Choose health awards 2006

An award scheme for catering businesses in Plymouth to show that they value the health of their customers.

Choose Plymouth, choose health

The quality of the food we eat and the air we breathe are huge factors that affect the health of your customers. There is more awareness among the general public now about the benefits of healthy lifestyles and the choices that consumers make.

Catering businesses and food outlets play an important role in efforts to improve the health of residents and visitors.

People who eat out in Plymouth should be able to do so, confident that their food is prepared, cooked and served in a clean and safe environment. Catering businesses want customers to enjoy their food to establish customer loyalty and build a good reputation.

What is the choose health award and why should businesses apply?

We hope that businesses sign up to this award scheme as a clear way of showing they recognise the important role they play in providing tasty, healthy food.

There are three separate awards and businesses can apply for one, two or all three. These are:

• Healthy eating
• Safe eating
• Smoke freedom

Customers will know that the businesses taking part in the award scheme have been assessed by an independent, professional public health worker and that the food is safe and has been prepared and cooked in a hygienic way.

Our research confirmed that most people consider environmental health standards a significant factor when deciding where to buy food or dine out. As well as being a legal responsibility, which the business owner must be concerned with, environmental health standards can be regarded as a plus factor to generate business and improve reputation. By meeting your legal duties and showing your high standards to the general public, everyone’s a winner.

Who can apply for the award?

This award scheme is open to catering businesses in Plymouth including pubs, hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops and takeaways. Businesses can apply for whichever of the three categories is most relevant to them and there’s no limit on how many categories are entered.

The initial award is free of charge but there will be a charge for inclusion in the Guidebook to Healthy Eating in Plymouth, to be published after the initial launch of the award scheme.

What do award holders get?

• An attractive window sticker and award certificate to show customers that the business owner values their health and can offer safe and healthy food in a healthy environment
• Qualification for a place in the Guidebook to healthy eating in Plymouth
• Access to a technical helpline

Can the award be taken away or transferred to another business owner?

To establish public confidence, the credibility of the award scheme relies on standards of excellence being maintained. Award holders will be ambassadors for good health practice.

If changes to the business means the criteria of the awards cannot be met, then it can be withdrawn.

The commitment of the business to maintaining high standards starts on receipt of the award. It remains valid for as long as standards are maintained. If the business is sold or moves premises then a new application for the award scheme is required.

Any change of owner, or other major changes to the business must be notified to the Council.

Can I appeal against a decision not to grant an award?

If following an assessment, an award is not given then a business has an opportunity to challenge that decision to the partnership panel. If dissatisfied with the outcome of this representation, the business can make a complaint through the Council complaints procedure.

If you would like further information about this scheme or advice on how a business could make changes to qualify for the scheme please contact us.

What do I need to do to qualify for an award?

• What do I need to do to qualify for a healthy eating award?
• What do I need to do to qualify for a safe eating award?
• What do I need to do to qualify for a smoke freedom award?

Documents

To view these documents you might need to download some software. Visit our downloads page for more information.

Application form - Choose health award 2006 application form. File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 43KB

[Back to top]