United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Principal/Manager (12-16 years)

Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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  • Experience bandPrincipal/Manager (12-16 years)
  • Direct reports5-15 reports
  • Reports toPlant Manager
  • UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Site Quality Manager · Head of Food Safety Operations · QA & Compliance Lead

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 3 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Meat and Poultry Industry Skills FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 3 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Meat and Poultry Industry Skills FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 3 of 10 standards
Highfield Level 4 Award in Food Safety Management for Manufacturing (RQF) Highfield Qualifications · Level 4 · covers 2 of 10 standards
FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Industry Skills FDQ Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management
Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Manufacturing Excellence
Report on compliance with food safety requirements in operations FDQ Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Meat and Poultry Industry Skills
The Principles of Food Safety Management for Manufacturing Highfield Level 4 Award in Food Safety Management for Manufacturing (RQF)
Carry out quality audits in food operations FDQ Level 3 Certificate for Proficiency in Food Industry Skills

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Frontier Fluency the next wave, beyond mainstream AI
Foresight Fluency seeing round the corner
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  2. Manage compliance to support achieving excellence in food operations FDQ Limited · covers 3 of 10 standards Level 3
  3. Report on compliance with food safety requirements in operations FDQ Limited · covers 3 of 10 standards Level 3
  4. The Principles of Food Safety Management for Manufacturing Highfield Qualifications · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 4
  5. Carry out quality audits in food operations FDQ Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Predictive Analytics for Food Safety
  • Digital Twin for Plant Operations & Food Safety
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

A Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager builds and runs the food safety and quality programme at a production site.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

QMS Software (e.g., Veeva QualityDocs, MasterControl, ETQ Reliance) Strategic

You'll lead the strategic use and optimisation of the QMS, defining enterprise-wide document control and CAPA workflows, and using system analytics to drive continuous improvement across the site. You might even lead upgrades or new implementations.

ERP/Traceability Systems (e.g., SAP S/4HANA QM Module, Oracle NetSuite, FoodLogiQ) Expert

You'll be an expert in using these systems for full product traceability, designing and validating complex mock recall exercises, troubleshooting data gaps, and integrating supplier data to ensure end-to-end visibility. You'll also audit system integrity.

HACCP/Food Safety Plan Software (e.g., Safefood 360°, FoodReady) Strategic

You'll oversee the entire digital food safety plan portfolio for the site, ensuring system-wide consistency, using aggregate data for risk modelling, and ensuring the software effectively supports our compliance needs.

Audit Management Software (e.g., iAuditor by SafetyCulture, Intelex) Strategic

You'll manage the site's entire audit programme, from internal audits to external certification audits. This involves creating and customising templates, scheduling programmes, analysing findings to identify systemic risks, and managing the full CAPA lifecycle within the software.

Regulatory Intelligence Platforms (e.g., FoodChain ID, Decernis) Strategic

You'll define the site's regulatory monitoring strategy, proactively monitoring changes in key markets, interpreting complex legislation, and writing concise impact assessment summaries for the Plant Manager and other stakeholders. You'll be our early warning system.

Data & Office Suite (e.g., Advanced Excel, MS Teams/SharePoint, Power BI) Expert

You'll direct the creation of executive-level Power BI dashboards to track site KPIs, use advanced Excel for complex data analysis (e.g., trending non-conformances), and use these insights to justify investments and drive strategic decisions. You'll also manage all team documentation on SharePoint.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Departmental Budget Allocation No authority; follows manager's budget. Proposes minor expenditure within project scope; manager approves. Manages project-specific budgets up to £50K; consults Director on larger spends.
Hiring & Team Management No hiring authority. Provides input on junior hires. Interviews and recommends junior staff; mentors 0-2 individuals.
Food Safety Programme Changes Executes changes as directed. Proposes minor adjustments to specific procedures; manager approves. Designs and implements significant changes to specific workstreams (e.g., allergen control programme); consults Director.
Product Release/Hold Escalates all decisions to supervisor. Can place product on hold for routine non-conformances, but release requires manager approval. Authority to place product on hold and release for most non-critical issues following established protocols. Escalates complex cases.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) Reduction
This measures the financial impact of quality failures, including rework, waste, customer returns, and recall costs.
Target · Reduce COPQ by 10% year-on-year.

In Q2, you helped reduce rework costs by £150,000 by identifying a recurring sanitation issue and implementing a new cleaning verification protocol.

