About Us
Axtell Food Safety
Axtell Food Safety (formerly Kent Food Safety & Ford Training) was founded in 2006 by David Axtell. We provide a range of accredited food safety, health & safety, HACCP and Allergens training wherever you are.
We also provide food safety audits to food businesses, which provide an independent assessment of your food safety practices. We pride ourselves on running fun, interactive training sessions, using things such as; an ultraviolet handwash demo/practical, dead food pests, card games & quizzes to bring your courses to life. All courses can either be run online with Zoom, or at your premises. Please contact us to discuss your own requirements.
Why choose Axtell Food Safety?
By using Axtell Food Safety, you will get:
– all courses are run by qualified trainers who are Environmental Health Practitioners
– our auditors and trainers have practical experience within the food industry
– all of our courses, whether remotely on Zoom or at your premises, are interactive, relevant, engaging, and fun
– all courses can be run at a time to suit you, including evenings and weekends
– our Highfield Qualifications courses are regulated qualifications and so recognised by enforcement authorities
– our courses are recognised by MCA and so suitable for those working at sea
-our courses are brought to life using real life examples and case studies, with chance to ask any questions
Our interactive training
We use a range of teaching methods and training aids to ensure the training is memorable and effective. We use quizzes, card games, sample questions, group work and case studies. Ultraviolet handwashing experiments are used to demonstrate effective handwashing
Meet the Team
Dave Axtell
Dave AxtellOwner / Lead Trainer
Whilst running an accredited Highfield Qualifications training centre, David teaches subjects including health and safety, food hygiene, risk assessment & haccp in care homes, pubs, restaurants, takeaways, schools, gyms, hotels, bakeries, nurseries, people working at sea and for contract catering companies. Having now trained well over 2000 accredited courses in a range of subjects, David has more than enough experience to make even the most tedious course interesting!
Having a first class honours Environmental Health degree and NEBOSH National General Certificate, David also carries out safety audits in the UK and abroad for national and international Caterers, Retailers, Hotel brands and Restaurant chains.
“After working in catering for 16 years,” says David, “I have sat through many courses – some good, some not so good. Since becoming a trainer I have been determined to make sure that all courses I run are interactive, fun, relevant, and informative, not the ‘very long, boring day’ which some courses can turn into.”
David’s experience includes:
- 6 years Kitchen Manager and Chef Trainer experience for branded restaurants: setting up, recruiting, training staff and food safety audits for new and existing pub restaurants.
- 10 years chef experience in care homes, contract catering, restaurants and pubs.
- Check out my LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidaxtell1/
Calvin Hanks
Calvin HanksSafety Trainer
Having trained as a chef then undertaken what was the HCIMA professional exams, Calvin moved in hotel food and beverage then General Management. He has run multiple catering and hospitality businesses and likes to keep hands on in the kitchen. To complement his MSc in hospitality management, he is currently working on the dissertation to achieve an MSc in Environmental Health.
Calvin has a wealth of experience in event management and is ideally palced to run a range of food safety and health and safety courses, and carries out food safety audits.
Mark Coates
Mark CoatesSafety Trainer
Mark was an accomplished General Manager who has 20 years’ experience in all aspects of the hospitality industry both in the UK and the USA. He worked for Pizza Hut and Mongolian Barbeque UK before taking his skills to the USA for 7 years to help Mongolian Barbeque US implement their expansion programme.
He has also worked for Holiday Inn (U.S), The Palm Restaurant Group (New York), Austin Grill (U.S) and Henley Regatta, to name a few. With Marks experience, his courses are always well received, being well placed to speak from experience. Marks runs Food Safety courses, along with Health & Safety, Manual Handling, and COSHH.
Nick Dore
Nick DoreSafety Trainer
I am currently delivering bespoke training courses and Highfield Qualifications courses.
I am approved to deliver Level 2 – 4 Food Safety, Level 3 – 4 Health and Safety, and Level 3 Award in Food Allergen Management for Caterers.
