A NEW chef academy specialising in British Asian cuisine is set to enhance the catering and hospitality training on offer at Bradford College.

The MyLahore Academy will shortly be enrolling its first class of adult (19+) students who will start the new programme in September. 

Fifteen students will learn the art of fusion cooking from experts at MyLahore, working at Bradford College and in restaurant settings, while gaining a Level 2 Professional Cookery qualification.

MyLahore Academy trainees and students on other catering programmes will benefit from monthly masterclasses covering pasties to authentic curries. The masterclasses will be delivered at Bradford College and in restaurant kitchens by MyLahore professionals.

Academy students will also participate in the ‘Plan to Plate’ challenge – a competition to create an original dish that could be served at MyLahore restaurants and may even feature on the menu if popular with customers.

At the end of the one-year programme, Academy trainees will attend a special graduation celebration, after which they will have the chance to gain full-time employment at MyLahore restaurants, progress in the catering industry, or continue to Level 3 training at Bradford College.

Furkan Uddin, Head of Department for Professional Services at Bradford College, said: “We’re delighted MyLahore has agreed to be the employer sponsor of this new Academy at Bradford College.

"Tutors have collaborated with MyLahore to create bespoke Level 2 curriculum, tailoring units to their business needs. Not only is this a fantastic opportunity for students to learn at the forefront of culinary innovation, but it delivers sought-after skills needed in a booming sector and which appeals to a local demographic and jobs market.”

Rooted in Yorkshire, My Lahore British Asian Kitchen opened its doors in 2002. Today, the restaurant has outlets in Bradford, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and Blackburn. Offering everything from samosas to shepherd's pie and karahis to cornflake tarts, MyLahore is proud of its British Asian origin story.

The Academy induction masterclass in September will be delivered by Ghafoor Farooq, who began his journey at Bradford College before progressing to Food & Innovation Director at MyLahore, Ghafoor Farooq said: “This innovative education collaboration is an exciting new development.

"Given there is an urgent sector-wide call for more specialists with skills in international cuisine, we’re confident the MyLahore Academy will help shape talent to fill skill shortages in the UK workforce and lead to real paid employment in our restaurants.

"It is a real privilege to be able to train and develop the skills of up-and-coming students. Helping people develop and fulfil their potential is really important to MyLahore, and this partnership is especially meaningful to me being a former student of Bradford College myself."