GFSI Audit Score & Compliance
This tracks our performance against Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standards, like BRCGS or SQF, which are critical for customer confidence.
Target · Maintain a 'Grade AA' (or equivalent top tier) certification with zero critical non-conformances.

Achieved a BRCGS Grade AA+ for the last three consecutive audits, demonstrating consistent and robust compliance across the site.

Customer Complaint Rate (Food Safety Related)
This measures the number of consumer complaints directly linked to food safety issues (e.g., foreign material, allergen mislabeling) per million units sold.
Target · Keep food safety-related complaints below 0.05% of total units sold.

Reduced foreign material complaints by 20% over 6 months by implementing new X-ray detection protocols and tightening supplier raw material specifications.

Regulatory Non-Conformance Rate
This tracks any non-conformances or observations raised by official regulatory bodies during inspections.
Target · Zero major non-conformances from regulatory inspections; all minor observations closed within agreed timescales.

Successfully navigated three unannounced EHO inspections in the last year with zero major findings and all minor observations closed within 14 days.

Team Development & Engagement
How well you're building, mentoring, and retaining your team, fostering a positive and effective working environment.
  • Low staff turnover within your team, positive feedback from direct reports in 1-on-1s and engagement surveys, successful internal promotions or career progression for team members, and a demonstrable increase in team capabilities and autonomy.
Proactive Risk Management
Your ability to anticipate potential food safety and quality risks before they become actual incidents, and to put preventative measures in place.
  • Identified and mitigated at least three high-risk areas (e.g., new allergen cross-contamination risk, emerging pathogen threat) before they resulted in an incident, presented well-researched risk assessments to leadership, and successfully implemented preventative controls.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence
How effectively you work with other departments, getting them on board with food safety initiatives and driving a shared culture of quality.
  • Regularly invited to cross-functional planning meetings, positive feedback from peers (e.g., Production, Engineering) on your collaborative approach, successful implementation of food safety improvements that required input and buy-in from multiple departments, and your opinions are sought on key operational decisions.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Protecting Consumers & Brand Reputation

You'll feel a deep sense of responsibility for every product that leaves our factory. This shows up in your meticulous review of records, your insistence on proper training, and your willingness to challenge anything that might compromise safety.

You'll spend extra time validating a new ingredient's supplier, not just because it's required, but because you genuinely want to ensure it's safe for our customers.

Building & Developing High-Performing Teams

You get a real buzz from seeing your team members grow, take on more responsibility, and excel. You'll dedicate time to coaching, mentoring, and creating development plans, knowing that a strong team is key to site-wide success.

You'll celebrate when one of your Food Safety Officers successfully leads their first internal audit, knowing you've helped them build confidence and skills.

Driving Continuous Improvement & System Optimisation

You're never satisfied with 'good enough'. You're always looking for ways to make our food safety systems more robust, more efficient, and more effective, whether it's through new technology or process changes.

You'll initiate a project to automate a manual data entry process, not just to save time, but to eliminate potential human error and improve data integrity.

What frustrates people
  • The constant tension between production targets and quality hold-ups – it often feels like you're the 'food police' rather than a partner.
  • Dealing with a lack of investment in critical equipment or training, despite clear justifications for food safety improvements.
  • Inheriting messy, incomplete, or 'pencil-whipped' records from previous shifts or other departments, forcing you to chase down information.
  • When a well-designed food safety plan is undermined by shortcuts taken on the factory floor due to perceived pressure.
  • The sheer volume of documentation and record-keeping, especially if systems aren't fully integrated, can feel like death by a thousand spreadsheets.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable, desk-bound job – you'll be on the factory floor a lot, dealing with real-time issues.
  • The ability to always be popular – sometimes you'll have to make tough, unpopular decisions for the good of the product and the consumer.
  • A role where you can avoid conflict – you'll need to challenge status quos and push for compliance, even with senior colleagues.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts our licence to operate, brand reputation, and financial performance by preventing recalls, fines, and customer dissatisfaction. You're essentially safeguarding our entire product portfolio and consumer trust.

