Three months ago, a group of women from Afghanistan moved to the UK. Jaz Malhotra from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contacted Andrew Wakeford, Head of Food Academy, and asked if he would be able to teach them basic cookery skills so they could get qualified.

The course started in January and ran for eight weeks. In that time, Andy taught two units; poaching, boiling and steaming, as well as baking, roasting and grilling. These techniques helped them master essential knife skills and learned to prepare and cook food in different commodities.

Everyone in the group completed these units to achieve the Level 1 Award in Culinary Skills.

Alongside the Culinary Skills units, seven of them also achieved a Level 1 Award in Food Safety, where they developed hygienic working practices.

The completion of the course resulted in them cooking for Andy last Friday, to demonstrate everything they’ve learnt from him. They presented authentic Afghan dishes; Kabuli Pulao (Spiced Lamb Pilaf) Bolani (also called Periki) a stuffed flat-bread with leek and potato, Jeweled Rice and Lamb Kebabs, which all tasted delicious.

Andy said “it was a humbling experience to teach them. They were all very nervous and shy when they started and it was my responsibility to bring out their confidence, which I saw grow over the duration of the course.”

Using this experience and gaining these qualifications will mean these women are able to get jobs in the Food and Hospitality industry, which ultimately, will allow them to stay in the UK.

Thank you to Jaz Malhotra and Sian Williams, Director of Apprenticeships and Employer Services, for facilitating this and of course Andrew Wakeford for teaching.

To find out more about our Culinary Skills part-time courses, please click here.