Advice on opening a food business

The Environmental Health Department will provide advice and guidance and visits can also be arranged where necessary.  A copy of any plans should also be forwarded to the Environmental Health Department to assess structural and layout requirements. 
Ongoing assistance and monitoring of your food business will be provided by a member of the Environmental Health team.

Setting up a food business can be a daunting task with a wide range of legislation that must be complied with if you are not to fall foul of the law.
When you are choosing a premises for your business it is very important to make sure that they comply with the necessary regulations, are suitable for the purpose of your business and allow you to prepare food safely.

When you are choosing a new premises or making changes it is always good practice to contact the Environmental Health Department for advice and guidance.
The Food Standards Agency have produced booklets entitled ‘Starting Up – Your first steps to running a catering business’ and ‘Food Hygiene – A guide for business’ which can be downloaded by clicking on links below.
 

Downloads

‘Starting Up – Your first steps to running a catering business’
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/startingup0208.pdf

‘Food Hygiene – A guide for businesses’
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/hygieneguidebooklet0408.pdf

Contact

Karen Phillips, Senior Environmental Health Officer,
Food Control/Infectious Diseases
Genevieve McWilliams, Senior Environmental Health Officer, Food Control/Infectious Diseases