Advantages of CPD for food safety trainers

Many food professionals rely on food safety training to meet the required industry standards. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a valuable means for trainers to keep their knowledge current and relevant, ensuring they provide the most accurate and up-to-date information. This article will discuss the importance of food safety training, identify the professional bodies in the field, and explain the advantages CPD offers to food safety trainers.

Why is food safety training important?

The food industry maintains strict safety protocols due to the high levels of risk involved in poor food hygiene. Failing to follow food safety regulations can lead to various issues for consumers and cause potential challenges for business owners and food professionals. Food safety trainers ensure that food professionals understand the requirements and standards needed to help food businesses meet industry regulations.

Moreover, as food safety regulations evolve to address new challenges such as emerging pathogens, changing food production methods, and global supply chains, ongoing training becomes even more critical. Food safety trainers must stay current with these changes to provide up-to-date, relevant instruction that empowers food professionals to implement best practices. This continuous learning and adaptation are essential for maintaining a safe food supply chain and protecting public health.

Who are the professional bodies for food safety in the UK?

The Food Standards Agency is the professional body that governs food safety within the UK. The Food Standards Agency ensures that food businesses, employees and food safety trainers meet industry standards for food safety and hygiene.

The Food Standards Agency requires that food professionals are appropriately qualified in various key areas. Topics may include food hygiene and safety, food allergens, root cause analysis, food labelling, vacuum packing and traceability. Food businesses in UK must adhere to Food Standards Agency regulations, including registration and regular hygiene checks. Many food businesses will regularly participate with food safety training, such as CPD, to ensure these ongoing standards are being met.

What are the advantages of CPD for food safety trainers?

CPD is the term used to describe the learning activities individuals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities throughout their career. At its core, CPD is about the individual and their commitment to lifelong learning. There are a variety of benefits food safety trainers will receive from participating in CPD training. The following identifies some of the key advantages:

Meet standards and regulations as a trainer

It is important for food safety trainers to fully understand regulatory and industry standards in order to provide valuable training services. Participating in regular CPD can ensure trainers maintain relevant knowledge and continually meet the required standards in food safety training.

Regulations in food safety and hygiene are subject to change over time. Active CPD keeps food safety trainers informed and up to date with current regulations. This can assist trainers in avoiding misinformation and maintaining a relevant and effective service.

Broaden skillset and develop specialisations

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can also help food safety trainers develop important transferable skills in various areas of practice. This could be in key areas such as leadership and communication.

As well as developing a broad skillset, CPD can help food safety trainers specialise in certain topics. This can help food safety trainers thrive in an area of expertise and offer specialised training services to niche demographics - which may help set them apart from other food safety training businesses.

Participate in cost-effective and flexible training

CPD can often be a cost-effective method of learning. CPD courses are often affordable, or even free, offering learners a chance to develop their skills and knowledge without overextending their budget. CPD learning can also offer flexibility. This could be engaging with learning methods such as online courses, but CPD also emphasises the importance of reflective learning such as reading relevant books or watching educational videos.

Increase confidence

Participating in CPD regularly can help food safety trainers build greater confidence as they develop skills and knowledge that allow them to provide more effective and valuable training services. Ongoing CPD will also give trainers confidence that their knowledge is appropriately extensive and relevant.

Find new opportunities

Developing new skills and knowledge through regular CPD can help food safety trainers find new opportunities both within and beyond their field. For example, trainers may also be interested in CPD courses in entrepreneurship and marketing with the aim of finding new customers and expanding their food training business.

Network with other trainers

CPD events can provide professionals with valuable networking opportunities. For food safety trainers, networking can provide new business opportunities, as well as an expanse of new perspectives from peers in their field. This can help trainers offer a more valuable service to consumers by broadening their knowledge of food safety and training delivery.

Food safety trainers are likely to provide a more consistently valuable training service through active CPD participation. There is more useful and relevant reading on the benefits of CPD in our previous articles on train the trainer courses and food hygiene courses.

Where can I find CPD courses for food hygiene and safety?

Within the CPD Courses Catalogue, there are a range of courses for food safety trainers, as well as other beneficial CPD learning including educational events, eLearning programs, conferences, workshops and seminars – all of which have been formally CPD certified. To find out more about a particular CPD course listed on our website, complete an enquiry form and the details will be sent directly to the relevant CPD provider.

How to become an accredited CPD provider

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing learning, as well as store your professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, go to the myCPD Portal page.