With the UK's Chinese restaurant industry suffering from a severe shortage of skilled staff, the launch of an industry recognised Chinese Culinary Arts (LuBan) Diploma qualification, specialising in Chinese cuisine, culture and culinary arts couldn't have come at a better time.
Traditionally, skills and techniques required in the Chinese foodservice industry have been passed down from generation to generation with businesses also being passed down through family members. However, with younger generations now favouring alternative careers, restaurant owners are having to look elsewhere for skilled staff.
Combine this need with the UK government's £750 million collaboration agreement to support China's One Belt One Road initiative and the result is the UK's first industry recognised Chinese Culinary Arts (LuBan) Diploma qualification.
Developed by PAM Education and Tianjin School of Commerce the Chinese Culinary Arts (LuBan) Level 3 Diploma has been created and approved by British Education qualification awarding body Qualifi.
Following multiple visits to various education providers it became apparent that traditional British training kitchens were not equipped towards Asian cuisine and were therefore unable to deliver the requirements of the course. With this in mind, PAM Education and Tianjin School of Commerce approached Target Catering Equipment as specialist commercial kitchen design consultants to prepare a training kitchen layout that would meet their exact needs and requirements.
Target, having previously worked with many Asian restaurants in the UK and recently completing a complete kitchen design for a staff canteen in a large leading electrical component factory based in China displayed the knowledge and services that were required to move the project forward to its next stage of implementation.
"Working within the foodservice industry for over 30 years, we regularly hear about the lack of skills and training available, specifically in the Asian sector. It is great that this is finally being recognised and something is being done about it as it plays a huge part within the entire foodservice industry." Says David Pedrette Managing Director of Target Catering Equipment.
Crawley College was selected as the site dedicated to the course, leading the way, offering the UK's first dedicated, industry recognised qualification in Chinese Culinary Arts. The new training kitchen was designed and featured the very latest induction wok ranges as requested by Tianjin School of Commerce, a decision highly supported by designers Target, as the technology is fast being recognised as the future of Chinese and other Asian commercial kitchens.
Designs approved, the dedicated kitchen was installed at the college and following an inspection by Tianjin School of Commerce Master Chefs, the facility was given the go-ahead to start offering the much-needed vocational skills training to a unique sector of the international food scene centred around the UK's Asian restaurant sector.
With the first course due to start in September 2018 at Crawley College, chefs and individuals either looking to begin a career or expand their knowledge and skill set within the Chinese foodservice industry are invited to enrol and open their career prospects across the world.
For more information visit: www.crawley.ac.uk/study-courses/course-list/81CCD3-Chinese-Culinary-Arts-Lu-Ban-Diploma-Level-3
