On 10th September at the Marriott Hotel, Waltham Abbey at 1pm, Forhad Hussain Tipu, Press & Publication Secretary, the Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA) is hosting a press conference to announce 2019’s search to find Britain’s best ‘Curry House’ and ‘Chef.’ The winners will be announced at a star-studded annual dinner and awards event on 27 October at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London. These Awards are a highlight of Britain’s hospitality and catering industry, which is now in its 14th year. On this night BCA will recognize the achievements of outstanding restaurants and talented chefs, who have the expertise to create authenticity that are full of flavours, who are raising the benchmark of excellence from taste to presentation. The theme of this year’s Awards is BCA: The Home of Great British Curry. While these Awards are a time of celebration, there is also an underlying message that BCA, a powerful organization representing over 12,000 British Bangladeshi restaurants and takeaways in the UK, wants to echo its concerns – that this ‘Brexit Dilemma’, is crippling all industries and communities. This uncertainty is bringing Britain’s curry industry to its knees. BCA has been actively campaigning and asking the government for many years to solve the shortage of skilled chefs that are desperately needed to keep restaurants alive, to be able to cook the food they want to serve. This continued shortage of chefs has forced restaurants to close. Noteably, BCA had a large demonstration on 10th July 2018 infront of parliament with many thousands of caterers taking part to campaign to save the curry industry.
On 9 September Priti Patel, the Home Secretary announced that she will be unveiling plans to lift immigration restrictions on skilled chefs. This is a victory for BCA and has been dubbed the “vindaloo visas” to save the nation’s curry houses.
This action by the government, reinforces the strength of the BCA, to make change; a powerful organization representing over 12,000 British Bangladeshi restaurants and takeaways in the UK. It has been reported that Ms Patel will introduce the new points-based immigration system post-Brexit and is changing the rules to make it easier for restaurants to get the highly skilled chefs they need. BCA is waiting to hear what these new rules will be and still wants the government to implement the following: 1. On the Shortage Occupation List, BCA wants to immediately reduce the salary threshold from the £29,000 salary, an unrealistic demand for a small business and instead set the threshold below £20,000.
2. Formalize and recognize undocumented workers, which will immediately provide work placements for skilled chefs. This will relieve the pressures being experienced for the curry industry by way of buffer and interim. 3. Find a long-term solution to the current issue of shortage of skills. BCA urgently calls for an achievable national apprenticeship scheme that will invest in unique and authentic characteristics of our Industry, by working with the BCA to establish specific training initiatives and programs. This will also create future employment opportunities for British public. BCA President, Mr. M.A. Munim said: “Our strapline this year is a powerful one, BCA: The Home of British Curry and our Awards ensure that we continue to acknowledge all the talented people in this dynamic industry who are making British curry. Our members are the blood-line for this industry, and we want to inspire future generations” BCA Secretary General Mr. Mitu Choudhury added: “We are a proud and a hardworking industry, keeping Britain’s love for curry strong. We need the government to act and support us. Our Awards gives the curry industry an opportunity to prosper, ensuring the growth of the Bangladeshi restaurant community, which is a linchpin of the UK’s economy.”
BCA Chief Treasurer, Mr. Saidur Rahman Bipul commented: “The British Curry industry and the country are going through tough times, and in times like this we need to be united. Our Awards help engage stakeholders together, and now in its 14th year, they are highly respected, promoting and supporting the best of what the Bangladeshi restaurant community has to offer.” Convener, Mr. M F Uddin concluded: “I am proud to be part of these BCA Awards, which make a difference not just to our industry, but importantly to our members and all stakeholders.” The sponsors for this year’s BCA Awards are – Super Pollo, Chef Online, Lolo Eat, Square mile Insurance, Ghandi Oriental Kansara, Brandpax, Giro Foods Ltd ,Dhaka Regency, Radhuni, Paytap, Aroma Ice crème, Haposa, Bangla Town Cash and Carry and Madhus.