The key aim of Trading Standards South West is to work collectively as a region to develop materials that help inform our communities of the work we do and the emerging threats we have identified from consumer complaints both in the South West and further afield. We complete regular analyses of the complaints data Citizens Advice collects regarding our region, we also use intelligence the local authorities gather to inform this picture, helping us to prioritise what to focus our messaging on.
We work with local authority experts to develop campaigns, leaflets and eResources, which can then be promoted and help us to reach our communities, helping consumers to make informed choices. This varies from advice on how to avoid becoming a scam victim to how to choose a legitimate builder. These resources can also be used to raise awareness of other issues the South West consumers are facing, such as the rise in the use of vapes by children under 18.
Collectively we also assist in delivery of projects deemed of national, regional or local significance. We arrange meetings, bring in the relevant experts and support Trading Standards services whenever we can. The regional office helps underpin the regional working ethos and ensures that best practice is shared between services.
Communication across a large geographic area requires an ongoing commitment to development of new resources and it is vital to the success of the partnership.
Whilst we have set up distinct work areas on this website to keep users informed, this blog area is intended to provide more generic updates and to impart interesting nuggets of information, particularly where subjects of interest don’t fit easily within the defined work areas.