I have worked as a food safety advisor and trainer since 2003. I hold a Certificate in Education (Level 5 training qualification) and prior to this I managed pubs and restaurants.
We work with hundreds of companies
from smaller aspirational businesses to some of the most respected global brands.
Industries we cover
We are happy to tailor any of these qualifications to include your businesses policies.
Cafes & Takeaways
Care Settings & Hospitals
Childcare Settings
Schools & Universities
Groups & Churches
Food Manufacturers
Golf Clubs, Hotels & Spas
Event Catering
Pub & Restaurant Groups
Food Retailers
Super Yachts & Ships
Pubs & Restaurants
Give us a call on 01843 482252 to find out more or to make a booking
What people say about us
Don’t just take our word for it – here are just some of the lovely messages we receive
“Feedback from our staff included, ‘The enthusiasm of the trainer and laid back approach which enabled me to take more in’.”
“We chose Axtell Food Safety for their expertise, and will definitely be using them again in the future.“
“The course was extremely relevant to our business and the staff enjoyed it, I will definitely use Axtell Food Safety again”
Facebook Reviews
Béatrice Travis
2022-07-28T06:02:03+0000
Thanks Dave - easy to follow and injects some humour into the course. Simple set up if you are busy and exam is quick... and easy to pass 🙂read more
Gina Zerman
2022-06-14T15:24:25+0000
I 10/10 recommend Dave for any food safety related qualifications. It’s a simple process, offered online for busy,... abroad customers and educational but not boring! Dave is very attentive and helpful with any queries & explains in an easy to understand manner. Do yourself a favour!read more
Valentina Pantani
2022-05-12T04:18:25+0000
Well done Dave!Dave is very professional and he really enjoys doing this course,he is most of all very patient to... explain everything whoever is not mother tongue.Thanks Dave,it was great to meet you!😁read more
Essie Busuttil
2022-04-22T15:27:34+0000
I recommend Axtell. Very well explained and very professional. Thanks again. Essie
Ivana Dujmović
2022-04-21T12:16:08+0000
Great course, great teacher Dave!
After all of this - You can do everything! 💪🏻😎
Exam is piece of cake (not... contaminated).🍰😜read more
Ellie Louise
2022-02-12T17:58:53+0000
The course was delivered at a good pace and they were really helpful and responsive to questions. Would definitely... recommend!read more
Chacha Chacha
2021-12-29T13:29:33+0000
I have done my Food level2 absolutely fantastic answering all questions.
3 different nationality at the same time what... ever is your mother tongue it's just common sense. Thanks 👍 😊read more
Victor Huertas Garberi
2021-12-01T00:40:49+0000
Great experience on my level 2 hygiene and safety course.
straight forward material and exercises.
online assessment... was easy to set up and didn't give me any problems.read more
Vitalijs Golovkovs
2021-11-15T20:15:07+0000
Everything was perfect! Dave the instructor explained and answered on all questions that I've had! He's job was good,... so I passed the exams quickly. For sure its a good option, for anyone who is looking to make the certificates! Well done and thank you.read more
Colleen Beach
2021-10-06T08:28:39+0000
I highly recommend Axtell Food Safety, particularly to any working professionals with schedule constraints and those in... the maritime industry in need of an MCA-approved Food Safety course. The course content and format was very clear, thorough, and organized. The instructor was friendly, informative, and easy to understand. The flexibility of course times was so helpful. The content and discussions all flowed very well. I am a Chief Stewardess aboard a very busy motor yacht, currently based in New Zealand; I scoured the internet trying to find MCA-approved online Food Safety courses, suitable to individuals who work full-time in time zones outside of the EU. Axtell Food Safety was the only provider I found that offered multiple courses suitable to my time zone and busy work schedule. Regardless of the matter, I was very pleased with my experience overall. Thank you!read more
Noemi Alexandra Farkas
2021-06-11T10:01:47+0000
Excellent course. David was very helpful , responsive and knowledgeable. Was a pleasure doing the course with him.... Highly recommend!read more
Lara Moreira
2021-05-13T10:22:50+0000
Dave was super responsive and accommodating. The course was exactly what I expected and at the end felt prepared for... the exam. Highly recommendread more
Molli Szabó
2021-05-11T08:27:21+0000
This is a very interesting course! I only can recommended it! David is a very prepared teacher, I really liked the way... of his teaching. May other course are boring, but NOT this one!
