10 essential skills you need to have to be a BRCGS Food Safety Auditor
“What do I need to become a BRCGS Food Safety Auditor?”
I get asked that question a lot. As a long-time BRCGS trainer and third-party auditor, my first answer is always practical experience and professional qualifications. Those are the obvious but crucial things to get your foot in the door and progress quickly.
But there are other hard and soft skills that make a qualified Food Safety Auditor, a competent, confident and effective one.
In my experience, here are ten skills you need to have a long and successful career.
1. Moral courage
As an auditor, it’s your job to report everything objectively — good and the bad. At times, this means reporting non-conformities raised in the audit closing meeting.
As non-conformities affect the BRCGS grade a site receives (e.g., five or fewer minor nonconformities and a site will get an AA, whereas six minor nonconformities takes them to an A grade), you’ll likely come under pressure when reporting them. Especially so when many nonconformities mean a site loses (or fails to receive) its certificate.
In these instances, moral courage and the ability to report findings honestly and assertively shows sense of character and earns respect that you’ll carry with you in your career.
2. Tenacity
Tenacity is a quality of someone who is determined to get to the bottom of something.
It’s particularly important as an auditor if you identify a situation that you believe is a nonconformance, but don’t have objective evidence (i.e. evidence based on fact, not opinion or assumptions).
For example, say a site has no complaints recorded in the Customer Complaints register since the previous audit.
To get objective evidence to show existing complaints that haven’t been recorded, you’ll likely have to do some digging.
You might review credit notes to see if a price reduction is linked to an issue with the product or service. Or, you might talk to intake staff to see which items have been returned.
Where there’s a hunch, tenacity is the skill that will help you figure it out and back it up.
3. Attention to detail
Food safety audits require a keen eye for detail and, as my mother used to say: “the devil is in the detail.”
It’s important that when you leave a site, you’re confident that it’s producing food fit for human consumption.
This requires an in-depth audit of the work environment, covering floors, walls, doors, ceilings, windows and equipment to ensure it’s fit for purpose and in a good hygienic condition. Plus, an evaluation of the company’s HACCP Plan and quality management system.
In simple terms, you need to be sure all risks are identified and appropriate controls have been put in place to eliminate or control the risks to acceptable levels.
4. Communication skills
Effective communication is key when interacting with the audit clients. This includes dealing with people at different levels in the company, from directors to operatives.
You’ll need both written and verbal communication skills to engage staff, explain audit findings, create detailed audit reports and deliver feedback in a way people understand.
5. Knowledge of BRCGS Standards
Perhaps it goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway: a deep understanding of BRCGS Food Safety Standards is a fundamental requirement for all BRCGS food auditors.
To demonstrate knowledge of the standard, you need to pass the five-day BRCGS Lead Auditor course. You’ll also need to complete a two-day conversion course whenever the standard is updated and re-published.
6. Category knowledge
Going deeper into your knowledge and understanding of BRCGS standards, you’ll also need to show category knowledge.
In total, the BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard has 18 categories, covering six fields of audit.
Here’s an example of category 1:
You’ll need to pass a BRCGS category exam for whichever industry field you want to audit. In the above example, this would mean passing an exam to show you have technical knowledge in slaughter and primary cutting, vacuum packing and modified atmosphere packaging.
Becoming a specialist in these categories will help create demand for your skills.
Note: Further details can be found in the Global Food Safety Standard, Appendix 6: Product Categories
7. Food safety expertise
To complement your knowledge of BRCGS Standards, you’ll also need to demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of the practices, regulations and techniques associated with the food manufacturers you’re auditing. This includes how they ensure food is prepared, stored and handled to prevent contamination, as well as foodborne illnesses and health risks to consumers.
Having a solid grasp of the scientific principles behind food safety and the practical applications needed to maintain a safe food work environment will ensure your auditing is fair and effective.
8. Report Writing
Effective report writing is a crucial skill for compiling a BRCGS product food safety audit report. Reports need to ensure audit findings are digestible and organised.
Here are some quick tips to improve your audit report writing:
- Make it clear: Keep language simple so it’s easy to understand. Avoid jargon, overly complex sentences and unnecessary details.
- Stick to the point: Use short, direct sentences, and avoid long-winded explanations unless necessary for context.
- Be precise: Specificity rules when providing information; whether it’s data, findings or recommendations.
9. Time Management
Auditors need to manage their time to ensure they cover all areas of an audit plan.
The BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety protocol has very clear timescales for issuing nonconformities, closing out nonconformities, providing a certification decision and uploading reports to the BRCGS Directory.
You’ll need to be well organised with strong time management skills to stick to these timescales.
10. Interpersonal Skills
Similar to effective communication skills, strong interpersonal skills help you communicate, interact and collaborate effectively with food business staff. They ensure a smooth audit process by promoting cooperation, reducing tension and encouraging transparency.
Good interpersonal skills also help you earn trust. This makes it easier for staff to be open about challenges and make the audit a constructive process, rather than a confrontation.
The results is more effective and productive audits. And, ultimately, better food safety standards.
Some of these skills come naturally, others can be learned. But demonstrating most or all of them will help you become a trusted and respected BRCGS Food Safety Auditor.
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