Ever So Sensible is a hospitality group of pubs, restaurants, and hotels, operating 10 sites across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Formed 14 years ago, the group has just celebrated a successful year with a 40% increase in turnover, and all sites hold a 5-star food hygiene rating.
The challenge
Ever So Sensible had been relying on paper-based compliance systems to track food safety, risk management, and health and safety obligations. Initially effective, the system became cumbersome as the business expanded.
Each Monday, kitchen teams completed administrative checks and recorded incidents on paper stored in the kitchens. Catering Director, Tom Haines, would review these documents either in person during site visits or via photos sent over the phone. This system worked to a certain point, but as the business started to grow, there were more constraints placed on Tom and the teams time, meaning this was no longer a viable, workable solution. And as a business with strong growth ambitions, the requirement for a scalable, reliable system that was easy to maintain operational excellence and high hygiene standards was critical.
“Visits to individual sites were not as frequent as I would like, and in busy kitchens, checks are always at risk of falling to the bottom of the to-do list when customers need to be served. We concluded that we had outgrown the paper-based system, and if we were to ensure standards were maintained and continue to meet compliance responsibilities and exceed customer expectations, we needed a structured way of recording, managing and accessing information; which is where RiskProof came in.” – Tom Haines, Catering Director
Support
James Cann, Commercial Director, had previous experience with Shield Safety’s platform and personally recommended it to the team.
“I knew that RiskProof was the best-in-class solution. Created by former environmental health officers, it is exactly what the end-user needs to help deliver the highest standards.” – James Cann, Commercial Director
Shield Assure – Leisure, which includes the award-winning software platform RiskProof, was selected because it offered:
- A scalable, cloud-based solution: Accessible from anywhere, allowing senior management to monitor compliance without site visits. Ensuring high standards of service and compliance while reducing time and freeing leadership team to focus on business growth.
- People-focused support: A dedicated account management team, including a commercial account manager and safety consultant, together with training and 24/7 helpline support, provided guidance during onboarding and continued ongoing support.
- Ease of use for teams: Pre-built templates and checklists reduced administrative burden, enabling staff to focus on customer service and enhancing the guest experience.
Risk-proof dashboards: Real-time insights and auditable reports strengthened compliance oversight giving management confidence that risks are managed and standards are consistently maintained.
“When we have spoken to environmental health officers, they have given us incredibly positive feedback on our levels of professionalism in our approach to compliance. RiskProof has given us this credibility and the confidence to see that moving to the platform was the right decision. Customers’ well-being is not being compromised.” “Since using RiskProof, there is an improvement in knowing what’s happening at the sites, and it has given us more time to focus on the business and managing our growth rather than being involved in daily on-site administrative task
Tom Haines
Catering Director
The impact
Streamlining operations and Empowering Teams
Previously, administrative tasks took up significant time, diverting staff time and focus away from customer experience. With Shield Assure – Leisure:
- Tasks became quicker and easier: Templates and checklists allowed kitchen teams to complete routine checks efficiently.
- Standardisation across sites: Staff moving between locations no longer had to adapt to different compliance systems.
- Remote visibility for management: Tom and James could access dashboards, reports, and data anytime, reducing the need for constant site visits.
“Checklists are accessible in the app, and we can even set timers to alert teams when they need to complete checks. It has helped our teams no end and shows how giving people the right tools makes their jobs easier.” – Tom Haines, Catering Director
The platform’s flexibility allows checklists to be tailored for each site, maintaining consistent safety standards. New checks, such as Legionella monitoring, could be added in just a few clicks, ensuring all regulatory obligations were covered.
“Staff feel comfortable when they transfer sites, as they have RiskProof’s structured templates rather than an array of different systems. Wherever they are working, they can deliver and maintain our high standards and dedicate more time and energy to focus on customer service.” – James Cann, Commercial Director
Risk Confidence and Operational Insight
Shield Assure – Leisure gave Ever So Sensible with complete oversight:
- Compliance dashboards highlight issues before they escalate.
- Registry of documentation ensures all certificates, audits, and reports are in one place.
- Independent audits conducted by Shield Safety provide additional assurance.
- 24/7 helpline for environmental health advice enhances confidence in decision-making.
The platform also bi-annual fire risk assessments, fully integrating all safety and compliance functions within one system.
Key Benefits
- Efficiency: Reduced time spent on administrative tasks, freeing staff for customer-facing work and allowing management to focus on growth.
- Staff empowerment: Consistent, structured processes across all sites, simplify onboarding and mobility, allowing teams to deliver high standards wherever they work.
- Scalability and trust: The platform grows with the business, supporting expansion without compromising standards. This reliability has even influenced transactions, with James noting:
“We recently sold a site and the buyers, having seen what RiskProof does, insisted it was part of the deal. That is the ultimate testament to a successful implementation and confirms our decision to implement RiskProof across the business is an undeniable success. Now we wouldn’t be without it.”
- Supports Staff Growth & Retention: Using the same system across all sites makes it easy for staff to move around, learn quickly, and focus on growing their skills, keeping them happy and motivated. Daniel Livingston from Shield Safety explains the partnership impact:
“Working with Ever So Sensible has been fantastic. Their engagement and commitment to best-in-class compliance made implementing Shield Assure – Leisure seamless. It’s a true partnership, and we continue to provide ongoing support to ensure they get the most value from the platform.”