7 replies to this topic

[zoelawton]

Hi everyone, 

 

I'm considering completing the BRCGS Internal Auditing course, i think this is 2 days long and around £700-£800. 

Has anybody done this? Does anybody recommend this? Will it have any benefits towards my career, certification etc.? Is it credible/recognised?

 

OR does anybody have any recommendations of internal auditing courses that are globally recognised?

 

 

 

Job background in case it helps for any recommendations: 

 

I'm currently QC in an egg packing centre. I started packing eggs on the line around 3 years ago, as temp work when i was fresh out of uni. I was pretty much immediately picked up for QC, and over the last 2.5 years i have progressed to Quality Manager, soon to be Tech Manager. (Q&T Manager).

 

In terms of auditing i conduct all internal audits and solely assist with all third party audits. (BRC unannounced AA+) A few years down the line i would like to become an auditor / consultant. (I'm 24 yrs old and realize i will need heaps more industry experience to become a consultant) 

 

 

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated, it's a lot of money for something that may not be beneficial. 

[pHruit]

I have no direct experience of the course, but my honest opinion from having sent people to some of the BRC GS training is that it didn't seem to be great value. It does potentially count towards the "BRC Professional" thing they've introduced relatively recently (https://www.brcgs.co...-the-programme/), but I'm not sure I'd give the course itself any more weight than any other comparable course, and I'm yet to see any real point to having BRC Professional status..

As you're already doing internal auditing, have you done some external training on this already? If you're currently only internally trained, I think what I'd do in your position is take a more basic internal auditing course; there are some 1-day ones available (I think I did one with Leatherhead, a million years ago) or even online ones. You won't get as much out of the latter, but at this stage the main benefit will be having apiece of paper that says you've been trained - IMO the best way to learn actual auditing is doing it over a period of time with a good mentor.

The considerable amount you'll save from this could then be put towards doing something like a lead auditor course in future, which will stand you in good stead for roles where you'll be an actual auditor, and/or if you stay in technical and move up to where you're auditing suppliers. It will look very good on your CV too

 

Having said all that, if your employer is paying and you're not responsible for the departmental training budget then grab any training you can!

Nonetheless I'd look at e.g. the Campden two-day option, which is a little more costly even as a member, but may be more widely recognised if you end up outside of BRC.

(And if they want to spend money on training then also consider HACCP, depending on what you do/don't yet have, as Level 3 or 4 will be extremely useful and again something of an essential on the CV as you progress in the industry)

[zoelawton]

Hi, 
 
Thanks for this, I currently have:
Level 2 HACCP
Level 3 HACCP
Level 3  Supervising Food Safety in Manufacturing
 
I am due to do an internal audit writing exam, that my current tech manager did many years ago, i think this could be an advanced learning one or something, very basic. I just want to make sure whatever training i do is credible. 
 
I have considered work experience, however i'm not sure whether this would be allowed for confidential reasons, for example i could get in touch with previous auditors i'e dealt with and see if i would be allowed along to any audits they are doing?

[SQFconsultant]

I have not had direct exposure to the BRC IAT program but have heard from several people that took it when we were developing our own program.

 

If you have to have the BRC logo on your IAT completion certificate for some reason I would say save your money as there are a number of companies that offer "generic" IAT programs that are well accepted by any auditor or any scheme under GFSI or any other purposes.

 

Some charge by the group (we used to do that) and some do so on a per person basis - meaning if it's just you, you would be looking at $100+ instead of hundreds.

 

Course content wise I see little difference between between a classroom and online, of course ours does have a picture of a turtle in it and I haven't seen that out there.

 

If you look online or even here at the company that runs these boards you should be able to find a suitable one.

[SQFconsultant]

Hmmm, "no such topic" -- that's not what I wrote? Admin please.

[pHruit]

Hi, 
 
Thanks for this, I currently have:
Level 2 HACCP
Level 3 HACCP
Level 3  Supervising Food Safety in Manufacturing
 
I am due to do an internal audit writing exam, that my current tech manager did many years ago, i think this could be an advanced learning one or something, very basic. I just want to make sure whatever training i do is credible. 
 
I have considered work experience, however i'm not sure whether this would be allowed for confidential reasons, for example i could get in touch with previous auditors i'e dealt with and see if i would be allowed along to any audits they are doing?

 

OK, so you're reasonably well set at this stage on HACCP etc. (although if they give you the opportunity to take Level 4 for that or for Food Safety then take it ).

In terms of work experience, the most likely way you'd be able to get this is through your current employer - can you e.g. start shadowing them on some of their supplier audits? The principles of auditing are the same internally/externally, and dealing with external parties can potentially provide a much broader experience of other systems, ideas, communication challenges etc too.

If you know a few friendly auditors then I don't see any harm in contacting them to see what might be possible, but equally I could see that for them it could be challenging as they'd potentially need the consent of the certification body (or the company that is paying them) and of the site that is being audited, and that is more complex if you're already employed by a food business.

Personally for the price you're paying I'd do the Campden course rather than the BRC one, as I think they carry more credibility across a wider section of the industry both nationally and internationally. 

If it's your own money your spending then I still think I'd look for a less costly course at this stage, admittedly in part the purpose of this would be so you have the certificate from it, and save the money towards the lead auditor and/or other more significant courses in the future, depending on where your career and interests end up taking you.

[El Molino]

If you want to progress as a BRC auditor - you can't go there without the Lead Auditor training course - then you need to take the GFSI benchmark exam and then shadow audit and witness audit with the CB you want to work with... any GFSI auditors need to go thru the certification courses for the standard they wish to be an auditor and partner with a CB to become an Independent or employee... sorry the reality is no shortcuts. Time and experientce

[zoelawton]

If you want to progress as a BRC auditor - you can't go there without the Lead Auditor training course - then you need to take the GFSI benchmark exam and then shadow audit and witness audit with the CB you want to work with... any GFSI auditors need to go thru the certification courses for the standard they wish to be an auditor and partner with a CB to become an Independent or employee... sorry the reality is no shortcuts. Time and experientce

 

 

Hi, thanks for this - very helpful. 

I'm not looking for any shortcuts - i just want to make sure every step i take is a credible one and not a waste of time.