Aligned with the Food Standards Agency’s competency framework, the apprenticeship with CSA Learning has been designed by sector specialists to meet the real-world demands of teams working in food safety-related compliance roles. Developed in collaboration with the FSA and Senior Environmental Health Officers, this programme supports learners to apply food legislation confidently, take proportionate, risk-based action and support compliance. Delivered through a values-led, work-based approach, apprentices apply learning directly within their role while benefiting from expert tutor and coach support. It is a future-ready solution for organisations committed ensuring food sold or supplied to consumers is safe, hygienically prepared and legally compliant.
Employers benefit from officers who apply food legislation consistently, make sound risk-based decisions and communicate effectively with food businesses and partner agencies. Apprentices develop stronger inspection, investigation and evidence skills, improving the quality of regulatory outcomes. The programme supports compliance, enforcement and public protection teams to build capability, reduce risk, improve decision-making confidence and demonstrate professionalism, proportionality and good governance.
Outcome for Learners
Learners gain the confidence and competence to work within food regulatory frameworks, assess compliance and respond proportionately to non-compliance. Apprentices develop investigation, inspection, reporting and stakeholder engagement skills while applying learning directly in role. The programme strengthens professional judgement, supports career progression and builds broader capability across regulatory services, compliance inspection and enforcement functions.
This programme develops competent, confident Regulatory Compliance Officers working within the Food Hygiene sector. Apprentices learn how Food regulation operates as a tool of government, how legislation is applied in practice and how to deliver proportionate, risk-based regulation. Learning covers inspection, monitoring, investigation, enforcement decision-making, data use and stakeholder engagement. Apprentices apply learning directly in role, building professional judgement and evidencing competence against the national apprenticeship standard and End-Point Assessment requirements.
Module 1: Introduction to your Apprenticeship, Understanding Business, Government Regulations
Module 2: Regulations and Risk
Module 3: Supporting Businesses and the External Environment
Specialist Module a: Practical Application of FHRS
Specialist Module b: Information Sampling (awareness of formal)
Online Digital Module: Food Standards and Allergen Awareness
Module 4: Non-Compliance and Project Management
Module 5: Compliance Control & Complaint Handling
Module 6: Technology, Data, Compliance and Sharing Information
Module 7: Governance, Evaluation and Feedback
Module 8: End Point Assessment Preparation
Suitable for staff working within Environmental Health teams, regulatory services, public protection, enforcement support, compliance inspection, audit-style monitoring and similar regulatory roles.
An award-winning learning and development specialist and an Approved Apprenticeship Training Provider, CSA Learning supports firms and employers to train, improve and assess their workforces in our specialist areas including credit, debt collection, compliance, counter-fraud, trading standards and governance.
CSA provides employers with training to reskill existing staff, as well as a means of introducing new employees to your company and sector. Our tutors are all specialists in their fields, with learner feedback consistently highlighting the exceptional standard of workshop delivery.
Key Information
Length of Course
Typically 16 months plus 3 months end point assessment
Number of Modules
11
Funding
£9,000 (No cost if Levy funded)
We will work with you to maximise Apprenticeship Levy funds and access any other support or incentives that are available to fund the programme.
CSA blended learning delivery
Tutor-led, interactive workshops delivered via Teams, with face-to-face delivery available for groups of 8 or more.
"The CSA RCO Apprenticeship has given me the knowledge and skills to do my job better, but it’s also given me the confidence to challenge things so that we can work better and deliver better services at a strategic level. Because my tutor helped to make assignments really relevant to my job role, I was able to use them to overcome specific problems and challenges. My experience with CSA as a training provider has been amazing"
Sarah Heath-Marshall, Community Protection Officer at Walsall Council
CSA receives Strong Standard in recent Ofsted inspection
The inspection report, published on 14 April 2026, recognises that CSA has developed “demanding and relevant curriculums in partnership with employers and sequences learning effectively so apprentices build the knowledge and skills they need in their roles”. Ofsted also highlighted tutors’ use of effective teaching strategies, including breakout rooms, dual coding and flipped learning, to strengthen apprentices’ understanding and memory retention of complex topics.
