Alehm takes the pressure from local authorities

Alehm, in partnership with the CIEH, is close to completing the project to assist boroughs to transfer from the London Scores on the Doors scheme to the FSA National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in time for the Games in July 2012.

Initially 19 boroughs participated, with a further three joining towards the end of March 2012. The project has proved very successful, with the Alehm and CIEH team able to co-ordinate an effective and efficient project delivery, avoiding the public and business queries and subsequent disruption within local authorities which is often associated with the implementation of major policy changes of this type.

Boroughs received individual grants to carry out work required to their in-house procedures, and the Alehm team were funded to coordinate the bulk mailing providing a manned a phone and e-mail contact point to handle the hundreds of general enquiries received from food businesses across the capital. This left the borough teams free to concentrate on the running of the new system, and minimised the disruption and effect on their local operations.

The few inevitable problems that emerged were dealt with quickly and effectively and the transfer has been achieved at a very busy time for local authorities as we move towards Games time.

In total, 30 of the 33 London boroughs have transferred or are in the process of transferring to the FSA supported scheme and a London wide consumer launch of the project is planned for early July, when the FSA app to access FHRS published information will also be released to the public for the first time.

Steve Miller, chair of Alehm commented ...

We are very pleased with the success of this project and we hope that this will be the first of many future projects that Alehm will coordinate on behalf of its membership.