Inside the business
  • Plant Manager
  • Production Managers (all shifts)
  • Supply Chain & Procurement Leads
  • Research & Development Team
  • Engineering & Maintenance
  • Sales & Commercial Teams
Outside the business
  • External Certification Bodies (e.g., BRCGS, SQF)
  • Regulatory Authorities (e.g., FSA, Local Council EHOs)
  • Key Suppliers & Co-manufacturers
  • Customers (especially for audits or complaint resolution)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven experience (at least 5 years) in a leadership or management role within a food manufacturing QA/Food Safety department, with direct reports.
  • Demonstrable track record of successfully managing and improving a GFSI-certified food safety management system (e.g., BRCGS, SQF).
  • Extensive practical experience in leading root cause analysis investigations and implementing effective CAPA programmes.
  • Strong understanding of food microbiology, chemistry, and processing technologies.
  • Experience managing departmental budgets and resource allocation.
  • Lead Auditor qualification for a recognised GFSI scheme (e.g., BRCGS Lead Auditor).

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability

Beyond traditional ERP systems, blockchain offers an immutable, transparent, and distributed ledger for tracking ingredients from farm to fork. This provides unparalleled integrity and speed for traceability, especially critical during recalls or for verifying ethical sourcing claims.

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) · Smart Contracts · Interoperability & Data Standards · Regulatory Acceptance & Legal Frameworks

  • This quarter: Read articles and whitepapers on blockchain in the food supply chain. There's a lot of hype, so focus on practical applications.
  • Next 3 months: Identify one key ingredient or supplier where enhanced traceability would be a significant benefit and research blockchain solutions.
  • Next 6 months: Engage with industry groups or technology providers who are piloting blockchain solutions in food.
  • Next 9 months: Develop a strategic recommendation for if and how we should explore blockchain for our supply chain.

Quick win: Start by understanding our current traceability system's weaknesses. Where are the data gaps or delays? This helps you identify where blockchain could add value.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attend industry conferences and seminars (e.g., Food Safety Summit, IFSQN events) to stay current on emerging trends and network with peers.
  • Actively participate in professional organisations like the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) or the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology (SOFHT).
  • Subscribe to key regulatory updates and industry publications to keep your finger on the pulse of legislative changes and best practices.
  • Seek out opportunities to mentor junior staff or participate in cross-functional training initiatives within the company.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Predictive Analytics for Food Safety

We're moving beyond reactive food safety. Competitors are starting to use data to predict potential issues before they even happen—think forecasting equipment failure that could impact CCPs, or identifying supplier risks based on historical data patterns. This shifts us from 'detect and correct' to 'predict and prevent'.

  • Machine Learning Fundamentals
  • Data Integration & Warehousing
  • Statistical Process Control (SPC) with Predictive Elements
  • Risk Modelling & Simulation

Digital Twin for Plant Operations & Food Safety

Imagine having a virtual replica of our entire factory, where you can test changes to processes, simulate equipment failures, or optimise sanitation routes without impacting actual production. Digital Twins are moving from theory to reality, offering unprecedented control and foresight for food safety managers.

  • IoT Sensor Integration
  • Process Simulation Software
  • Virtual Reality (VR) for Training & Auditing
  • Real-time Data Visualisation

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • HACCP & HARPC Program Development
  • GFSI Scheme Implementation & Auditing
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Methodologies
  • Supplier Qualification & Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)
  • Sanitation & Environmental Monitoring Programs (EMP)
  • Regulatory Interpretation (FDA, USDA, CFIA, EFSA, FSA)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    From Senior Food Safety Compliance Officer

    3-5 years as a Senior Officer.

    Skills to master

    • Leading complex projects, managing internal audit programmes, mentoring junior staff, and taking ownership of significant food safety workstreams.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led multiple internal audits and managed the CAPA process end-to-end.
    • Consistently identified and resolved complex food safety issues, demonstrating strong RCA skills.
    • Proactively mentored 1-2 junior team members, helping them develop their skills and confidence.
    • Demonstrated strong communication and influence with cross-functional peers.
  2. 2

    From Lead Food Safety Specialist / HACCP Coordinator

    2-4 years in a Lead Specialist role.

    Skills to master

    • Designing and validating HACCP/HARPC plans, managing GFSI audit preparation, and presenting to auditors. This path typically requires developing more people management skills.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully designed and implemented new HACCP/HARPC plans or significant updates.
    • Played a lead role in preparing for and managing external GFSI audits, including direct interaction with auditors.
    • Demonstrated an ability to train and guide operational teams on food safety procedures.
    • Proven ability to manage projects with significant scope and impact.
  3. 3

    From Production or R&D Management (with strong Quality focus)

    5-8 years in a relevant management role with a clear quality remit.