Thank you for everything, I learnt a lot! Keep going! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼read more
Melissa Gelling
2021-05-10T12:53:29+0000
The food and safety level 2 course was really good and we covered all topics. They really relaxed and welcoming.
Cristina Patubo-Jacquemin
2021-05-08T16:22:08+0000
Dave is very pleasing and welcoming. The course is informative
Holly Manton
2021-04-23T20:28:01+0000
Very informative and easy to follow. Wasn’t sure what to expect but the zoom call was engaging and Dave made us all... feel welcome ☺️ Would recommend to everyoneread more
Eva De Wilde
2021-04-13T09:32:23+0000
Highly recommended online course! Dave is an excellent tutor who made me feel secure in doing the examination. Thanks... Dave 🙏read more
Tiffani Kalyvakis
2021-04-13T06:06:03+0000
During covid times, Axtell Food Safety has offered the most efficient way to still take food safety courses anywhere in... the world with all the help and guidance you need. Thank you Dave Axtell for the great webinar!read more
Macey Koeppen
2021-04-07T19:51:31+0000
I highly recommend taking the Food & Hygiene Level 2 course through Axtell with Dave. Being able to take the course... online was great and it was a cost effective option compared to a lot of the other courses out there. Dave kept the course lighthearted and interesting! Leaving the four hour course, I felt very confident in my ability to take the exam. Thanks Dave and Axtell Food Safety!read more
Nicola Lehmann
2021-04-07T08:27:54+0000
Highly recommend taking the food hygiene L2 course. Being able to take the course online is great. Dave and his team... are professional with sending you all the information you need from start to finish, making sure there is no room for uncertainty. Zoom class was great with Dave keeping it light hearted and interesting, getting to know each person and making sure we were all comfortable with the pace and information. As well as making sure we were confident for the exam.read more
Olivia Rancourt
2021-04-06T22:29:13+0000
The course has an abundance of useful information about food safety. Dave was awesome and very helpful! Would highly... recommend to anyone who needs the food & hygiene safety course, to take it here!read more
Emily Grace Morgan
2021-04-01T17:03:50+0000
I highly recommend taking Dave's course. It was pleasant and he makes it easy to learn and understand clearly. 10/10
Georgia Harwood
2021-04-01T14:34:37+0000
The online course was very informative with lots of useful information to help you really understand how to implement... food safety skills in to the work place. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to do their level 2!read more
Russell Draper
2021-04-01T12:12:16+0000
Enjoyed level 3 online with Axtell Food Safety, underwritten by Highfield and recognized by the MCA. Dave’s super... knowledgeable and approached the topics with ease, humor and relevance. Highly recommended!read more
Shalaw Salihi
2021-03-29T14:49:53+0000
Level 3 allergen management course, very effective and efficient way of training. Knowledgeable and informative and... able to tailor the conversation to different sectors. Great resources provided pre course and links to reputable sources of information for future reference. I will definitely choose Axtell Food Safety for future training requirementsread more
Billie Wilson
2021-03-29T13:56:35+0000
Very easy and efficient way to do the Level 2 Food Safety course. Dave was understanding and checked that we were... following and was quick to help out with any issues or questions. MCA approved certificate received a few hours after the exam! Would recommend 👍🏼read more
Millie Strath
2021-03-05T14:52:43+0000
Dave was brilliant made the course interesting and easy to follow, spoke to each of the participants regularly to check... we were all following and understood before completing the exam. Highly recommended!read more
Melissa Bradley
2021-03-01T11:28:25+0000
I done the Food & Hygiene L2 catering course and I’m very happy I done it with Axtell, the day wasn’t boring and we had... a laugh! Everything explain was easy to understand and information was very accessible. I highly recommend Axtell food Safety to anyone who is unsure what company to got with, you won’t be disappointed.read more
Zana Maric
2021-02-26T15:53:07+0000
Dave is great and the course Food and Hygiene lvl 2 is done in a very professional way. Highly recommend!
