{"id":1077925,"date":"2026-07-09T07:14:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T07:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1077925\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T07:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T07:14:21","slug":"chef-returns-to-his-roots-to-give-young-people-chance-to-kickstart-their-culinary-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1077925\/","title":{"rendered":"Chef returns to his roots to give young people\u202fchance to kickstart their culinary career"},"content":{"rendered":"

A\u00a0locally\u00a0trained\u202fchef,\u00a0who\u00a0returned\u00a0to his\u202froots\u202fto\u00a0launch\u00a0an inspirational community-based culinary school for young\u00a0people,\u00a0has been\u00a0recognised\u00a0at\u00a0this year\u2019s Adult Learner Awards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Birmingham-born Adam Pickett\u00a0enjoyed\u00a0a successful career working in restaurants around the world and as a personal chef\u00a0to\u00a0famous\u00a0footballers like Kevin De Bruyne and Jamie Vardy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But his heart\u00a0was always back in\u00a0the West Midlands,\u00a0so he came home to open\u00a0Bluebell Wood \u2013\u00a0an\u00a0eatery\u00a0in Chelmsley Wood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adam saw\u00a0how young\u00a0people were struggling\u00a0to\u00a0get to the\u00a0city centre for training and jobs.\u00a0So, with\u00a0funding\u00a0and support\u00a0from\u00a0University College Birmingham (UCB),\u202fhe\u00a0set up\u00a0the\u00a0Chelmsley Starters Culinary\u00a0School\u202fat\u202fBluebell Wood.\u00a0The initiative\u00a0gives Adam the\u00a0ability\u00a0to pass\u00a0on his\u00a0passion\u00a0for\u00a0food\u00a0to local\u00a0youngsters\u00a0through training\u00a0courses\u00a0designed to\u00a0help them\u00a0master the art of cooking\u00a0and kickstart\u00a0a\u00a0culinary\u00a0career.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Students at the\u00a0cafe\u00a0cook\u00a0and serve\u00a0high\u00a0quality, but\u00a0affordable,\u00a0dishes\u00a0to\u00a0the local\u00a0community\u00a0and are\u00a0helping\u00a0to put\u00a0Chelmsley Wood\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0region\u2019s\u00a0food\u00a0map.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adam, who is\u00a0also the academic\u00a0director\u00a0of commercial culinary operations at\u00a0UCB,\u00a0was\u00a0last\u00a0night (Wednesday\u00a0July 8)\u00a0presented with\u00a0the\u00a0Community Learning Champion\u00a0title\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Adult\u00a0Learning\u00a0Awards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u00a0annual\u00a0event\u00a0showcases\u202fthe remarkable achievements of adult learners, as well as the collaborative efforts of employers and training providers working in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Adam<\/p>\n

Adam Pickett (centre) with apprentice Santina Bunting (left) and Ed James being presented the Community Learning Champion Adult Learner Award<\/p>\n

After being presented\u00a0with his\u00a0awards\u00a0at Birmingham\u2019s\u00a0STEAMhouse\u202fvenue,\u00a0Adam said:\u00a0\u201cYoung people started this course last year\u202fwith\u00a0low\u00a0confidence and\u00a0hardly\u00a0any self-esteem.\u00a0Some had\u00a0even\u00a0experienced bullying at school.\u00a0But\u00a0the\u00a0range of\u00a0opportunities\u00a0they have had\u00a0in this kitchen\u00a0has\u00a0seen them\u00a0find\u00a0a passion\u00a0\u2013 right here on their doorstep.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI came from a single parent family\u202fand experienced similar\u202fchallenges\u00a0but\u00a0my\u00a0lecturers at\u202fUCB took me under their\u00a0wing\u00a0after I left\u00a0school.\u00a0The\u00a0most important thing to me\u00a0now\u00a0is\u00a0nurturing these young\u202fpeople and ensuring they have a similar career to myself.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBy\u00a0offering our enthusiastic young learners the chance to take masterclasses\u202fwith Michelin-starred chefs\u00a0we can\u00a0help\u202fthem to flourish\u00a0and realise their potential.\u202f\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u00a0also offer support with\u202ftheir academic learning so they can achieve the level they need to secure their dream\u202fcareers.\u00a0And\u00a0they\u00a0can\u00a0earn while they\u00a0learn,\u00a0gaining\u00a0valuable work experience.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope is\u202fthat they will go on to\u202fbecome successful chefs\u202fand\u202frepresent\u202four\u202ftalented region\u202f\u2013 I would love to see a Bluebell Wood open up in every suburb\u202fin the\u202fWest Midlands.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s passion for cooking was ignited\u202fas a youngster in Perry Barr\u202frustling up dishes with his grandad at his allotment. He went on to\u202fsecure a place at the Birmingham College of Food,\u202fTourism\u202fand creative studies, now\u202fUniversity College Birmingham\u202f(UCB) before working\u202fin Minorca, Paris, Australia and\u202fas a private chef\u202ffor various professional Premier League footballers,\u202fincluding\u202fVardy and De Bruyne.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u202fHis\u00a0dedication\u00a0to his Chelmsley Starters Culinary\u00a0School\u202fsaw him continue running courses even\u00a0while\u202freceiving\u202ftreatment for\u202fprostate\u202fcancer\u202f-\u00a0from which he is\u202fnow in recovery.\u202f\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite\u00a0only\u00a0opening in\u00a0December 2025,\u00a0there are already\u00a0nearly 40\u202flearners working on site,\u202fand double that\u00a0is expected\u00a0next year. Around 80% are from the local community. \u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Adult\u00a0Learning Awards\u00a0underline the commitment\u202fof Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands,\u202fto\u00a0give\u00a0residents access to high-quality skills\u202ftraining\u202fand meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The winners and finalists\u202frepresent\u202fa\u202fdiverse range of contributions -\u202ffrom individual learners and dedicated tutors to innovative skills providers and large-scale partnerships between\u202forganisations.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u202fMayor\u202fsaid: \u201cAdam\u202fis an inspiration. He has\u202fbrought his\u202fexpertise\u202fand\u202fpassion\u202fback\u202fto the region\u202fto\u202fpass on\u202fto a new generation.\u202f\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese awards\u202fshowcase\u202fthe incredible work\u00a0of people like\u00a0Adam\u00a0in\u00a0changing people\u2019s lives for\u00a0the better.\u202f\u202fThey\u00a0are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our adult learning champions\u202fand show\u202fthe\u202fwealth of talent and potential\u202fwe have\u202fin\u202fthe\u00a0West\u00a0Midlands.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHearing the stories\u202ffrom the shortlisted nominees\u00a0brings\u00a0home\u202fthe role played by\u202fso many\u202fin\u00a0helping\u202flocal people\u202fimprove their\u202fjob\u202fprospects, whether through apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, or innovative programs\u202flike\u00a0Chelmsley Starters.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to the winners, those\u202fshortlisted\u202fand everyone who has been involved\u00a0and thank\u00a0you\u00a0for\u00a0sharing your inspirational experience and journeys.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Mayor<\/p>\n

