Totrain

What Totrain does

Totrain is a UK-based private company founded in 1993 (per company history source) and headquartered in Stockton-on-Tees, providing expert-led virtual training and consultancy services to the food manufacturing, processing, and broader manufacturing sectors. Its core product is a portfolio of BRCGS-approved and RSPH-accredited courses — including BRCGS Sites Training, Lead Auditor, Internal Auditor, Risk Assessment, Root Cause Analysis, Validation & Verification, Vulnerability Assessment for Food Fraud, and Food Safety Culture — together with RSPH Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications in food safety and HACCP, plus allergen management and food defence training. Course fees range from £435 per delegate for single-day courses to £765 for two-day programs (plus VAT), with a BRCGS Professional bundle programme offering up to £1,000 in savings on multi-course enrollments.

The business operates a multi-brand architecture: totrain delivers training courses, toconsult provides tailored consultancy (gap analysis, HACCP plan development, vulnerability assessments, internal/supplier audits, BRCGS implementation), tocreate develops bespoke e-learning academies (e.g., MI Dickson), and tolearn is a software platform for training record management and food safety culture measurement using the proprietary 4C Food Safety Culture Model co-developed with the University of Sunderland. Revenue is generated primarily through per-delegate course fees, subscription-like bundle programmes, and professional services fees for consultancy work. Distribution is direct — website booking, phone/email sales, and a public training calendar — with no intermediaries. The customer base includes UK food manufacturers such as Greggs, Warburtons, Westland, Kersia, GS Fresh, Charlie Bighams, and Dicksons, alongside longer-tenured non-food clients including BSW Timber (~20 years) and Henderson Engineering (10 years). Leadership comprises John Husband (BRCGS Approved Principal Training Partner since 2002), Peter Henry (Consultant), and Helen Hood (Training Director), with a total headcount of 1–10 employees.

Name

Totrain

Legal name

Totrain

Website

https://totrain.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Totrain is a UK-based BRCGS-approved and RSPH-accredited virtual training and consultancy provider serving food manufacturers with food safety, HACCP, auditor, and BRCGS courses, bundled professional programmes, and tailored consultancy via its toconsult brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Safety Training and Consultancy

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Training & Competency Programs (Food Safety, HACCP, PCQI, Internal Auditor) (AFALANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Safety & Workplace Sanitation (HACCP, Hygiene) (EDABAEAN), Pre-Assessment, Gap Assessment & Certification Readiness Services (AFALACAE), Food Safety Training & Competency Programs (HACCP, Preventive Controls) (AFALAAAN)

Keywords

• Food safety training
• BRCGS certification courses
• RSPH accredited qualifications
• HACCP plan development
• Food safety consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockton-on-tees

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Training Courses: Revenue generated from delivering BRCGS, RSPH, HACCP, and food safety training courses both virtually and in-person. Courses are priced per delegate with published pricing for public courses and custom pricing for enterprise engagements.
2. Consultancy Services: Tailored consultancy services including gap analysis, HACCP plan development, vulnerability assessments, internal and supplier audits, and BRC Global Standards implementation support. Provided through the toconsult brand.
3. BRCGS Professional Programme: Comprehensive professional development programme comprising multiple courses across three core areas (BRCGS Standards, Hazard & Risk Management, Product Safety Management). Discounts available for bundled bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Totrain provides expert-led virtual and classroom training courses (BRCGS-approved and RSPH-accredited), a structured BRCGS Professional development programme, and tailored food safety consultancy services (gap analysis, HACCP plan development, vulnerability assessments, audits, BRCGS implementation) for food manufacturing companies. It also operates the tolearn training management platform for compliance tracking and food safety culture measurement using the proprietary 4C model.

Product overview

Totrain is a virtual training and food safety solutions provider offering expert-led live online courses for food industry teams. The portfolio consists of BRCGS-approved training courses (Sites Training, Lead Auditor, Internal Auditor, Risk Assessment, Root Cause Analysis, Validation & Verification, Vulnerability Assessment for Food Fraud, and Food Safety Culture), RSPH-accredited qualifications (Level 3 and Level 4 Awards in Food Safety and HACCP), allergen management, food defence & vulnerability training, and a BRCGS Professional Programme (a structured pathway combining BRCGS Standards, Hazard & Risk Management, and Product Safety Management courses). Additionally, toConsult provides tailored consultancy services including gap analysis, HACCP plan development, prerequisite programme reviews, vulnerability assessments, internal/supplier audits, and BRC Global Standards implementation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• toconsult: Tailored consultancy services by food industry experts covering gap analysis, HACCP plans, vulnerability assessments, internal and supplier audits, food fraud prevention, and BRC Global Standards implementation.
• tolearn

