Comply To Supply: Understanding HACCP

As a food or drink business grows, the challenges around food safety and HACCP can become increasingly complex. What worked when you were smaller may not be enough when you’re preparing for a major retail listing, expanding your foodservice operation or taking on higher-volume contracts.

Comply To Supply: Understanding HACCP is a focused Growth Lab designed to help you get ahead of those challenges. Places are given by application only. Designed by Food and Drink North East (FADNE) and delivered as part of the North East Rural Growth Programme, which is funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA).

Rather than simply delivering a day of classroom training, this is an opportunity to spend time with an experienced food safety specialist and a small group of businesses facing similar challenges.

You’ll gain practical knowledge, explore the issues that matter to your business, learn from the experience of others in the room and leave with a clearer understanding of what you need to do next. And, should you opt to complete the free assessment offered by our provider, you’ll could leave with the CIEH Level 2 Foundation Certificate in HACCP as a recognised record of your learning

This Growth Lab is deliberately small and focused. Places are limited so that there is time for meaningful discussion, questions and peer-to-peer learning rather than simply working through a standard training programme.

You’ll be able to:

• Learn directly from an experienced food safety specialist with more than 30 years’ experience.
• Explore HACCP in the context of a growing food or drink business.
• Understand what good practice looks like as your business scales.
• Identify areas where your current approach may need strengthening.
• Discuss real challenges and learn from businesses facing similar situations.
• Ask the questions that are specific to your business.
• Leave with practical knowledge you can apply straight away.
• Gain a recognised CIEH certificate by successfully completing the assessment.

Who is it for?

This Growth Lab is by application, not open registration, and places are limited. The group will be small to create an environment where participants can ask questions, share experiences and work through real problems together. Those who would benefit from this growth lab session are:

• Senior leaders and owners of food and drink businesses actively scaling towards mainstream retail listings
• Hospitality and foodservice operators expanding to multiple sites or higher-volume contracts
• Businesses that have identified HACCP-based food safety as a genuine barrier to their next commercial step
• Anyone who needs the accreditation held personally, not just somewhere in the business

Why sign up for the Growth Lab?

For a growing food business, strong food safety systems aren’t simply about meeting a requirement. They can form an important part of being ready to work with larger customers and supply into more demanding environments.

This Growth Lab gives you the opportunity to build that knowledge before it becomes a last-minute hurdle, and in a small group where you can ask questions openly and work through the issues that matter to your business.

Growth Lab Schedule

8:40am | Arrival, registration & coffee
Time to arrive, settle in and meet the other participants before the session begins.

9:00am–5:00pm | Growth Lab
A full day of expert-led learning, discussion and practical application, delivered by Andrew Willson, Associate Partner of Food and Drink North East and a food safety trainer, consultant and specialist with more than 30 years’ experience.

The day combines the core knowledge you need with opportunities to ask questions, explore practical scenarios and learn from the experience of others in the room.

Key Information

Date: Thursday 19th November 2026
Time: 8.40am arrival for a 9am start
Location: Horsley Business Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne

This Growth Lab is intentionally kept small to protect the quality of the experience and give participants genuine time for discussion and problem-solving.

If you’re approaching a significant next step for your food or drink business, apply for a place via the form below and we will be in touch.