We need 'curry schools' in the UK

The British Indian restaurant industry has said that the UK needs dedicated curry catering colleges in order for the ethnic restaurant sector to survive.

Sunday's edition of The Observer told how more help is needed for the UK based restaurants that are struggling to recruit from abroad due to the introduction of the points based system.

Estimations show that an additional 30,000 members of staff are needed to keep the ethnic restaurant scene afloat.

Sheikh Aklaq Ahmed, from the Bangladesh Caterers' Association told the newspaper that the requirement for more qualifications is taking its toll: "Our chefs have cooking skills – just not recognisable, portable qualifications. If we are not allowed to bring people from outside, then what we are saying is help us train people locally."

Anne Main, a conservative MP is backing the foreign caterers and their call for a curry school: "They see it as the saving of the industry. It's no good sending unemployed people to a top curry restaurant and expecting them to be able to understand spices and blending and cooking."

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has announced that it is hosting an ethnic chef summit next month, which aims to focus on these issues and brainstorm ideas to help them boost employment figures.

Words: Clare Riley

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