As you grow your business you may need to meet the requirements of a 3rd party certification scheme or a customers supplier approval standard. This schemes will bring the need for new procedures, knowledge and training that your business will not have needed before.
The short courses below have extracts from one of the most popular standards for small businesses illustrating why this training is needed.
Internal Audits
An Internal Systems Review or scheduled internal audit, carried out by appropriate personnel who, ideally, shall not review their own work, shall be documented at least annually.
Why do you need this training?
This is a typical requirement taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for documented internal audits and inspections.
The course introduces how to plan, carry out and report audits and inspections.
How to determine the scope and frequency of audits is discussed.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Introduction to Internal Audits
Level 3 Award in Effective Auditing & Inspection Skills
1 hour on-line Webinar
1 day Tutored course
Corrective Actions & Non-Conformances
Why do you need this training?
Results of the review or scheduled internal audit shall include a timetable for correction of any non-conformance found and the date the action was taken. Procedures shall be in place to identify and record any non-conforming materials, and to record actions taken in managing those materials.
This is a typical requirement taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for documented actions relating to non-conformances both for the operation and relating to products, ingredients and packaging.
Participants will gain an understanding of what non-conformances are and how to manage them through corrective actions. They will be trained in how document non-conformances and the corrective actions and how to follow up and manage the process.
The design of your own recording and management systems is discussed.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Managing Corrective Actions and Non-Conformances
1 hour on-line Webinar
Root Cause Analysis
Why do you need this training?
Procedures shall be in place to investigate, record and remedy the cause of any product non-compliance including complaints, incidents and sub-standard product or ingredients. Records shall be available to the Internal Systems Review.
This is a typical requirement taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for documented investigations into non-conformances.
Participants will gain an understanding of the importance of root cause analysis and how it is used to get to the underlying cause of a problem. The course includes discussion on when root cause analysis is and when it is not appropriate. An explanation of the most common root cause analysis techniques, how to select and apply the most appropriate technique for an issue.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Root Cause Analysis
Level 2 Award in Root Cause Analysis
1 hour on-line Webinar
1/2 day Tutored course
Risk Assessments
Why do you need this training?
The business shall perform a risk assessment on .... Document your risk assessment and procedure for handling allergens. The frequency of testing the shelf life should be based on your own risk assessment A Risk Assessment shall be conducted for the physical, biological and chemical hazards (including allergens) identified
These are typical requirements taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows that formal risk assessments is a key part of any food safety standard.
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 Require an employer to carry out a risk assessment on all manual handling tasks.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 Require an employer to carry out a risk assessment on all chemical handling task.
Risk assessments form an essential part of all health and safety controls.
Business owners and managers responsible carrying out risk assessments need to understand the structure and process of risk assessments. This course provides that knowledge along with the hierarchy of controls for risk management and how to document and manage risk assessments.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Undertaking Risk Assessments
1 hour on-line Webinar
Supplier Approval
Why do you need this training?
The business shall ensure that suppliers of all materials, including food contact packaging and processing aids, are reputable and are regularly reviewed. Document what controls you will use to identify reputable suppliers. Keep a record of how you have approved your suppliers.
This is a typical requirement taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for a formal and documented supplier approval system.
Anyone in the business who is responsible for sourcing and approving ingredients and packaging needs to understand the importance of supplier approval systems.
This course explains what is needed for the approval of suppliers and how to record the information. It discusses how to implement and manage your own supplier approval system.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Supplier Approval & Management
1 hour on-line Webinar
Vulnerability Assessment Critical Control Points (VACCP)
Why do you need this training?
The business shall perform a risk assessment on all food raw materials, including food contact packaging in relation to adulteration or substitution. The findings shall be documented, and appropriate controls and procedures implemented.
This is a typical requirement taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for a formal and documented assessment of the vulnerability of raw materials to adulteration, substitution or fraud.
Anyone in the business who is responsible for sourcing and approving raw materials needs to understand the importance of VACCP.
This training provides an understanding of how to conduct the process and record the outcome. How to identify the types of material most at risk.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Undertaking a VACCP Risk Assessment
1 hour on-line Webinar
Incident Management & Product Recall
Why do you need this training?
The business shall have a documented procedure giving clear guidance on the response to any incident which may compromise the safety and/or legality of a product. The business shall test and record the effectiveness of the procedure at least annually.
These are typical requirements taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for a formal and documented procedure for the management of incidents/crisis and product recall or withdrawal. As you grow your business more controls will need to be documented and tested.
Business owners need to understand the types of approach that can be taken to an incident and how to conduct a product recall.
The actions, topics and procedures to be considered in the event of an incident are discussed.
The course provides an understanding of how to document and test an incident management procedure and how to test the product recall procedure.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Incident Management & Product Recall
1 hour on-line Webinar
Allergen Cleaning (Validation & Verification)
Why do you need this training?
Allergens handled on site or brought on to site, shall be identified and the risk of cross-contamination shall be assessed. Controls shall be implemented to minimise the potential for cross-contamination. Where you are making free from claims you will need to consider in detail how you validate your cleaning methods to demonstrate they are effective at removing allergen residues.
This is a typical requirement taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for a formal and documented check on the effectiveness of cleaning with regard to ‘free from’ claims.
The course is designed for Business Owners and Managers where customers require that ‘free from’ claims are supported by evidence of the effectiveness of cleaning.
The training will explain the best practice process for ensuring that cleaning procedures are effective. How to validate the cleaning procedures and then how to verify they are effect. What to test and how to interpret the results.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Allergen Cleaning (Validation & Verification)
1 hour on-line Webinar
Factory & Equipment Cleaning
Why do you need this training?
Documented cleaning schedules, procedures and records shall be in place and maintained for the building, services, plant and all equipment in direct contact with food. The effectiveness of cleaning shall be routinely checked and documented.
This is a typical requirement taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for formal and documented procedures for cleaning and checking the effectiveness.
The course will explain how to establish the cleaning schedule as you grow your business.
The various types of equipment and chemicals to use for different areas and how to control them.
Controls needed for tray and utensil washing.
The principles of cleaning and how these should incorporated into procedures.
How to inspect and record the cleaning and inspection and the options available for checking the effectiveness of cleaning.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Introduction to Factory & Equipment Cleaning
1 hour on-line Webinar
Managing Engineering & Repairs
Why do you need this training?
A programme of planned maintenance shall be in place for premises and for equipment critical to product safety, legality and quality. The business shall ensure that the safety, legality and quality of product is not jeopardised during maintenance operations. In High Risk/High Care areas tools and equipment shall, wherever possible, be dedicated. Cleaning and/or replacing light fittings and glass shall be carried out in a manner to minimise the potential for product contamination. Glass and Breakables control procedures shall be documented and shall include a list of relevant items and recorded checks.
These are typical requirements taken from a popular 3rd party certification scheme for small businesses and shows the need for documented procedures for engineering work and glass breakages. As you grow your business demands for engineering controls will become greater.
The training will provide an understanding of the controls needed for engineering work to avoid contamination of the product and how to implement and manage ‘hand-back procedures.
The control of tools and engineering chemicals.
How to manage glass breakages.
The records and supporting materials needed with regard to engineering work.
What are the courses or solutions available ?
Introduction to Engineering Controls in Food Production
1 hour on-line Webinar