Background info

What is the Here to Help campaign?

Here to Help aims to encourage micro and small food business owners to find out about food regulations and get the support they need to follow them. The campaign also aims to raise awareness amongst food businesses that the FSA and their local authority are there to help them along their business journey, with lots of advice and guidance available.

What is the new guidance?

The FSA’s food business guidance hub on food.gov, makes it easier than ever to find all the information businesses need to run their food business in one place; from getting registered to managing food safety and providing allergen information.

An easy-to-navigate guide to starting a new food business has also been launched, designed especially to support those preparing to start up a new business; whether that’s from home, online or at a mobile or permanent premises.

Social media content -attached

Please find attached some social media posts for you to use – and supporting images/videos in our promotion toolkit 

Newsletter copy – short

The below copy can be used in any existing newsletters or mailing lists you share with businesses, to make them aware of our campaign and new business guidance hub.

Here to Help

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) want to make it easier for businesses to do the right thing and protect consumers.

Businesses can now find all FSA business guidance, from how to set up a food business to food hygiene and allergen management, in one place in the improved business guidance hub on food.gov.uk.

The FSA are also sharing a variety of real-life case studies from food businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as a conversation with an Environmental Health Practitioner, to share experiences of food hygiene inspections and setting up a safe food business. 

Case study links

Business case study 1

Starting a food business? Learn more about what to expect in the FSA’s latest blog post. Read about Matthew’s journey starting his Korean food business, The Little Korean.

LINK: https://food.blog.gov.uk/2023/05/04/the-little-korean-the-northeasts-korean-food-stall-that-went-from-pastime-to-full-time/

Business case study 2

Thinking of starting a food business from your home? In the FSA’s latest blog post, Hanna, owner of Benji’s Bites, shares how she wasn’t sure if it would be possible. Find out how she was reassured by her local authority.

LINK: https://food.blog.gov.uk/2023/05/04/benjis-bites-winning-awards-whilst-keeping-consumers-safe/

Business case study 3

Check out the latest blog from the FSA to hear from entrepreneur and smoothie van owner, Tom. Read about how he set up his food business safely, selling healthy drinks to his local community.

LINK: https://food.blog.gov.uk/2023/05/04/swig-smoothies-healthy-drinks-van-gets-haccp-help-from-eho/

Business case study 4

Are you setting up a new food business? Read about the advice Laura received from her Local Authority when starting her mobile milk vending machine business, Llaeth Llanfair.

LINK: https://food.blog.gov.uk/2023/05/02/llaeth-llanfair-from-farm-to-vending-machine/

News story – long

New easy to use online hub launched for food businesses

Food businesses can now find guidance and advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in one easy to access business guidance hub on food.gov.uk.

The new hub brings together guidance on how to set up a food business, how to achieve a good food hygiene rating and manage allergens to keep customers safe.

Businesses can also find new case studies on the FSA blog, telling real stories about how working with your local authority and the FSA helps get your business off the ground and grow safely and successfully.

Hanna, Founder and Owner of Benji’s Bites in Harrogate said:

“The FSA Here to Help hub has all the documentation you need, and it gives you a nice checklist to work through to make sure that you’ve not forgotten anything. I know that my local Environmental Health Officer (EHO) is always there too. If I’ve got any questions; I can ask her.”

Katie Pettifer, Director of Strategy and Regulatory Compliance at the Food Standards Agency said:

“At a time when new food businesses are facing cost pressures and other challenges, the FSA and local authorities want to make it easier for businesses to do the right thing. Our new online hub has gathered the advice and guidance that any new food business needs to make a success of running a compliant and safe business.”

The FSA will also be publishing case studies from Environmental Health Practitioners across England and Wales, sharing why they do their job and what they’re looking for when they inspect businesses. For more information on how to keep your business on track whilst keeping consumers safe head to our business guidance hub. Alternatively, head to the FSA’seasy to navigate guide for those starting up a new food business