Food Safety Training
Our Courses
Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety (RQF)
By law, food business operators must ensure that food handlers receive the appropriate supervision and training in food hygiene. It...
Food Safety Awareness
An introduction to food safety for all sectors, covering risk factors and how to ensure safe and hygienic food for...
Why Choose Us?
Training you can trust
Expert Trainers
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Why food safety training matters
If your team prepares, handles or serves food, the law expects them to do it safely. The Food Standards Agency estimates around 2.4 million cases of foodborne illness happen in the UK every year, and a single failed inspection or bad review can damage a reputation that took years to build. Good food safety training gives your staff the knowledge to keep food safe, from delivery and storage through to preparation and service. It covers personal hygiene, cleaning, allergen control and the food standards every business is measured against. Our courses are built around the way real kitchens and food businesses actually work, so your people leave able to apply what they have learned the next day, not just pass a test.
Which level of food safety training do you need?
Food safety training is organised into levels, and the right one depends on the job. Level 1, often called food safety awareness, suits anyone new to a food environment or working in a lower risk role. Level 2 is the standard most food handlers need, and it is the level environmental health officers expect to see for staff who prepare and cook food. Level 3 is built for supervisors, managers and owners who run a food safety management system and oversee HACCP. We deliver the Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety (RQF) and a Food Safety Awareness course, both fully accredited, with Level 3, HACCP and allergen training available on request. Every learner who passes receives a recognised food hygiene certificate.
On-site food hygiene courses, delivered UK-wide
Most food businesses legally require their food handlers to be trained, and an environmental health officer can ask to see evidence at any time. We make that simple. Our trainers come to your premises anywhere in the UK and run the course around your rota, whether you cater, run a care home, manage a school kitchen or sell food to the public. In person training tends to stick better than online training alone, because staff can ask questions and work through real scenarios from their own setting. We keep group sizes practical, tailor the content to your business and turn most bookings around quickly. Best practice is to refresh food safety training every three years, and we will remind you when yours is due.
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FAQ
Do I legally need food safety training?
If your business prepares, handles or serves food, then yes. Under UK food hygiene law, food business operators must make sure food handlers are supervised and trained to a level that matches the work they do. The law does not name one single certificate, but environmental health officers expect food handlers to be trained, usually to Level 2, and they can ask to see evidence during an inspection.
What level of food safety training do I need?
It depends on the role. Anyone new to food or working in a lower risk setting usually starts with Level 1 or food safety awareness. Most food handlers who prepare and cook food need Level 2. Supervisors, managers and owners who run a food safety management system should hold Level 3. If you are not sure which fits your team, call us and we will point you to the right course.
Is your food safety training accredited?
Yes. We deliver the Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety (RQF), a regulated qualification listed on the Ofqual register, alongside our Food Safety Awareness course. Every learner who passes receives a recognised certificate you can show to an environmental health officer or keep in your records for inspection.
How long does a food hygiene certificate last?
There is no fixed legal expiry date, but industry best practice is to refresh food safety training every three years. Guidance and regulations change over time, and a refresher keeps your team current and your records clean for inspection. We can track when your training is due and remind you ahead of time.
Do you deliver food safety training online or in person?
We specialise in in person, on-site training at your premises anywhere in the UK. Many food businesses prefer this because staff can ask questions and work through scenarios from their own kitchen, which tends to stick better than online training alone. If a blended option suits you better, talk to us and we will build the delivery around your team.
Do I need a food hygiene certificate to sell food from home?
If you sell food on a small, occasional basis you may not legally require formal training, but the moment you register as a food business you are expected to make sure anyone handling food is trained appropriately, usually to Level 2. If you plan to sell food regularly, it is worth getting trained early so you are compliant from day one.
Does your training cover allergens and Natasha's Law?
Yes. Allergen awareness runs through our food safety training, and we can deliver dedicated allergen training covering the 14 named allergens, cross contamination and the labelling rules introduced by Natasha’s Law for pre-packed for direct sale food. Getting allergens right is one of the most important duties any food business has.
How quickly can you run a course for my team?
Most on-site food safety courses can be booked within a couple of weeks, and we can often move faster for urgent requirements. We train your whole team in one session rather than sending people off on different dates, which saves you time and keeps everyone working to the same standard. Tell us your numbers and your deadline and we will confirm what we can do.
Who needs food safety training?
Anyone who handles food as part of their job. That includes chefs, kitchen assistants, catering and hospitality staff, care home and school kitchen teams, retail and takeaway workers, and anyone preparing or serving food to the public. If food passes through your team’s hands, they should be trained in food safety.
What are the 4 Cs of food safety?
The 4 Cs are the foundation of safe food handling: Cleaning, Cooking, Chilling and avoiding Cross contamination. Keeping areas and equipment clean, cooking food to the right temperature, chilling food promptly and stopping bacteria spreading between raw and ready to eat food prevents most cases of food poisoning. Our courses cover all four in practical detail.