Scotland Food and Drink is offering funded support to Scottish businesses to achieve BRGCS Standards.
This is a practical programme that will provide both one to one on-site and remote technical support, working directly with your business’s nominated mentor, to make sure that your business can successfully transition to either full BRCGS certification or BRCGS START!
WHY?
With food and drink being one of the worst affected industries by COVID-19 and Brexit, Scotland Food & Drink is bringing a renewed focus to supplier development programmes through its £5m Recovery Plan, supported by the Scottish Government.
Supplier development has always been high on the agenda for Scotland Food & Drink and has been integral to the Home Advantage strategy published in 2018 and the Ambition 2030 plan.
As part of the Recovery Plan, Scotland Food & Drink has recently launched a new and unique supplier development training initiative, The Academy, which will help support the growth and expand market opportunities for our businesses in the UK and abroad.
It has been identified that businesses having access to BRCGS Certification alongside this dedicated training programme will be integral to recovery and growth in the sector.
An important element in gaining enhanced market opportunities within foodservice, retail and international markets is accreditation to an independent 3rd party scheme.
- Achieving higher certification can unlock access to markets both in terms of the public sector, food service and retail.
- Absence of 3rd party certification can be a barrier for entry to markets.
- Achieving a recognised independent third-party certification can improve overall business efficiency, and
- Increase resilience if individual businesses and broader sectors are faced with reputational challenges.
BRCGS audits are carried out by a global network of highly trained certification bodies. Successful applicants and participants to this program will be supported to implement BRCGS Standards, with a view to independently engaging a certification body to conduct an audit. BRCGS certified sites can; -
- Demonstrate that the food or drink product has been produced and processed appropriately for safe consumption by consumers
- Demonstrate robust traceability and supply chain risk assessment processes to minimise several risks including risk of food fraud.
- Demonstrate that the business operates to a good practice in terms of management commitment, process and product flow, factory environment, construction, and maintenance,
- Have competent trained staff and appropriate assessment and management of risks
- Demonstrate that the above attributes have been independently audited on a regular (typically annual) basis by an approved accredited food certification body.
APPLICATIONS
Scotland Food & Drink has invested in a collective public-sector Export Plan and in a UK Market Development Strategy which is helping Scottish food and drink businesses expand in Scotland, across the UK and into international markets.
This Programme is designed to enhance market opportunities for food and drink producers and suppliers.
Applications are invited from businesses aiming to achieve the BRCGS Standard either directly or via the BRCGS START! program. This opportunity is appropriate for all food and drink categories.
The opportunity is time limited and shall not extend beyond 12 months from the anticipated start date of April 2021. During this time businesses will be supported towards making a final application to BRCGS within 12-18 months.
It is important to note the programme is to steer the businesses to the point of making an audit ready final application to a BRCGS certification body. The programme will provide expert support and guidance, but success will be dependent on the response from the business itself, a successful application leading to accreditation is not automatic.
Typically, the cost the of BRCGS audit is in the region £2,350 depending on the scale and complexity of the business. This is not covered in the support programme and will have to be paid by the business making the application.
FUNDING
Scotland Food & Drink will fund SALSA (on behalf of BRCGS) to work closely with you up to the point you are able to make a confident audit ready application.
Businesses will be required to make a one-off contribution of £1,250 to participate in the programme.
For Scotland Food & Drink member organisations the one-off cost is £550.
For Scotland Food & Drink members it is estimated this represents approximately a 25% contribution from businesses to the actual cost of the support provided.
If successfully certified to BRCGS Standards, there are likely to be some costs to maintain certification in the future. Advice can be given on the likely implications of this for the business, on-going support and costs are not funded.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The purpose of the following questionnaire is to help select which businesses are best placed to benefit from this opportunity.
The information disclosed in the form will be used in the selection of businesses.
There is no restriction, all businesses can apply, however Scotland Food & Drink members will pay a reduced rate.
To be considered for participation we would ask you to give details that relate to the part of the business you feel need to achieve BRCGS certification, rather than the whole of the group if the organisation forms part of a group.
Please download the questionnaire, together with any supporting documents, by email to brcprogramme@foodanddrink.scot