Business advice

Starting a food business

If you plan to operate a food business you must inform the Local Authority by submitting a food business registration form [external link].

Once we receive your form, we will be in touch with you to offer more tailored advice based on the information provided.

What to expect from your inspection

Most inspections are unannounced. This ensures we can gain a clear understanding of the usual running of your business.

The inspection will be an assessment of the following:

Food Safety	Structural Compliance	Confidence in Management
Personal hygiene Cleaning and disinfection Handling / storage of raw and ready to eat foods Procedures for: Cooking, cooling, freezing, defrosting and reheating	Hot and cold running water on the premises The condition of walls, floors and ceilings in all areas of the business The condition of equipment used Access for pests / signs of pest activity	Training & supervision Documented food management system Mentoring records Food standards (allergen info and labelling) Previous compliance history

(Please note this is not an extensive list)

After the inspection, the officer will leave with you a summary of any urgent issues so you can begin improvements. A full intervention report and your food hygiene rating sticker will follow within 10 days.

If you are unhappy with the rating you have received, you can either:

appeal your rating within 21 days of receiving the letter
apply for a re-rating inspection (at the cost of £150)

Further information regarding this will be detailed on your intervention report.

Officers don’t routinely carry out health and safety inspections, but if any issues are identified, they will be brought to your attention during the visit and in the intervention report.

National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Once a business has been inspected the officer will rate the premises in line with the Food Standards Agency’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. You can learn more about this on the FSA’s website [external link]

Contact Us

You can contact environmental health on

email: [email protected]
tel: 01325 405111.

We will respond in one working day.

Further advice can be found at:

Food safety - your responsibilities: Food safety - GOV.UK [external link]

Starting your food business safely | Food Standards Agency [external link]

Food hygiene for your business | Food Standards Agency [external link]

Safer food, better business (SFBB) | Food Standards Agency [external link]