We help BOOST your food hygiene rating!
As ex-Environmental Health Officers, we support clients by helping them improve their food hygiene rating. Whether it’s advising on food safety documentation, training, supporting you in making a re-rating application or appealing your score, we provide the expertise you need.
About Us
Boost My Rating helps businesses gain better food hygiene ratings. We're experts in food safety and have years of experience engaging with Environmental Health Officers (a little secret - I used to be one!).
Because we share our professional roots, we talk your EHO's language and know exactly what they're looking for when they issue their rating.
We understand food safety law and know the difference between legal requirement and best practice, so are in a great position to advise you how to get the best possible rating. We can also challenge the rating if you think the officer has been unfair.
For over 25 years, our consultants have helped hundreds of businesses, from small independents to national brands. Have a look at what we can offer!
Appeal your hygiene rating
We offer expert support in appealing your food hygiene rating if you think it's unfair. Arguing with an inspector may seem daunting and potentially self destructive, but we know exactly what to challenge and how to do it. We do it in a professional, impartial way so there's no "falling out" with the local authority.
We guide you through the entire appeals process, with an initial review of the visit report and a discussion about the inspection to give you a realistic opinion on the chance of success. If there's a good prospect, we'll gather the evidence, assess each of the scoring criteria and write a thorough and well founded appeal on your behalf.
And with the majority of our appeals achieving success, you can confidently seek a fair re-evaluation and aim for a higher rating, protecting your reputation and customer trust.
ACT QUICKLY - appeals MUST be submitted within 21 days of you receiving the notification of your rating.
Help with re-rating applications
For premises rated below 3, most inspectors will carry out a "revisit" to check compliance against their inspection findings, typically within a few weeks. It's highly unlikely that a new rating will be issued on this "revisit".
To get a new rating, an application needs to be submitted for a "re-rating" visit. Evidence must be submitted in the application to show the improvements you have made, otherwise the application can be rejected. When visiting, the officer will not only check the improvements but will also assess the whole of the premises and your management of food safety.
With our low cost "Check and Send" service, we assess the quality of the evidence and advise if anything is missing. We'll even write the application on your behalf and make sure the application is accepted first time.
We also assist in drafting a "Right to Reply" which is published on the Food Standards Agency ratings website. Getting this right is vital to provide customers with re-assurance and to limit damage caused by adverse press and social media attention - we'll help you get the "tone" just right.
Preparing for your inspection
Whether you're starting a new venture or running an established business, we help you achieve the best hygiene rating possible. Depending on location, we'll either come to your premises or conduct a virtual visit to make sure you’re ready to for your next inspection.
We give advice on food safety, your food safety management system (such as Safer Food Better Business), share tips and help make sure your staff answer inspectors’ questions confidently on their next visit. For example, we'll check your paperwork, how you control cross contamination, that you are compliant with allergen requirements and that pest control and cleaning and disinfection are being managed effectively.
And importantly, we know what inspectors are looking for and the difference between legal requirements and recommendations, making sure you focus on the "must haves" to achieve a great rating.
Enforcement Action Support
Some businesses with very poor ratings face formal procedures by the local authority, including service of legal notices (Hygiene Improvement Notice or a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice) or prosecution. Sometimes, officers may offer you the option to voluntary close your premises as an option to avoid formal closure.
These are serious steps that can put your business as risk.
We can provide guidance on how to comply with legal notices or approach a formal PACE interview and have access to solicitors that specialise in regulatory affairs.
If legal proceedings progress, we can help with not guilty pleas or prepare defence statements, used in mitigation to minimise court penalties.
We strongly recommend that you you need assistance under these circumstances
This is your Testimonial quote. Use this space to share customers’ reviews about you, your services and exciting success stories. Get your visitors excited to work with you!
Indian Restaurant Owner
North Wales
Just wanted to say thank you very much for the professional advice that you gave me when I needed it. It helped a great deal and it meant an awful lot to me and my business. Since then , we now have 5 star ratings all the way.
Italian Restaurant Owner
North Wales
We highly recommend Nick as a consultant for any business seeking to enhance their food safety protocols. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication have made a significant impact on our restaurant, and we are grateful for his invaluable assistance.
Chinese Restaurant Owner
London
Boost My Rating, Bryn Dinas, Princes Road, Rhuddlan, RHYL, LL18 5RA. Tel: 07956 867055.