Birmingham College of Food
Business School
Welcome to Birmingham College of Food
Thank you for taking the time to check out what we offer at University College Birmingham, the highest-ranking university in the region as voted by students at the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. Our student support is the best in the region too, according to students, as is our provision for international students and postgraduates.
If you are looking at joining us to carve out a career in areas including professional cookery, culinary arts management and bakery, here is a glimpse into our student and staff community - along with an insight into the enrichment we offer - to see if we are the right choice for you.
Lewis Walker
Head of Birmingham College of Food
Welcome from Lewis Walker
With a long, rich and diverse history across the food and hospitality sectors, we are one of the UK’s leading institutes for chefs, culinary arts, bakery science and global hospitality education. And it’s not only our degrees that are world-class. Our facilities, training kitchens, food science and innovation suite and award-winning restaurant are just a small part of our incredible campus.
All our teams have impressively strong links with the industries they operate in, whether that’s with governing bodies, global organisations, leading employers or a strong alumni network, so the employability opportunities are endless. We look forward to seeing you in September.
*Lewis worked in, ran and owned restaurants, hotels and bars to contract catering units, private dining and street food enterprises before moving into education
What’s happening
Chef graduate triumphs in prestigious hospitality awards
A University College Birmingham graduate picked up the 'Best Newcomer' accolade at Birmingham Hospitality Association awards.
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Bakery graduate and entrepreneur wins at top business awards
A University College Birmingham graduate and entrepreneur has won two awards at a prestigious regional ceremony highlighting excel…
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Student chef Rohan takes runner-up spot in prestigious Toque d'Or competition
Rohan Bragg, a Birmingham College of Food-mentored student working towards his Professional Chef foundation degre…
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Record-breaking £27k raised for life-limited children at charity dinner
Two iconic Brummie chefs led first year students from the Culinary Arts Management degree in a spectacular charity even…
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Bakery stars are cream of the crop on Bake Off: The Professionals
Birmingham College of Food has two teams of ex-students on Bake Off: The Professionals this year, with the teams of Ajay and…
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Student chefs win England double bronze at world's biggest culinary competition
Student chefs and alumni from University College Birmingham have once again taken the podium after going up aga…
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Rising star students taste sweet success in annual bakery awards
Students from the College of Food swept the board yet again at the Alliance of Bakery Students and Trainees Awards.
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Bumper roundup: College of food sees in spring with more success stories
Spring has sprung and as the daffs raise their heads, we raise a toast to our college of food, which has been super bu…
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Enriched global learning experiences underway with new partnership
A new partnership between the Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts (SSCA) in India and University College Birmingham will stren…
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Students take Zest Quest Asia podium – and crowned sustainability champs
A trio of student chefs are off on an incredible educational trip abroad after being hailed overall runners up in a na…
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Blog | How my chef apprenticeship took me to the South Pole
While cheffing can take you anywhere in the world, few have pushed the boundaries as far as former University College Birmingham ap…
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University College Birmingham commits to vital health careers
The University has further solidified its commitment to a careers-focussed education with the unveiling of a new Health and Care…
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Birmingham Food System Strategy revealed to hospitality sector
The Birmingham Food System Strategy, which has been formed with consultations among city-wide stakeholders including The Birming…
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Amber bound for Brazil after winning national Toque d'Or competition
A student who took a leap of faith to study at University College Birmingham is bound for Brazil having brought a top trop…
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Food, glorious food! Student chefs and bakers serving up feast of awards for 2023
From brilliant bakers to super seafood chefs and a patisserie prize-winner, food students from University Col…
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Seven golds and podium places for bakery students at national competition
Bakery students from Birmingham College of Food proved they had bags of flour power when they scooped a whopping 18 a…
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First Michelin Star for Solihull restaurant run by College of Food graduate
An acclaimed local restaurant run by a University College Birmingham graduate has been honoured with its first Mich…
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Bakery students create seven-layer Jubilee cake for Birmingham food bank
College students pulled out all the stops to create a seven-layer cake to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – and…
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Students work with MasterChef champ to serve up five-course VIP meal
Students from University College Birmingham had a lesson like no other when they got to work with MasterChef: The Professi…
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From dad’s 50th KFC bucket cake to pastry sensations at Michelin Guide restaurant
An award-winning graduate chef who decided against A-levels in law or politics to follow her deep passion for…
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Cooking with MasterChef champ
To get to work in the kitchen with a MasterChef champ is not something students typically get to do, but after winning MasterChef: The Professionals 2021, former Birmingham College of Food student Dan Lee returned to work with our students at a VIP meal event. Scroll for more >>>
Cooking with MasterChef champ (cont'd)
Not only did Dan come in to provide insight into the industry and reassure our students following Covid-19, but he worked with our Professional Chef and Culinary Arts Management undergraduates to produce a VIP meal for 60 guests at our award-winning restaurant. Incredible!
