About this course
About this course
This advanced Level 4 qualification covers HACCP and food safety at the depth expected of HACCP team leaders, technical managers and senior quality professionals. The programme goes beyond Level 3 into the advanced hazard analysis, verification and management system skills needed to take full ownership of a food safety programme.
Who should attend
The course is designed for technical managers, quality managers, HACCP team leaders, senior production managers and consultants supporting multiple client sites. It is equally suitable for staff progressing from Level 3 into senior technical responsibility and for experienced practitioners who need a formal Level 4 qualification to match their current role. Delegates preparing to lead HACCP team work or to take the lead on customer and certification audits typically find the programme directly applicable to daily practice.
What the programme covers
Content works through advanced hazard analysis, including emerging hazards, hazard characterisation and quantitative risk assessment techniques. Sessions cover advanced HACCP plan design, CCP validation and verification at depth, the interface between HACCP and wider quality and food safety management systems, supplier and raw material risk assessment, and the management of change control across complex manufacturing environments. The programme gives substantial attention to HACCP team leadership, including running effective review meetings, managing challenge from senior managers and auditors, and maintaining the independence of the HACCP decision-making process.
Assessment and certification
Delegates complete a written examination and a practical assignment. A pass earns a Level 4 certificate of achievement, recognised as senior-level evidence of HACCP and food safety competence across manufacturing, retail and consultancy.
Course format and delivery
The programme runs as a live virtual classroom across multiple sessions, allowing time for delegates to work through the assignment components between teaching days. Delivery combines methodology teaching with case study discussion, worked hazard analysis exercises and structured peer review of assignment drafts.
Why this matters
Level 4 HACCP is the recognised qualification for senior technical responsibility across the food manufacturing sector. Delegates who complete the programme lead HACCP team work more confidently, handle complex hazard analysis questions without external support and contribute more strategically to the wider quality and food safety agenda. The qualification is also increasingly specified for senior technical manager roles and supports professionals competing for technical director positions. The course pairs naturally with the BRCGS HACCP programme for sites working to that Standard, the HARA programme for broader risk framework capability, and the Food Safety Issue 9 Sites Training for staff responsible for wider BRCGS certification. Those progressing into audit work often add the Effective Auditing and Inspection Level 3 programme.
Explore the full STC courses and training range or see the complete catalogue of food safety programmes for related options.
