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Support we offer to businesses

We are here to help you to comply with consumer protection laws and to help give your customers confidence. We offer a range of services to help you and your business to do this.

Get free guidance on trading standards law

This is a free website run by the Trading Standards Institute, which offers free and comprehensive guidance on trading standards law. The website is sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade.

Price, including VAT: Free

Visit the Business Companion website.

Get advice from a Trading Standards professional

We offer 30 minutes of business advice, via email or telephone, with an experienced Trading Standards professional; they can help with any queries you may have, from labelling confusion to product safety.

All advice will be specifically tailored to your needs, covering only what you need to know. We can help you to:

  • enhance consumer confidence in your business or products
  • get practical, professional help directly from those responsible for enforcing the law
  • avoid costly systems and processes that go further than you need, or the law requires

You can apply for this service using the online Bite-sized application form.

Price, including VAT: £54 per half-hour (charged in half-hour slots)

Get an on-site audit of your business

The Business Health Check is a comprehensive and tailored audit that covers all aspects of trading standards law, including legal requirements, systems and processes to provide assurance you're compliant.

One of our experienced and qualified Trading Standards officers will conduct an on-site audit of your business, providing you with practical and bespoke support, as well as an accessible written report afterwards.

The Business Health Check is for all businesses, regardless of sector or size, but may be of particular interest to new businesses, small or medium food producers, motor traders, or those businesses involved in the manufacture or import of heavily regulated goods.

Price, including VAT: £265 (for two hours)

Additional services

There are a number of other services that can be included as part of the Business Health Check, for an additional fee. These include:

  • Submission of food samples for analysis, with support interpreting the results
  • Submission of products for safety testing against British and European standards
  • Testing of specific weights and measures equipment
  • Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) audit, training and plan creation (for agricultural businesses)

You can apply for this service using the online Business Health Check application form.

Become a Primary Authority Partner

A Primary Authority Partnership allows businesses to enter into agreement with us as a Council, to assure your regulatory practices and procedures, along with providing essential advice and guidance.

This partnership can reduce regulatory burdens and compliance costs for your business, while providing a single point of access for your company for regulatory matters.

It is ideal for businesses with a company base in Bath and North East Somerset, or for industry trade associations. By acting as a single point of contact, we can simplify regulatory processes for your business, improve the standards and competitiveness of your company, help your economic growth and reduce inspections, requests and checks on your business nationally.

Read more information on Primary Authority Partnerships, from the Department for Business and Trade.

If you would like to enter a Primary Authority Partnership with us, please phone 01225 396759 or email B&NES Business Support.

Price, including VAT: £600 (setup), then £85 per hour (advice) (Option 1) OR £1,800 (setup, plus 17 hours advice), then £85 per hour (advice) (Option 2)