Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Has anyone had to fill in a venue due diligence form?

I am making a wedding cake for a friend and the venue has asked me to fill in a due diligence form. Has anyone else ever been asked to do this.  The form is quitelengthy and  mainly relates to a company not an individual making a cake for a friend. Health and safety I suppose!

Take a look here: http://www.ncass.org.uk/content/due_dilligence.aspx

Hi Elliot

I suppose the venue is covering themselves against any liability should there be a problems.  I made five cakes for my own wedding and the venue didn’t ask me to complete a due diligence questionnaire. This kind of survey is usually for corporates, perhaps there has been a misunderstanding or may be they’re just being overly zealous with their health and safety! I’m sure you’ll have answers from people more experienced in these matters than myself.

Ive never heard of this  elliot….sounds a bit scary??!!   Im not experienced in these matters only just done one wedding cake for friends but I am thinking about advertising them so should really familiarise myself with this too, do let us know how you get on x

Thanks for all the feedback. I will let you all know how I get on. My goodness I hope they don’t refuse to takemy cake in their venue – all that hard work.  I could certainly never meet their criteria on theform. Anyway going to fill it in tomorrow. Wish me luck. Xx

Good luck. It does look like it’s something there to protect you. You could maybe ask the citizen’s advice too? Hope all goes well with the form, and the cake xx

Good luck Elliot, I really don’t see how they can refuse you, particularly as you’ve made them for your friends. As long as you are not selling the cakes, environmental health department won’t want to know, it’s the same as when you make regular cakes for your friends and family. Due Diligence surveys are for companies to show that their business is fit for purpose and to show all care has been taken to protect the public or other businesses.  CAB is a good place to go, or indeed any hotel, and just ask what their policy is on someone bringing their own cake.

You should be aware that even if you dont accept any money for the cake you could still be sued by any of the wedding guests if they get food poisoning, find a foreign object in the cake etc so it may be worth getting the basic Products and Public Liabilty insurance from the British Sugarcraft Guild if you do quite a few cakes as it doesn’t cost very much!