Borough council food safety team wins regional award

Award for project supporting food start-up businesses

A PROJECT which supports food start-up businesses has won a regional award.

Charnwood Borough Council’s food safety team won the Best Small Business Friendly Regulatory Approach at the Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Leicestershire and Rutland Local Authority Small Business Friendly Awards.

The award celebrated the Council’s business coaching project, created and delivered by the food safety team. The initiative gives new food businesses in Charnwood information and training to help them achieve the highest possible food hygiene rating when opening.

Coun Margaret Smidowicz, lead member for regulatory services, said: “I am delighted the Council has been recognised for the way it approaches supporting businesses in the borough.

“We know it is really important and effective to engage with businesses and help them meet the relevant standards or laws which are there to ensure public safety. Well done to the team for their excellent work and we will continue to work and support businesses in Charnwood.”

FSB local authority awards run across the UK and are designed to highlight, share and celebrate the best work, projects and business support initiatives for micro, small and medium sized firms

Jennifer Thomas, development manager for FSB said: “There are some great initiatives happening across the Leicestershire and Rutland which really help to level the playing field for smaller firms, and this support is vital to our local small businesses – we thank all of these authorities for their work on these projects.”

As well as offering free advice and support, the project includes the delivery of a food safety course which gives new business owners the opportunity to achieve a Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering and

offers people the opportunity to learn the basics of food hygiene.

People who attend the course learn about legislation, food safety hazards, temperature con

trol, food handling and principles of safe food storage.

The next dates for the food safety course are October 24 and January 23, 2020 .

For further information please contact a member of the food safety team on 01509 634656 or visit ww.charnwood.gov.uk/ foodsafety

■ Pictured from left to right: Claire Elsby, area lead for FSB East Midlands, Alan Twells, head of regulatory services at Charnwood Borough Council, Eileen Mallon, strategic director for housing, planning & regeneration and regulatory services at Charnwood Borough Council and Jenny Cross, area lead for FSB East Midlands.