So I randomly came across a job advertised locally thats well suited to my skills, better paid, a career progression etc...

Question is, can I apply for it guilt-free without damaging my current job if it doesnt come off, and if so how do I go about it - sorting out references etc?

Any advice happily received.

yes.... and dont supply references unless asked. Can always decline to give your current employer until you have been offered a contract of employment (conditional on 2 satisfactory references or whatever).

Its the deal I had with this job ive gone into now, luckily its a graduate placement so no questions were asked. I didnt want my employer knowing anything about it.

Personal and character references are often perfectly sufficient, employment references can be supplied after youve been successful through interview.

do they not ask before requesting refs from prev employers usually?

They are not going to look at references until after youve been offered the job - tis pointless else theyd be chasing down hundreds of people.

Ive never put references on my CV and Ive only ever had to provide them after being given a job - my current one had a whole load of forms to fill in including previous addresses, employers, etc.. lots of vetting etc.etc.. - the form had a part you could select if you didnt want them to contact your current employer at that time & tbh.. given that I only got the form after being offered the job it didnt really matter anyway.

I never put references either, they ask for them when you start.

Yeah you put references available on request at the end of your CV.

You do the interviews etc and then get offered the job.  Once youve accepted/whatever they then contact your references (or check your CV details/security clearance depending on the job) after youve accepted.

No guilt - thats how everyone changes jobs.  And most people do it many times throughout their lives.

You could always put personal referees, or a reference from a job you had before your current one.