Do internal auditors need to be qualified?

hi

in a small business(20 staff) how to conduct an internal audit (quality system management, BRC)
how can we do it?
do we have to be a qualified auditor? ( please any procedures, audit forms...)
or should hire an external auditor?

bibi

hi
in a small business (20 staff) how to conduct an internal audit (quality system management, BRC)
how can we do it?
do we have to be a qualified auditor? ( please any procedures, audit forms...)
or should hire an external auditor?

I don't believe internal auditors need to be qualified persay, but they do need to be competent; after all you want them to do a good job. If your system is based on the BRC Standard then I would expect the auditor to be very familiar with the Standard and understand food safety management, HACCP principles etc. The BRC internal auditor training course is probably exactly what you are looking for - if you can get to London.

If you cannot manage the auditing in-house you could outsource to a consultant, but that would prove the costliest option in the long term. As you are only a small company maybe you could employ a consultant in the short term who could mentor one of your own staff to take over when up to speed.

Regards,
Simon