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What is the BRC Gap Analysis Scheme?

The GAP Analysis Scheme specifically targets small to medium sized enterprises by helping to reduce costs incurred on their route to certification for BRC Global Standards.

Organisations often require certification against Global Standards set by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to qualify as suppliers to leading UK retailers. The process of achieving certification can often be technically intensive, time consuming and expensive for smaller businesses, thus limiting opportunities to increase their market share.

NQA’s GAP Analysis Scheme helps organisations to reduce the costs of system implementation and increase the certainty of success during their BRC certification audit. The GAP Analysis Scheme can be used to assess readiness for the following BRC standards:

Global Standard for Food Safety; Issue 5
Global Standards for Consumer Products; Issue 3
Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials; Issue 3
Global Standard for Storage and Distribution; Issue 1

Who is the GAP Analysis Scheme applicable to?

Organisations with up to 70 employees only
Organisations that are required by existing or potential customers to achieve BRC certification
Organisations looking to grow their market share within their respective industries
Organisations seeking certification to BRC Global Standards for the first time
Organisations that have a short to medium term plan for achieving BRC certification
Organisations that may have limited technical resources for system implementation.

Why use NQA for your GAP Analysis?

NQA is an accredited certification body, independent from consultancy
NQA GAP Analysis Assessors have contributed to the BRC standard
NQA have significantly reduced GAP analysis costs exclusively for SME’s to support economic growth within their respective industries.

What are the benefits of the Gap Analysis Scheme?

Knowing your organisation is ready for certification prior to your audit
Knowing you can effectively prioritise actions in preparation for certification
Knowing where to allocate resources in line with critical major and minor non conformities
Knowing you are achieving cost savings with a pre assessment rate exclusive to SME’s
Knowing you have access to a comprehensive management system status report
Knowing you have an expert perspective of your management system
Confidence in successful certification!

How the GAP Analysis Scheme works

The GAP Analysis Audit

A one day visit is carried out by an NQA Assessor to assess the readiness of an organisation prior to assessment against the relevant BRC Global Standard. The Assessor will:

Assess the compliance of your management system to the requirements of the relevant BRC Global Standard
Undertake sample audits of the processes and activities defined within the scope of your assessment
Document where your system complies with requirements for certification
Document any non compliances or potential for non compliances based on the evidence available on the day of the GAP Analysis Audit.

The GAP Analysis Report

A report confirming the readiness of an organisations management system prior to certification . A GAP Analysis report will:

Identify existing or potential non compliances against the requirements of the relevant BRC standard
Grade non conformities as critical, major or minor concerns to indicate where actions should be prioritised.
Provide the foundation for a corrective action plan

Who to Contact for information and bookings?

Yemi Shodipo, Food Sector Manager

Telephone 0843 318 3490 or email gapanalysis@nqa.com

Other Food Sector Management Systems NQA certify against:

For more information about the full portfolio of standards NQA are able to certify against please visit our website. Food Sector specific standards include those listed below:

FSSC 22000: 2010 Food Safety Systems Certification
ISO 22000: 2005 Food Safety Management System
HACCP: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point