CFL calls for food college to boost London culinary training

Centre for London (CFL) has called for the creation of a college of food to boost the capital’s strengths as a centre of culinary research, development and innovation.

The college would help develop capacities, “scope out” consumer trends, assess the impact of innovative approaches to sourcing or hospitality management as well as focus on undertaking research on nutrition and sustainability.

The think tank has suggested that due to Brexit and immigration reform, this could lead to a decline in the supply of migrant chefs, as before the pandemic 85% of London’s chefs were born abroad with 25% coming from the EU.

CFL has suggested that London needs a new model for culinary training that can “rise to the challenges” it faces on workforce shortages, inclusion, social mobility and sustainability. The college initiative will aim to create a culinary skills system that opens up opportunity to people of all backgrounds.

The group said the college would provide a range of entry-level and advanced courses, as well as supply a more modular approach to training so that more working cooks and chefs can combine work and learning.

Additionally, the college could reportedly operate on a “centre and satellite” model which could be sponsored or developed by an existing institution and would offer a wider range and more advanced courses than anything London’s FE providers offer now.