Bringing together bakers
Leading bakery professionals met with students at an event dedicated to developing new 'career-ready' workers for the industry. Bakery and Patisserie Technology students joined top employers and experts at the inaugural Bakery, Patisserie and Associated Industries Gathering. Scroll for more >>>
Bringing together bakers (cont'd)
The Bakery, Patisserie and Associated Industries Gathering was a free event, providing a networking environment for industry representatives and students to gain insight, develop links and discuss graduate employment opportunities.
Beyond the classroom
At University College Birmingham, we offer education and training that goes far beyond everyday classes and lectures. We are committed to providing additional enrichment opportunities for our students, from industry trips and expert visits to linkups with local charities, entry into competitions and much more.
Scroll through to find out what's been going on in our department:
Dr David Paulson
Executive Dean
Business School
Meet David Paulson
My role is to ensure we stay at very forefront of progress across the education sector and across industry, building innovative technology and skills such as immersive virtual reality into your educational experience.
We are committed to providing face-to-face teaching as we know students value this quality time with their lecturers and fellow students. But to support your academic studies, we also have a sophisticated lecture capture system that provides accessible recorded lectures, where possible.
We are very proud of the exceptional and sustained record of teaching excellence we have in the provision of our vocational educational experiences, and the future-focused curriculum we have to offer you.
Our teaching and learning
Whether you are studying to be a chef or baker, or learn the ropes for management or new product development, our aim is simple - to turn you into a stand-out professional. We have an award-winning reputation for the highest quality courses and a learning experience that sets us apart from bigger universities.
Our degrees are designed to develop you personally and professionally, with graduate advantage, employability and enrichment sessions threaded throughout the curriculum, sitting alongside really interesting theory modules. Our partnership with the University of Warwick, a top-ranking Russell Group university, also brings extra opportunities including access to guest speakers and additional resources.
Theory
Our courses are developed and taught by experienced lecturing staff, meaning they can draw on their industry expertise and years of experience to make scenario-based discussions, debates and concepts come to life, supporting the linking of theory to practice.
You will learn so much from our lecturing teams, who are passionate about their profession and eager to inspire and nurture the next generation of food professionals.
We also have many invited guest lecturers from industry participate in our courses, sharing their knowledge and experiences to enhance your learning.
Students also have a lot to bring and as a team, we will also learn a lot from you! We encourage you to share your perspectives and viewpoints, especially when reflecting on your own life and placement experiences.
Practical
Placements are key to success as employers want you to have real experience. We have excellent links with Michelin-starred and on-trend restaurants, hotels, bakery businesses, new product developers and leading brands across the region and beyond, as well as globally, so we can allocate you to a diverse range of placements.
This exposure to different learning environments opens opportunities for you when you qualify. And you will receive real-life training in our industry kitchens and award-winning Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food, specialist bakery facilities and our Food Science and Innovation Suite.
Support
Our support is exceptional, so much so, our students voted to make us the winner of the Student Support award at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2022 and we came a close second in 2023. In 2024, we were voted the best for student support in the West Midlands.
Throughout your studies, you will not only have a personal tutor, but a link tutor during placements and module leaders to support you through academic modules. And we have a whole range of additional support services available, providing you with as much or as little support as you need to succeed in your degree. Our smaller teaching groups enable all students to grow and flourish, with strong peer support and friendship.
Our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2021-24 is key to how we approach the educational journey, focusing on three main pillars that set out our commitment to your learning and teaching experience while you are studying with us.
- Pillar 1 – Provide accessible and inclusive teaching and learning across a wide range of vocationally-led courses
- Pillar 2 – Develop next generation opportunities and skills through innovative, future-focused curriculum and pedagogy
- Pillar 3 – Shape local and global sectors, promoting sustainable futures and global citizenship
Our students
Sumaiyah Patel
Hard work and resilience have paid off for Sumaiyah, who is today the food implementation manager for LEON resturants.
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Dan Lee
Within 11 years of leaving Birmingham College of Food, Dan Lee was lifting TV’s coveted MasterChef: The Professionals trophy.