Products and services

• BRCGS Approach to Food Safety Culture Training course aligned with BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9, covering organisational values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours for food safety culture.
• BRCGS Internal Auditor (Issue 9) Internal auditor training for BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 compliance, for food industry internal audit teams.
• BRCGS Lead Auditor (Issue 9) Five-day lead auditor course for BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 certification, for prospective third-party and lead auditors.
• BRCGS Risk Assessment Risk assessment training course for food safety management within the BRCGS framework.
• BRCGS Root Cause Analysis Root cause analysis training for identifying underlying causes of non-conformities in food safety systems.
• BRCGS Sites Training (Issue 9) Two-day virtual training course covering BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 requirements and audit preparation.
• BRCGS Validation and Verification Validation and verification training for ensuring food safety plans meet BRCGS requirements.
• Vulnerability Assessment for Food Fraud (VACCP) VACCP training for identifying and mitigating food fraud risks in supply chains.
• RSPH Level 3 Award in Food Safety for Food Manufacturing RSPH-accredited Level 3 qualification for food safety practices in manufacturing environments.
• RSPH Level 3 Award in Understanding How to Develop a HACCP Plan RSPH-accredited Level 3 qualification covering HACCP plan development principles.
• RSPH Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety and Hygiene (Manufacturing) RSPH-accredited advanced Level 4 qualification for managing food safety and hygiene systems in manufacturing.
• RSPH Level 4 Award in Managing the HACCP System RSPH-accredited Level 4 qualification for managing HACCP systems in food businesses.
• Allergen Management Allergen awareness and management training for food handlers and managers.
• Food Defence and Vulnerability (TACCP) TACCP training covering food defence strategies and vulnerability assessments.
• Level 3 Food Safety Refresher Refresher training for Level 3 food safety practices in food manufacturing.
• Level 3 HACCP Refresher Refresher training for HACCP principles and implementation.
• BRCGS Professional Programme Structured professional development programme for food safety managers combining BRCGS Standards, Hazard and Risk Management, and Product Safety Management courses, leading to BRCGS Professional qualification with up to £1000 savings on bundled bookings.
• toConsult Food Safety Consultancy Tailored consultancy services covering gap analysis, HACCP plan development, prerequisite programme reviews, vulnerability assessments, internal and supplier audits, food fraud prevention, and BRC Global Standards implementation.
• tolearn Training Management Platform Food safety management platform for employee training records, compliance tracking, and food safety culture measurement using the proprietary 4C model, designed to keep companies audit-ready.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained thousands of employees across the food industry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of SunderlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership with University of Sunderland, specifically with Associate Professor Derek Watson, for developing the 4C Food Safety Culture Model. This partnership has produced proprietary content and tools for measuring and improving food safety culture in food manufacturing organisations.
• Campden BRIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent partnership for developing video series covering cleaning principles and practices for food manufacturing. Campden BRI developed informative video content that totrain distributes through their resources platform.
• Scotland Food & DrinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering additional discounts on BRCGS Professional programme for Scotland Food & Drink members.
• ToConsultcoreOthersInternal brand providing tailored consultancy services including gap analysis, HACCP plans, vulnerability assessments, and BRC Global Standards implementation. Part of the totrain service offering.
• ToCreateminorOthersInternal brand focused on e-learning academy development, such as the MI Dickson e-learning academy project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DNV: DNV delivers food safety management training, BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 courses to manufacturers globally. Directly comparable in offering and customer base to totrain's training catalogue.
• Highfield Qualifications: Highfield is a UK awarding body that issues regulated food-safety qualifications and supports approved training centres. Competes with totrain's RSPH-accredited Level 3/4 food safety and HACCP awards in the UK market.
• NSF International: NSF is a global food safety training, certification and auditing organisation that delivers BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and HACCP courses to food manufacturers. Directly comparable as a food-safety training provider serving the same enterprise buyer base as totrain.
• LRQA (Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance): LRQA is a BRCGS-recognised training provider delivering food safety, lead auditor and HACCP courses to manufacturers. Overlaps directly with totrain's BRCGS and ISO training portfolio and target buyer.
• Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL): RSSL is a UK food science services provider offering training courses in food safety, HACCP, auditing and quality management for manufacturers. Directly competes with totrain on UK food-safety training calendar slots.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: SGS is one of the world's largest testing, inspection and certification companies with a dedicated food safety training portfolio including BRCGS and HACCP courses. It competes with totrain across certification training while also offering broader TIC services.
• Intertek: Intertek provides food safety auditing, certification and training as part of a global TIC portfolio. Competes with totrain on BRCGS certification training while leveraging a much broader assurance platform.
• Eurofins: Eurofins is a global food testing and certification group that offers food-safety training and consultancy alongside its laboratory network. Overlaps with totrain on training content while operating at materially larger scale.

Others

• BRCGS: BRCGS is the standards body behind the Global Standard for Food Safety and also delivers its own training and Approved Training Partner programme. Relevant as the ecosystem anchor whose certification scheme drives totrain's core demand.

Regional players

• Campden BRI: Campden BRI is a UK-based food and drink research organisation that delivers technical and food-safety training and is also a named content partner of totrain. Comparable as a UK-rooted food industry training provider, though it leans more heavily on applied research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/totrain-uk
• Xx.com/totrainuk

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Totrain