Level 1 Award in Food Safety Essentials for Food Handlers | E-Learning
A fast, accredited starting point for food handlers in lower-risk environments.
Not every food handler needs the full Level 2 qualification. Food demonstration staff, warehouse personnel, reception and front-of-house teams in food businesses, and others who work in low-to-moderate food hygiene risk environments still have a legal responsibility for food safety, but the depth of training they need is different from that of a kitchen chef or food production operative.
This Level 1 Award in Food Safety Essentials is an Ofqual-accredited qualification, regulated by Qualifi, a UK Awarding Organisation. It is quick to complete, accessible online, and provides a formal, evidenceable foundation in the core food safety principles that apply to any food handler, regardless of their specific role.
The qualification helps food businesses and their employees meet their legal duty under the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 to ensure all food handlers have hygiene training appropriate for their work activities.
What You Will Learn
- The legal responsibilities of food handlers under UK food safety law
- Approved hand washing technique: why it matters and how to do it correctly
- The Danger Zone: temperature ranges that allow bacterial growth, and why they matter
- High-risk foods and why they require particular care
- The basics of cross-contamination: what it is, how it happens and how to prevent it
- Personal hygiene requirements for food handlers, including illness reporting obligations
- Basic cleaning and disinfection principles
Course Details
| |
| Level | Level 1 (RQF) |
| Format | Fully online, self-paced |
| Accreditation | Ofqual accredited, regulated by Qualifi |
| Certificate | Level 1 Award in Food Safety Essentials. PDF issued on completion |
| Assessment | Online assessment |
| Access | Immediate on enrolment, and compatible with all devices |
Certificate:
- PDF format certificates are issued as standard, as soon as you complete the course.
- Your certificate is valid for 3 years.
Course duration:
- Level 1 Award in Food Safety Essentials for Food Handlers
- This course will take the average learner around 1 hour to complete.
Test:
- This Level 1 Award in Food Safety course is tested online & you’ll need to gain a minimum of 75% to pass.
- You will undertake a multiple choice exam at the end of the course with short tests throughout to help cement your learning.
Pre-requisites:
- We recommend that you have a reasonable understanding of English & maths (e.g. GCSE grade D/Level 1) before undertaking this course.
- The course is suitable for anyone over 14 looking to gain a basic qualification in food safety.
Candidates:
- Purchase a place for yourself, or purchase a bundle for your colleagues.
Geographical coverage:
- The Level 1 Award in Food Safety course is available to candidates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- The qualification can be delivered in other countries however candidates should be aware that the content was developed in accordance with current UK practice, protocols & guidance.
Venue:
- This Level 1 Award in Food Safety course can be run on any electronic device, but we recommend that a laptop/desktop is used to ensure that you can see the screen clearly.
Joining instructions:
Links:
When You Need More Than Level 1
This Level 1 Award covers essentials for low-to-moderate risk environments. If your role involves preparing, cooking or serving food in a catering, hospitality or retail environment, you need the Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Cateringinstead. For supervisory, management or HACCP responsibilities, see the Level 3 Award in Food Safety for Supervisors.
Group Training & Corporate Enquiries
Do you need to train your team or purchase bulk licences? We provide flexible corporate options across our entire course catalogue to suit your organisation’s schedule and budget.
- Classroom & Blended Courses: Our expert instructors can travel directly to your venue to deliver private group training. Alternatively, we can host your team at our dedicated training centre in Knutsford. This is the most cost-effective route for group compliance.
- Online E-Learning Courses: We offer volume tier discounts for corporate clients purchasing multiple training seats. Our team handles the enrolment setup on our end to get your candidates registered quickly and seamlessly.
To arrange a private group session, discuss international travel logistics, or request a custom price breakdown for bulk e-learning licences, please visit our dedicated Corporate & Bespoke Training Quotations page.
What Happens After You Book?
We make the onboarding process completely frictionless. This allows you or your team to focus entirely on your training:
- Instant Email Confirmation: The moment you complete your booking, our system automatically delivers your order confirmation and receipt straight to your inbox.
- For Online & Blended Learning Elements: Following your order confirmation, our team will validate your booking and issue your unique access keys. We release these digital platform login details as quickly as possible during normal working hours. Once received, you can log in on any device and study entirely at your own pace.
- For Classroom & Practical Sessions: Most face-to-face courses begin promptly at 09:00am. We recommend arriving 15 minutes early to settle in. Please check your specific course description page for exact daytime run timings.
- All-Inclusive Transparent Pricing: The price you see covers your registration fees, official course textbooks (where applicable), examination materials, and final certificate processing. We never charge hidden additions.
Please visit our comprehensive Joining Instructions page to review specific venue directions, local parking options, and clothing recommendations for practical modules.
Get Notified of Upcoming Course Schedules
Course availability depends entirely on your chosen delivery method:
- Online E-Learning Courses: You do not need to choose a date. Following checkout, our team will validate your booking and issue your access keys as quickly as possible during working hours. You can then begin learning immediately.
- Classroom & Blended Courses: We regularly release new open-course dates throughout the month across our training centres. To view currently active schedules, simply scroll back to the top of this page and click the green “Choose an option” dropdown menu.
If our published diary dates do not match your setting’s availability, don’t worry. Drop your details into the contact form below. Our team will automatically notify you the moment our next block of course schedules goes live.
Why Choose Chris Garland Training?
Chris Garland Training is a multi-award-winning, ethical training provider. We operate on the principle of Honest Stewardship. We do not treat safety compliance as a corporate checkbox exercise. Instead, we view it as a vital investment in protecting human lives.
Accreditation & Authority
- Established Quality: We deliver expert safety training with a consistent 5-star rating from thousands of corporate and private clients.
- Certified Excellence: Our courses carry full backing and certification from Chris Garland Training alongside Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisations. They meet all Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Ofsted standards.
- Expert Instructors: Professionally qualified instructors deliver every session. They hold enhanced DBS certificates and undergo rigorous quality assurance monitoring.
Environmentally & Socially Responsible
Your booking actively advances global sustainability and supports critical humanitarian networks through our certified eco-partnerships:
- Global Reforestation: Every course place you book funds native tree planting across heavily deforested areas with JUST ONE Tree.
- Charity Support: We proudly co-fund the life-saving aviation networks of the North West Air Ambulance Charity.
- Ocean Cleanup: Your training helps purchase beach clean kits through our active association with Surfers Against Sewage.
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