Maša Đorić
2021-02-18T15:27:31+0000
I highly recommend the level 2 Award in food and safety course. Dave is very professional and provides a great training... and assistance.read more
Giacomo Seregni
2021-02-12T15:07:17+0000
Super traning !!! Dave is frendly and Passionate. It follows you in all the steps and is Able to tranforming booring... staff to Interesting topics...
Recomandet!!!!!
Bravo!read more
Sarah Manig
2021-02-12T05:05:45+0000
I found the process extremely easy going and Dave was friendly, engaging and professional. Highly recommend
Estelita Dandy
2021-02-11T23:12:45+0000
I really enjoyed the level 2 Food safety course. David is an awesome instructor, he made sure to explain everything... well which made it so much easier for me. I would 100% recommend his course, it’s worth it!read more
Georgia Dillion
2021-02-09T11:55:28+0000
I highly recommend the Level 2 Award in Food Safety course it's Great and informative course. Dave is very... professional, and makes everything really easy to understand!! 🙂read more
Benedek Noémi
2021-02-07T18:04:06+0000
Great, fantastic and informativ course. Dave is very professional. I highly recommend the Level 2 Award in Food Safety... course for anyone looking to qualify in the Yachting Industry!🛥 Many thanks!😊read more
Hannah Mizal
2021-02-01T22:10:31+0000
Dave is a great instructor with the Level 2 Award in Food Safety course. Very informative and done professionally. I... highly recommend this course to anyone looking to qualify in the food industry field and especially for the yachting industry.read more
Massimiliano Cervi
2021-01-29T17:50:20+0000
Great service, training, assistance during all the setting up for the exam.
Highly advised.
Fraser Mckendry
2021-01-29T15:34:51+0000
Very easy course to follow, even for those not too good on computers, would highly recommend thank you very much 👍👍👍
Elliott Pearse
2021-01-27T23:23:14+0000
David’s very approachable and good at making you few comfortable. Very good course easy going and very informative... would recommend to anyone.read more
J-Mae Sands
2021-01-25T14:05:48+0000
Fantastic and informative course! Definitely recommend.
Dave was great to deal with and his response time to emails was... really quick if I ever had any questionsread more
Katie Kendrick
2021-01-24T21:13:35+0000
A fantastic course - Interactive, insightful and informative! Would highly recommend!
Gaz Stevens
2021-01-20T11:41:55+0000
A well structured course that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
Lindi Whitfield
2021-01-20T11:01:43+0000
It is a very well presented course, with good course material. There is excellent tech support to help with any... issues. The best part is you don’t have to travel anywhere and can get it done at home! I highly recommend this over any other course.read more
Maggie Bucci
2020-12-06T14:42:02+0000
David was a great facilitator of this course and delivered the content in such a way that I felt engaged and easily... developed an understanding of the course content and its importance. I would highly recommend David's course to anyone considering it.read more
Charlotte Hegarty
2020-11-29T07:29:17+0000
Excellent course, not only for job purposes but every day. The course was very easy to follow and the zoom is very... interactive making it interesting.read more
Ally Bates
2020-11-27T15:33:37+0000
Highly recommend! Dave was very thorough and even though the exam was online it was so easy to follow!
Kate White
2020-11-22T16:53:21+0000
Really would recommend Dave’s course it’s was thorough with great communication and easy to follow considering it was... online! Would recommend to all thinking of doing it thank you againread more
Elena Christiansen
2020-10-20T16:17:15+0000
Just did the course for Food Safety with Axtell and it a great additional knowledge and certificate!
