Jonathan Hayes

Jonathan Hayes, a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner with a distinguished career in both local government and commercial sectors, is a passionate advocate for the Safe to Trade initiative. Working for a leading restaurant group and a former Trustee of the CIEH, Jonathan brings a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to food safety and sustainability.

Jonathan’s passion for Safe to Trade is driven by his extensive experience in environmental health and his dedication to upholding the highest standards of food safety. He recognises the importance of a standardised approach to food hygiene and safety audits that can provide consistency and clarity, reducing the reliance on individual auditors’ professional judgment. For Jonathan, Safe to Trade represents a groundbreaking solution that can revolutionise food safety practices and enhance compliance across the industry.

In his role within the Safe to Trade initiative, Jonathan is eager to contribute to the governance of technical standards by applying his comprehensive knowledge and leadership skills. He envisions a robust framework that not only aligns with the best practices of the law in the catering sector but also adapts to the changing needs of the industry. Jonathan’s goal is to ensure that the Safe to Trade standard becomes a benchmark for food safety audits worldwide, providing a reliable and transparent system for both consumers and food business operators (FBOs).

The benefits of the Safe to Trade scheme resonate deeply with Jonathan. For consumers, Safe to Trade offers the assurance that the food establishments they choose adhere to rigorous hygiene and safety standards, building trust and confidence. For FBOs, the scheme provides a demonstrable way to show legal compliance, build a strong due diligence defence, reduce insurance costs, and minimise the likelihood of food safety contraventions. Jonathan is passionate about the scheme’s potential enable local authorities to allocate their resources effectively allowing for improvement in food safety standards across the board and potentially globally as the scheme offer the potential to be transformative elevating food safety standards and reducing foodborne disease worldwide.

In conclusion, Jonathan Hayes’ dedication to food safety and sustainability, combined with his passion for Safe to Trade, make him a pivotal figure in the initiative. His vision, expertise, and commitment will play a crucial role in shaping the technical standards and ensuring the success of the scheme in improving food safety standards locally and globally.