How Safe to Trade is Modernising Food Safety Controls

Hosted by:  Kelvin Wood, Certification Body Manager for Safe to Trade at Shield Safety Group

Joined by: Industry leader John Barnes, Chair of the Safe to Trade Stakeholder Engagement Forum and member of the Independent Governance Board

Overview 

In this insightful webinar, Kelvin Wood and John Barnes explore how Safe to Trade is transforming food safety standards across the UK hospitality sector. As consumer expectations evolve, operational costs rise, and staffing challenges continue, food businesses face unprecedented pressures. At the same time, regulators are seeking smarter, data-driven approaches to ensure public safety. This session reveals how Safe to Trade addresses these challenges through a proactive, collaborative, and industry-led assurance framework.

Why Modernising Food Safety Matters
Post-pandemic, hospitality businesses are under greater scrutiny than ever before. Customers expect not just hygiene compliance, but consistent safety, accurate allergen management, proper labelling, and excellent front-of-house standards. Safe to Trade goes beyond traditional inspections by providing ongoing independent audits, evidence verification, and real-time monitoring. This modern approach ensures that businesses not only meet legal requirements but also build trust and protect their reputation.

What Makes Safe to Trade a Game-Changer
Developed by the industry, for the industry, Safe to Trade integrates regulatory rigour with practical support for food businesses. The scheme enables:

• Businesses to demonstrate compliance, reduce operational risks, access expert helplines, and enhance brand credibility via public recognition on the Safe to Trade Register.
• Consumers to confidently choose venues independently verified for hygiene, allergen safety, labelling accuracy, and overall customer experience.
• Regulators to leverage anonymised compliance data, target inspections more efficiently, and maintain public trust.

With over 1,000 locations registered and 600+ approved businesses, Safe to Trade is the UK’s first comprehensive hospitality assurance scheme, covering restaurants, cafés, takeaways, and catering venues. From hygiene and allergen management to labelling and service standards, Safe to Trade sets a new benchmark for safety and quality.

Key Insights from the Webinar
Viewers will gain valuable knowledge on:

• Why modern food safety controls are critical and how customer expectations have shifted.
• How Safe to Trade complements the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme with more frequent, comprehensive assessments.
• The role of independent audits, software monitoring, and evidence verification in maintaining standards.
• Integrated allergen, labelling, and front-of-house practices for a holistic approach.
• How regulators can use anonymised sector data to improve oversight and resource allocation.

Expert Perspective
John Barnes brings decades of experience from the Food Standards Agency and international organisations like WHO and UNIDO, offering a unique perspective on data-driven oversight, public-private collaboration, and future-ready food safety governance.

Who Should Watch
This webinar is essential for:

• Hospitality Managers: Looking to demonstrate compliance and protect their reputation.
• Regulators: Seeking innovative, collaborative approaches to inspection.
• Industry Professionals: Exploring assurance schemes beyond basic hygiene ratings.

Watch the Full Webinar
Discover how Safe to Trade is reshaping food safety in UK hospitality. Gain practical insights, expert commentary, and actionable strategies to elevate safety standards, build consumer trust, and navigate the evolving regulatory landscape.