Food Safety - The Facts

A day in the life of a BRCGS Auditor

1. Introduction

This episode provides an insightful overview of a day in the life of a BRCGS auditor, covering the steps and challenges encountered during an unannounced audit, including the complexities of completing an audit report and closing out non-conformities.

Our expert guest, Elaine Wigham, is the founder of her own auditing and management consultancy. Before branching out on her own, she held the position of Technical Services Manager at Food Chain ID Auditor and Field Team Manager at SAI Global Assurance Services.

Elaine offers valuable insights into the realities and challenges of conducting BRCGS audits.

2. Podcast time stamp

00:16 Meet the Expert: Elaine Wigham

02:02 What initially drew you towards becoming a BRCGS auditor?

03:18 Which of the BRCGS standards have you audited?

04:07 What are the main challenges when conducting unannounced audits?

08:25 What kind of pre-audit information are you provided with to prepare
yourself before undertaking an audit?

12:03 Can you walk us through a typical structure of an unannounced BRCGS
audit?

19:08 Can you share a memorable experience from an audit that stands out,
either due to challenges, success, or a surprising outcome?

23:43 What are the most common non-conformities you raise during an
audit?

26:32 What’s your approach to handling non-conformities when they arise
during an audit?

28:13 What are the biggest challenges an auditor has generating an audit
report and closing out non conformities.

32:00 How do you stay up-to-date on changes to legislation and industry
practice?

33:24 What skills do you think are most important for a successful auditor to
have?

35:17 What’s the most rewarding part of being a BRCGS auditor?

36:09 What’s your advice for companies preparing for a BRCGS audit?

37:56 What advice would you give to someone considering a career as a
BRCGS auditor?

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1. Introduction

Food Safety – The Facts a series of Food Safety podcasts which analyses topics and issues relevant to food manufacturing and presents the facts in an easy to understand manner.

This the second podcast in the Food Safety - The Facts series provides both a macro and micro insightful discussion about the importance of food safety culture, the innovative Enlighten food safety culture model, it global attention and most importantly how it is supporting boardroom management enhance its food safety compliance.

2. Content

• What is food safety culture and why is it important?
• The Enlighten 4 C Model.
• How is the Enlighten model gaining global traction.

3. Credits

This podcast was brought to you by University of Sunderland and featured Dr Derek Watson and Peter Henry

from totrain. It was directed and produced by Bethany Donkin and featured Dawn Shaefer asking the questions. Join us next time discussing BRCGS (formerly BRC) Global Standard Food Issue 8 specific requirements for food safety culture.

Thanks for listening.

1. Introduction

This episode focuses on the importance of building a positive Food Safety Culture (FSC) to support an effective food safety quality management system. It covers the heightened requirements in the newly released BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 around organizational culture focusing on values and behaviours. Expert guest John Husband provides insights on defining, assessing, and continually improving FSC.

2. Podcast time stamp
00:24 Meet the Expert: John Husband

02:41 Understanding FSC

04:20 Defining and Demonstrating FSC

07:46 The Role of Company Mission Statement in Culture

09:05 Changing Behaviours for Better Food Safety

12:07 Introducing To Learn: A Food Safety Management Platform

12:53 Understanding BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 FSC requirements

24:07 Indicators of a Positive FSC

27:13 Conclusion and Next Steps

Ready to build your FSC plan?

Our food safety management system tolearn helps you manage food safety training and run FSC questionnaires all from the same food safety management platform, ensuring that your employees have the knowledge and confidence to maintain a positive culture at all times.

To book a tolearn Food Safety Management Platform live demo at a date and time which is best for you to see how tolearn can assist your company with onboarding of staff, employee competency and improve FSC click here.

3. Credits
This podcast was brought to you by totrain and featured John Husband from totrain. It was directed and produced by the totrain team and featured Roy Anthony asking the questions. Join us next time for more insight into different aspects of the BRCGS Global Standards Food Safety standard.
Thanks for listening.

Series 2 Episode 1 – How to become a BRCGS Auditor.
1. Introduction
In series two we are going to be looking at different elements and requirements of the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety standard and provide an easy to understand summary of the key topics. Series two is starting off with explaining how to become a BRCGS Food Safety Auditor.
As part of this series we will be offering a 15% discount voucher for any of our BRCGS traditional courses. Details of how to obtain it will be given at the end of the podcast.
2. Content
- The role certification bodies play in training someone to become a BRCGS
auditor
- Specific BRCGS requirements to become an auditor:

• Education
• Work Experience
• Qualifications
• Audit Training

GFSI Auditor requirements
Credits
This podcast was brought to you by totrain and featured John Husband from totrain. It was directed and produced by Bethany Donkin and featured Peter Henry asking the questions. Join us next time for more insight to the BRCGS Global Standards Food Safety standard.
Thanks for listening.

1. Introduction

Food Safety – The Facts, a series of Food Safety podcasts which analyse topics and issues relevant to food manufacturing and presents the facts in an easy-to-understand manner.

This, the third podcast in the Food Safety – The Facts series, provides an in depth look at how a company can go about implementing a Food Safety Culture programme.

2. Content

• The importance of following a programme
• What is a communication plan?
• Creating a random sample and how questionaries will create a food safety culture programme
• Analysis of data
• Conclusions
• 1 to 1 interviews

3. Credits

This podcast was brought to you by John Husband at totrain.
It was directed and produced by Bethany Donkin and featured Dawn Shaefer asking the questions.

Thanks for listening.