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, with Chelmsley Starters chef lecturer, Dan Androne (centre) and\u202fAdam Pickett\u202f(right)\u202fat Chelmsley Starters<\/p>\n

The Adult Learning Awards\u202fceremony was\u202fhosted by\u202faward-winning broadcaster,\u00a0author\u00a0and event host,\u00a0Ed James,\u00a0best known to audiences across the West Midlands through his work on BBC Radio WM.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A passionate advocate for the region, Ed has spent more than two decades telling the stories of its people,\u00a0communities\u00a0and businesses, and is a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ed said:\u00a0\u201cAdult learning is one of the most powerful routes to confidence,\u00a0opportunity\u00a0and social mobility.\u00a0These awards celebrate people who have backed themselves, often against the odds, and taken steps to build a better future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat deserves recognition\u00a0and\u00a0it\u2019s exactly the kind of story the West Midlands should be proud to tell.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Presenting the awards alongside\u202fEd\u202fwas outstanding award-winning apprentice, Santina Bunting, one of only 150 students\u202fin her\u00a0year\u00a0to\u00a0embark\u202fon\u202fan apprenticeship journey straight after\u202ftaking her\u202fGCSEs.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

She completed her Level 3 civil engineering apprenticeship with Arup with a distinction in just two years and is now working towards her Level 6 apprenticeship at\u00a0University\u00a0of Warwick. She is also one of Arup\u2019s advocates for life-long learning.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Santina said: \u201cI’m\u202fdelighted to be back for a second year co-hosting the Adult Learner Awards. Learning has always played a significant role in my life. Since leaving school at 16 to begin my first apprenticeship, and now progressing through a degree apprenticeship, continuous learning has been a constant throughout my journey.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0why it is such a privilege to be part of an event that celebrates the transformative power of education. These awards are especially meaningful because they\u202fdemonstrate\u202fthat learning is truly lifelong.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur finalists come from a wide range of ages and backgrounds, yet they all share one common trait: a commitment to personal growth and development through learning. Their\u202fstories are inspiring and it is a pleasure to celebrate their achievements at the awards.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stephen Evans, chief executive of\u202fLearning\u202fand Work Institute, the independent policy and research\u202forganisation,\u202fwho helped develop the awards, said: \u201cLifelong learning has the power to open doors, build confidence and create new opportunities.\u202fThat’s\u202fwhy\u202fwe’re\u202fproud to support the West Midlands Adult Learning Awards for a fourth year in partnership with the WMCA.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese awards celebrate the inspiring achievements of\u00a0adult\u00a0learners,\u00a0tutors\u00a0and\u00a0organisations\u00a0whose\u00a0commitment to learning is transforming lives and strengthening communities across the region.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations\u202fto all the winners for 2026. We hope your stories inspire more people to take the next step in their learning journey.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Full details of winners and individual profiles are available on the\u202fWMCA website.<\/a>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026\u202fAdult Learning Award winners:<\/strong>\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n