Freshcare Standards Review 2024 – 2025

The Freshcare Standards Review is well under way with over 180 responses received earlier this year, from across the broad range of businesses and organisations participating in our standards.

As part of the review Freshcare has engaged our Technical Steering Committee (TSC), comprised of passionate industry experts committed to developing and future-proofing our Standards for industry and participants.

During the past few months, Freshcare has introduced a Framework for Innovation, utilising the principles of the Design Council UK’s Innovation Framework to undertake our Standard review process. The Framework will guide the review process which outlines four core problem-solving principles and assist with effective and timely delivery of the Standards Review project.

The Framework for Innovation’s key goals are:

  • Put people first. Start with an understanding of the people using a service, their needs, strengths and aspirations
  • Communicate visually and inclusively. Help people gain a shared understanding of the problem and ideas.
  • Collaborate and co-create. Work together and get inspired by what others are doing.
  • Iterate, iterate, iterate. Do this to spot errors early, avoid risk and build confidence in your ideas.

Freshcare Standards Review

  • January – July 2024: The review process began by putting people first and calling for submissions to discover individuals and industry needs and perspectives.
  • August – September 2024: The Freshcare team collated 812 comments and categorised into themes for review including 355 identified as needing review from the Technical Steering Committee.
  • October 2024: The Technical Steering Committee were sent the submissions and met to begin reviewing and addressing technical comments.
  • October – November 2024: The TSC are meeting regularly to continue to
    review and address key technical comments received relating to:

    • HACCP/Hazard Analysis
    • Site Soil and Nutrients
    • Water and Chemicals
    • The aim of these meetings is to respond to and resolve technical comments received.
  • Current – 2025: A desktop review of benchmark criteria and industry recognition is currently being conducted to ensure our standards meet industry requirements and are fit for purpose.
  • 2025: We will then define and develop changes identified and aim to deliver any changes in 2025.

How your feedback will be used

Your feedback will be reviewed and used in the Standards Review process to determine where the standards may need to change from a technical perspective. Additionally, your feedback will help to inform where future investment is made in supporting resources and tools used to implement our programs. 

We value your time and perspectives and believe your insights will contribute significantly to the success of the review.  

Page last updated 29 October 2024.