About this course
About this course
The BRCGS Ethical Trade and Responsible Sourcing (ETRS) Programme is a structured certification scheme covering ethical trade, worker welfare and responsible sourcing. This two-day virtual programme teaches site teams how to interpret and evidence every clause of Issue 2.1 of the Standard.
Who should attend
The course is designed for ethical trade managers, HR business partners, sustainability leads, compliance managers and senior site leadership. It is equally relevant to consultants supporting clients through ETRS certification and to social audit professionals expanding their scope. Staff at sites preparing for a first ethical trade certification, and at sites moving from a SMETA-only framework to a more structured certification programme, find the content especially valuable. Brand-owner ethical trade specialists responsible for supplier approval and sustainability reporting also attend to build first-hand understanding of the Standard clauses.
What the programme covers
Sessions cover the scope and requirements of the Programme, senior management commitment, the ethical trade management system, worker welfare provisions, supplier assurance and responsible sourcing controls, site facilities, communication channels and grievance mechanisms. Time is given to the particular challenges of evidencing culture and worker voice, which are among the hardest clauses to audit convincingly. The programme addresses the interface between ETRS certification and wider obligations under modern slavery legislation, the structure of effective grievance mechanisms for mixed-language workforces, and the documentation that supports credible responsible sourcing claims for raw materials sourced from elevated-risk geographies.
Assessment and certification
A written exam at the end of day two confirms competence. Delegates who pass receive the official BRCGS Certificate of Achievement, widely recognised across ethical trade programmes as evidence of training.
Course format and delivery
The programme runs over two consecutive days in a live virtual format with a BRCGS Approved trainer. Sessions combine clause-level teaching with worked examples from real ETRS certifications, anonymised where necessary. Delegates receive supporting materials and example procedures for use after the programme.
Why this matters
Ethical trade is increasingly central to retailer supplier onboarding and sustainability reporting, particularly in the wake of modern slavery legislation across major markets. A team trained on the Standard handles customer audits and certification visits with substantially less friction and supports the wider sustainability agenda. The programme also reduces the operational cost of responding to customer-specific ethical trade questionnaires, many of which map directly to the Standard. The course is often taken alongside the Food Safety Issue 9 Sites Training for food manufacturing sites extending into ethical certification, or the Consumer Products Sites Training for non-food manufacturers. For audit leads, the Internal Auditor qualification complements the Sites Training, and the ETRS Auditor Training programme provides progression into formal audit work.
Explore the full BRCGS courses and training catalogue for related programmes or read the latest news on ethical trade and responsible sourcing.
