Fightback begins to solve curry house crisis

EVERY week in the UK two curry houses close down.

A lack of young recruits and a shortage of experienced chefs - tied to tougher immigration laws – are among reasons why businesses fail.

But the catering sector is fighting back with different ways to recruit and train young staff. More than 20 restaurant owners and chefs from Oldham and the region recently met at the Safeguard Fusion Training Centre in Chadderton, to discuss ways to tackle the problem.

Executive chef and co-owner Afruj Chowdhury said: “Britain’s favourite food is curry, but if we don’t modernise our industry and equip our workforce with the training they need, the great British tradition of a curry could disappear altogether.

“Too many are untrained and unqualified which means that as an industry we aren’t equipped to function at the highest level. The restaurant business is a highly competitive market and we need to improve standards from our basic kitchen skills to what we present to our customers.”

The Oldham meeting came after 600 curry house owners and other industry representatives attended crisis talks in London.

Since opening in Arkwright Street, Safeguard has achieved a five-star food and hygiene certificate, launched an exclusive OFQUAL registered level 1 award and level 2 certificate and diploma in fusion and Indian cookery, as well as its #CookEatTalk Kickstarter project.

Afruj, who has spent years as a chef, believes this type of training should be available nationally.

“My dream is that we will become as professional as the mainstream,” he added. “We have huge potential and a massive untapped pool of talent.”

Safeguard managing director Ben Ingham added: “We’re training the next generation of chefs and catering staff and we know that by taking this important step we can help the industry not only survive but thrive.”