The course is well... organized, personalized (even with COVID), and the exam was also well prepared.
I recommend it for all the chefs!read more
Gigi Anne Rose
2020-10-20T00:31:31+0000
Dave’s course was really thorough and he is extremely helpful ! He’s a great teacher and turned around a bad experience... I had with another company. I couldn’t recommend his class more and he made it possible to get the certification I was looking for through these tough times! Thanks again Dave!read more
Emily Alice Booth
2020-10-15T18:12:25+0000
Excellent course with an even more excellent tutor!
The materials sent out were really informative, and sent as soon... as booked which was ideal if you want to print out in advance.
The delivery of the class was excellent, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The course being remote made no difference to the level of learning, I was engaged throughout the entire course.
The exam being done remotely was easy to set up and follow instructions, and Dave was extremely helpful and contactable when I had a few issues!
MCA approved course too!
Thank you again Axtell!read more
Chloe Hegg
2020-10-15T16:09:01+0000
Dave was brilliant in explaining all the required information for the exam! He used his own experiences to make the... course enjoyable - highly recommend for stews!read more
Monika Radics
2020-09-02T18:07:36+0000
Thank you Dave for the training which was very informative and well presented. Would definitely recommend the course.
Allie Williams
2020-07-22T17:40:56+0000
Professional, relevant, accurate training delivered with knowledge, experience and expertise.
Would highly recommend to... anybody looking to understand and undertake any aspect of food safety training.read more
Google Reviews
Kyle
12:33 13 Jun 23
Great course! After speaking to Dave at the start at of the course he personalised my training for me. This was not a talk after every slide of a powerpoint presentation like other courses, keeps you fully engaged and sets you up perfectly for whatever test you are doing. Highly recommend taking any course with Dave and Axtell Food Safety
Minnie Brewin
08:41 02 Jun 23
Could't recommend Dave enough. I got recommended him by my maritime training company.Such a smooth & easy experience from start to finish. Very simple & straight forward. Very professional & legit set up. Very informative so you feel prepared. Thanks Dave!
jodi roos
09:01 23 May 23
was such a great easy way to get my food hygiene cert done! dave is lovely and great at going through it all with you! highly recommend!
Jess Brown
03:46 12 May 23
I had a great experience with Dave and Mick at Axtell Food Safety (online Food and Hygiene Level 2). Engaging content in an easy to absorb format. Flawless communication before, during, and after the course. Highly recommend.
Jessica Martin
20:20 04 May 23
Dave from Axtell Food Safety is an excellent teacher! His course was informative and entertaining at the same time. I would not hesitate to take further courses with him. I completed the course whilst underway, crossing the Atlantic. The course was very accommodating of this and I did not face any subsequent technical difficulties. Thank you again Dave!
Britney Gaskell
20:03 25 Apr 23
I did my online Level 2 Food Safety course with Simon. It was really well organised and set up, Simon made the course engaging and Dave was also extremely helpful. Thank you!
Robert Lilliott
20:20 04 Apr 23
Recently completed the Level 2 Food Safety course online with Axtell. Tutor was great, kept it light and informative. As long as you make an effort to do the workbook beforehand, you would not have any problem passing the exam. Highly Recommend Axtell.
Antonia Calamas
03:19 16 Mar 23
I took the online course Level 2 Food and Safety with Dave & it was phenomenal! Dave kept the course interesting, interactive and in good spirits by bringing in relatable examples & not following a boring powerpoint presentation. The course was informative yet engaging and I left feeling confident for the exam. The staff answered any inquiries I had immediately and overall it was a great experience with no hiccups. I would definitely book again & would recommend to anyone!
