunteering with an animal welfare charity, animal refuge or at one of the RSPCA's own animal care centres.

Do-it also has more information on local opportunities for work with animals.

You could do a course in animal care while you're volunteering, which may help when you apply for a training place with the RSPCA.

You can apply directly for trainee inspector vacancies. You should be willing to move to another part of the country to do your training, if necessary.

To be taken on as a trainee you'll need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English and maths
• experience of working with animals

If your initial application is successful, you'll be invited to a selection day where you'll complete a series of assessments and an interview.

You could start by taking a degree in a relevant subject like:

• agriculture
• environmental health
• agricultural business management
• science
• maths

Some universities offer a foundation degree in agriculture as preparation for working in the agricultural sector.

To apply directly to become an agricultural inspector, you'll need:

• a minimum of a level 3 qualification in an agricultural subject
• at least 2 years' relevant work experience in farming, for example as an agricultural machine operator
• a willingness to work flexibly and travel often

Professional certification and health and safety training will also be useful. You could do training with an organisation like:

• Lantra
• NEBOSH
• The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture

You can become a trading standards officer after studying for a degree in any subject.

If you do a degree in law, or one that contains units on consumer protection, you may be exempt from some of the professional examinations that must be completed to become a trading standards officer.

Some local authorities might sponsor you to do a degree in consumer law. This means that you'll get work experience whilst you study. It could also lead to a job offer after you graduate.

You could apply to a local authority to do an apprenticeship, which deals with enforcing regulations, such as:

• Regulatory Compliance Officer Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Trading Standards Professional Level 6 (non-degree) Apprenticeship

These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete and combine on-the-job training and study with a learning provider.

You can do a higher national diploma, foundation degree or degree in a subject like:

• building studies
• civil engineering
• structural engineering
• building control surveying
• building surveying

You could do a college course, which may help when you apply for trainee jobs as an assistant in building control.

Courses include:

• construction and the built environment
• building control surveying
• T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction

You can apply to do a Building Control Surveyor Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This can take around 4 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with off-site study.

You may be able to move into building control if you have qualifications and extensive experience in a related area, such as construction management, structural or civil engineering, or surveying.