UK Food Safety / Quality Management Systems
Hi!
I have recently joined a small manufacturer wishing to achieve BRC accreditation from a much larger business using advanced management systems like Hamilton Grant and Silverlight.
In developing the new systems to achieve BRC I would like to use IT systems where possible rather than paper based systems but the systems that I am used to are outside the budget of my new employer. Are there any simpler systems aimed at smaller businesses with a smaller budget?
Likewise, for trade memberships, Campden BRI and FDF are probably a stretch for this business, are there any smaller organisations that can help with demonstrating compliance to BRC req. 1.1.8 (v8)? I recollect using a company in Reading in the past.
TIA
What industry area are you in?
Sector-specific trade bodies can be less costly than Campden/Leatherhead as many seem to charge membership rates based on turnover, which helps when you're a smaller business.
IMO a good trade body should cover all of the requirements under 1.1.8, assuming that country of sale is the country in which the body is based (or region, in the case of EU-wide trade bodies).
As for IT, you'd be surprised at how much you can do with MS Office once you know your way around Excel (and possibly Access) ;)
Thank you. The sector is chocolate. I'm told that there is no relevant trade body in the UK by the founder director, but I have not verified this.
You've confirmed what I suspected - I need to improve my Excel skills!
At the EU level there is CAOBISCO for the chocolate/biscuits/confectionery sector, and I think there is the BCCCA (Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Association) in the UK.
I believe a few companies offer standard sets of Excel/Word documents for smaller businesses in the food industry, but couldn't point you towards any I'm afraid - only aware of this as some of our smaller customers all have identical forms for various things!
I think that a decent course in Excel skills is a very good investment for a small business. It's the sort of thing that a local college may be able to offer, and could be of benefit to other departments too.