Isabella Von Kayser
15:53 14 Mar 23
Very efficient way to get a food hygiene level 2 certificate, especially for people working on boats. The teacher is great at explaining and making you understand the main concepts. I would definitely recommend this to my friends 🙂
DAINIUS KUBECKAS
20:21 06 Dec 22
The courses at Axtell Food Safety Level 3 where one of the best online courses I ever had!The whole program is very informative, a lot of good vibes and positive atmosphere.Dave is very helpful and he is willing to go an extra mile if you need to clirifie the subject or if you are doubt about something.
James Lackovic
21:04 30 Nov 22
It is very clear that Dave knows what he's talking about and has a great passion for the food safety industry. He knows a worryingly large amount about food bacteria. He talks about his experience as an active EHO which only helps to reinforce the knowledge with horror stories of what he's seen.He offers pragmatic advice throughout the course aimed at the needs of the learner, he goes further by answering all your burning questions.If there was a level 5 qualification (there isn't) I'd go back to Dave in a heartbeat.
Ben Cabral
19:28 10 Oct 22
Dave was a great instructor. He has years of experience within his given field which was very helpful as he used real world experience to explain certain topics. He also a great sense of humor which made the class much more enjoyable.
Océane Kinnoo
08:57 06 Oct 22
I passed my Food Saftey & Hygiene certification through Axtell and I am very happy with it! Dave is very attentive and his way of explaining things will allow you to obtain your certification for sure. You will have all the necessary resources (workbook, slides, etc.) to study in the best conditions!Thanks again Dave 🙂
Andria Kok
09:03 23 Sep 22
I did my Food & Hygiene Level 2 with Axtell Food Security. It was an excellent experience; very comprehensive course content and I'd particularly like to highlight their good communication! Thank you to Dave for offering a well organized, enjoyable course! Warm regards, Andria
Gala Moreno Alsar
13:05 30 Jul 22
Excellent classes and content, very good and entertaining. He is a very caring and patient person. Thank you very much to Dave.
Erin Conway
08:43 17 May 22
I recently completed an online qualification with Axtell Food Safety. David was an engaging instructor and I really appreciated his adaptability to the different needs of the people in the course. David was very accommodating of the fact I was in a different time zone and I would definitely recommend the courses from Axtell Food Safety!
Jason Farnworth
06:54 21 Apr 22
Well organized and informative. Actually being taught the information instead of it just being read to you. MCA approved is a big plus. Would recommend, cheers.
AJ
14:47 23 Feb 22
Dave is great! He is a very personable and made the course easy to follow and understand. He is great on communication. I am glad he offered this course virtually so I didn’t have to travel to get my Food Hygiene Level 2 Cert. Thanks! Way to go Dave!
Tatum Bailey
21:47 08 Feb 22
I took Axtell Food Safety's Level 2 courses just the other day. Dave, the instructor, was incredibly personable and attentive. I could tell he really cared about the success of his students. Even though the class was conducted on Zoom, Dave was able to create a fun and comfortable environment where all his students felt seen and understood. I walked away from the course with a ton of knowledge and feeling so much more confident in the galley and even in my own kitchen! Even though I'm based in the U.S and Dave in the U.K, I would definitely recommend a friend to override any other food safety course and go with Axtell Food Safety instead. 100/10, you wont regret it at all.
Gigi Rosenfield
00:25 20 Oct 20
Awesome course! Dave was very thorough and totally turned around a bad experience I had with another company! I highly recommend this course.
Monalisa Corodescu
16:10 15 Oct 20
Professionalism, Promptly, Sufficiently . Highly Recommend ! Thank you Axtell!
Chloe Hegg
16:06 15 Oct 20
Course was efficiently ran with personal touches added to make it enjoyable! Highly recommend Axtell!
Hannah Briley
14:42 26 Aug 20
David was a great teacher and very helpful with any questions I had! I highly recommend using his services
Candace Wise
13:44 22 Jul 20
Dave Axtell is an experienced and knowledgeable tutor. The remote classroom session gave me the understanding and confidence I needed to pass the Food Safety L2 exam online. The course was personalised, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and go over course content again for clarification.
