Food Safety Training
Equipping yourself and your staff with the relevant certification can help you deal more effectively with issues of food safety and hygiene. Most courses provide tailored training to address particular roles within the establishment, thus enabling everyone in the team to act from an informed standpoint in everything that they do.
You’ll also earn brownie points with your local authority officers on adhering to the expected food preparation processes and standards, and you’ll do well to study a course that’s specifically aimed at food hygiene so that you remain in alignment with the legal requirements that are expected by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
In today’s article, we’ll help you along with tips on how to choose the proper food hygiene course for you and your customer’s needs.
How to Choose the Best Food Hygiene Course
Subject to the specific role that you play in the food business, you may be required to undertake a Level 1, 2 or 3 course in food safety in order to carry out your duties well. However, if you already hold a higher level certificate, then you’ll be exempt from taking a lower level one, as the coursework will already have covered most of what you need to know.
Although food hygiene certificates in the UK don’t come with an expiry date, it might be a good idea to update your knowledge with a refresher course every now and then to keep up with changing legislation and technology. City and Guilds, as well as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, are two of the most renowned awarding bodies in which to take your course if you’re in the UK.
Typically, anyone working in food manufacturing, retail or catering is required to have at least a Level 2 hygiene certificate, as it equips participants with the skills and knowledge needed to follow the right processes to maintain a high standard of food hygiene.
A Level 3 certificate is suitable for working as a supervisor or manager, as they’d be responsible for ensuring that the proper food safety systems are followed, including HACCP processes, on a daily basis.
On the other hand, a Level 1 certificate is ideal for those employees who aren’t involved in direct food handling or preparation, as well as those who handle food items that are considered ‘low risk’, such as vegetables, fruit or canned and otherwise already packaged food. Butchers also fit into this category because they only handle food that isn’t ready to serve yet.
Top Local Food Safety Providers to Check Out
Below is the top five list of the UK’s most renowned food safety training service providers, who are not only in compliance with HACCP and FSA regulations, but are also recognised by relevant awarding bodies as well.
- AT Coaching- London
Address:
43 Earlsferry Way
London
N1 0DZ
UK
Website: http://atcoaching-foodsafety.com/
- Amicus Compliance- South West
Address:
Pool Innovation Centre
Trevenson Road
Pool, Redruth
Cornwall
TR15 3PL
Telephone: 07975 587 999
- New Directions- Cardiff
Address:
First Floor
Harlech Court
Bute Terrace, Cardiff
Wales
CF10 2FE
Website: http://www.new-directions.co.uk/training/
- Apex Scotland- Edinburgh
Address:
9 Great Stuart Street
Edinburgh, Scotland
EH3 7TP
UK
Website: http://www.apexscotland.org.uk/
- Metropolitan College- Belfast
Address:
Castlereagh Site
Montgomery Road
Belfast, Northern Ireland
BT6 9JD
UK
Website: http://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/