    Skills to master

    • Deepening specific food safety technical knowledge (e.g., microbiology, regulatory interpretation), and understanding the nuances of QA systems. This path values operational experience but needs a strong food safety overlay.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managed a production area with excellent quality and safety records.
    • Actively participated in food safety initiatives and demonstrated a passion for quality.
    • Understands operational challenges and can translate food safety requirements into practical solutions.
    • Has a strong track record of team leadership and performance management.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to positions such as Chief Quality & Food Safety Officer or VP of Technical, overseeing food safety and quality across a wider operation.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety, worked against Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager.

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety Level 5

Applied to your work in Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager

The objective of this unit is to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the regulations, industry standards, and management requirements for process safety. Learners will understand the role of the Process Safety Leadership Group, relevant frameworks, legal duties, and the role of the Competent Authority.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager
  • HACCP & HARPC Program Development
  • GFSI Scheme Implementation & Auditing
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Methodologies
  • Supplier Qualification & Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)
  • Sanitation & Environmental Monitoring Programs (EMP)
  • Regulatory Interpretation (FDA, USDA, CFIA, EFSA, FSA)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Director of Food Safety & Regulatory Affairs

    3-5 years in the Manager role.

    This is a significant jump, moving from site-specific ownership to multi-site or regional oversight, with more strategic and regulatory focus.

    • Global regulatory intelligence and horizon scanning.
    • Supply chain risk management at a strategic level.
    • Designing and implementing enterprise-wide food safety training programmes.
    • M&A due diligence for food safety aspects.
  2. Regional Quality Manager / Head of Operations (with Quality focus)

    4-6 years in the Manager role.

    This path either expands your quality remit across several sites or shifts you into a broader operational leadership role, where quality is a critical component.

    • Supply chain optimisation and logistics from a quality perspective.
    • Manufacturing excellence methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
    • Advanced project and programme management for multi-site initiatives.
    • Developing and managing relationships with a wider range of external partners.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager role is demanding. You're juggling team leadership, regulatory compliance, audit prep, and constant problem-solving. But what if you could shave off hours from the routine stuff? That's where AI comes in. It's not about replacing you; it's about giving you superpowers.

Imagine having a highly efficient assistant that never sleeps, handles the tedious data checks, and keeps you ahead of regulatory changes globally. AI isn't just for techies anymore; it's a game-changer for food safety, automating the mundane so you can focus on the big picture, lead your team more effectively, and drive strategic improvements.

Automated Document Verification

Use AI with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to automatically scan incoming supplier documents like Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and organic certifications. The AI flags missing data, out-of-spec results, or expired certifications before the ingredient even hits your receiving dock. This means fewer human errors and faster, more reliable checks. You'll spend less time manually reviewing paperwork and more time on critical supplier relationships.

AI-Powered Foreign Material Detection

Implement AI-powered machine vision systems directly on your production lines. These systems are trained to identify and automatically reject products containing foreign materials (think plastic, metal, or even off-colour items) with far greater accuracy and speed than human inspectors. This significantly reduces your recall risk and frees up your team from repetitive visual checks, letting them focus on more complex quality tasks.

Global Regulatory Radar

Leverage an AI platform that continuously scans global regulatory agency websites, trade publications, and government alerts. This isn't just a simple keyword search. The AI summarises upcoming changes in food safety law (e.g., new allergen labelling in the EU, updated MRLs in Japan) and provides an initial impact assessment for your specific products. You'll be proactive, not reactive, to regulatory shifts, giving you a huge strategic advantage.

First-Draft CAPA & Audit Report Writer

When a deviation is logged with structured data (what, where, when), an AI assistant can generate a first draft of the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) report. It outlines the problem description, immediate corrections taken, and even prompts for potential root causes. The same goes for internal audit reports—AI can compile findings and suggest initial action points, saving you and your team hours of drafting time. You're still the expert, but AI helps you get to the solution faster.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager?

Common routes in include From Senior Food Safety Compliance Officer (3-5 years as a Senior Officer.), From Lead Food Safety Specialist / HACCP Coordinator (2-4 years in a Lead Specialist role.) and From Production or R&D Management (with strong Quality focus) (5-8 years in a relevant management role with a clear quality remit.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager progress to?

This role can lead on to Director of Food Safety & Regulatory Affairs (3-5 years in the Manager role.) and Regional Quality Manager / Head of Operations (with Quality focus) (4-6 years in the Manager role.), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager?

Increasingly, Predictive Analytics for Food Safety and Digital Twin for Plant Operations & Food Safety. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 5

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

Skills in food safety and quality carry across the food industry. Some move into consulting, working with several food businesses, or into regulatory bodies helping to shape policy.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.