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Jamie Cowburn
Jamie left college keen to build his skill set in baking and patisserie and he knew exactly where would best help him achieve his goals.
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Ross Yates
Starting at the University as a 16-year-old Level 2 Bakery student, Ross dreamed of going onto a degree and forging a career in new product development.
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Yasmine Selwood
Mum-of-four Yasmine wowed the judges on TV show MasterChef by preparing for them the same menu that helped her complete her foundation degree.
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Claire Hutchings
As one of the youngest finalists on MasterChef: The Professionals, Claire honed and sharpened her skills at University College Birmingham.
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Luke Hayward
Luke was heavily supported in competitions by the University - resulting in him being part of a team that lifted a prestigious trophy.
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Katie Garrett
Katie not only won a new product development role with royal wedding cake maker Fiona Cairns when she graduated, but also a top industry award.
Read moreChef and bakery facilities
We have invested £200 million into our university facilities so you can learn in outstanding training environments approved by industry. In our department, they include:
- Nine industry-standard kitchens at our Summer Row site, providing a real working environment for you to master your practical food skills throughout your studies
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Baking and product development labs with industrial ovens and high-speed mixers, and specialist chocolate production and tempering equipment. Students' goods are also sold in Cakes & Bakes
- Spread over 9,000 sqft, our Food Science and Innovation Suite incorporates two specialist kitchens, a bespoke sensory evaluation room and a pilot plant for product development
- Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food - our AA Gold-accredited training restaurant, where students get to put their training into practice with real guests
Our courses
Culinary Arts Management BA (Hons) / FdA
Do you dream of managing high-profile restaurant kitchens or becoming an executive head chef? This flagship course provides the advanced skills you ne…
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Professional Chef FdA
If you aspire to work in high-quality food establishments featured in the Michelin Guide or boasting AA rosettes, our two-year Professional Chef foundation degree will e…
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Bakery and Patisserie Technology BSc (Hons) / FdSc
Passionate about baking? Whether you dream of being a chocolatier, patissier, making artisan breads or working as a bakery technologist, thi…
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Culinary Arts Management MA / PGDip
Arm yourself with the advanced skills for an exciting and challenging management career in the culinary environment of the hospitality industry. You can ev…
Read moreMeet your lecturers
Caroline Dunnell
I originally studied in Advanced Professional Cookery. After graduating, I then went and worked at Claridge’s hotel London as a pastry chef before setting up my own catering…
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Jo Lyons
I originally studied Food, Nutrition and Health at The University of Huddersfield. Following my graduation, I have held a number of product development, process development and techn…
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Simon Manton
After completing Level 2 and 3 Professional Cookery at UCB, I then worked in Rick Stein's patisserie in Cornwall where I gained knowledge in artisan production methods for confec…
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Graham Duckworth
I have been in the baking industry since the age of 15 when I worked in a small family bakery on a Saturday. I completed my City & Guilds Bakery qualifications at Blackpool a…
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Lewis Walker
My culinary career began back while I was travelling, experiencing different cuisines and working casually as I moved, and then continued when I returned to the UK.
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Anthony Perry
Anthony worked in a variety of high-quality establishments before taking up a lectureship at University College Birmingham.
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Bernhard Schumacher
After comprehensive craft training as a Chef and Patissier in my native country; Germany; I began a very successful career in the culinary world mainly working for over 15…
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Prof Kali Davidson
I am Head of Department for Birmingham College of Food (FE) and Hospitality and Tourism. I ensure there is excellent enhancement for students.
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Mike Edwards
I studied for three years at Birmingham College of Food and gained my level 3 qualifications in kitchen and larder, and pastry. I left and travelled around the UK in fine-dining…
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Nicky Leach
I originally studied Professional Catering Craft Diploma at BCFTCS and progressed onto the Higher National Diploma in Hospitality Management. I then went into Bars Management with…
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Richard Taylor
I studied Catering at Worcester Technical College from 1980-82, working part-time at the Chateau Impney Hotel in Droitwich, Worcestershire, and at the family Banks Brewery Publ…
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Daniel Tennant
I have been a chef lecturer since 2008, joining UCB in 2019. After leaving college, where I studied my City & Guilds 706/1 and NVQ Level 3 Chef Diploma, I worked in a variety o…
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Ibrahim Bellal
I am a former student of the Birmingham College Of Food and I have had a range of different experiences within the hospitality and catering industry.
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We look forward to seeing you on campus
As you prepare to join us, here's a refresher on some of the essentials: