Indian and Nepalese restaurant owners in Torbay have praised support they received from Torbay Council to improve their hygiene ratings, as a series of tailored workshops are planned to support local businesses in the area.

The project to help local Indian and Nepalese restaurant owners in Torbay improve their hygiene standards has been a great success with a number of local businesses benefitting from grants and gaining improved food hygiene ratings as a result of the actions they put in place following advice from Torbay Council’s environmental health team.

The scheme was led by Torbay Council with national funding from the Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). A series of free workshops are now planned by TDA and Torbay Council from 16 January to mid-February, aimed at providing free advice and support to more Indian and Nepalese restaurant owners.

Among those benefitting from the support was Tandoori Nights in Torquay Road, Preston, Paignton. The owners Mr Shazazad Ali Khan and Mrs Jobada Khan received support including a mentoring visit from the Council’s environmental health team.

Mr Khan who has run Tandoori Nights for the past 16 years and has 25 years’ experience in the business, said: “The support we have had from the Council has been really good, the person who came to visit us on the mentoring visit was really friendly and we got some really good advice.We have now got a food hygiene rating of 4 which we are really pleased with. We are also talking to a lot of other restaurant owners now as a result of the support we have had.

“The new workshops sound really good so I would encourage other restaurant owners in Torbay to go to them.”

Rehan Uddin is Managing Director of the Asian Restaurant Owners Network (ARON). He said: “Over the past two years the Asian Restaurant Owners Network has been pushing for change within the Asian Hospitality industry. At this meeting we had 14 local Asian restauranteurs join a group meeting to improve professional standards. The group plans to implement a support network to begin later in the year.

“Having implemented ground breaking changes in my restaurant regarding changing the landscape of Asian hospitality, I implored all local Asian restauranteurs to raise their standards, improve community connections and work alongside the TDA to improve skills in marketing and business management. The free workshops that Torbay Council and TDA are offering will be an incredible asset to the businesses.”

Councillor Christine Carter, Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services said: “We are committed to helping local businesses to succeed, grow, be successful and survive, which is why we identified that these businesses in Torbay needed extra support and advice. The work we did with BEIS and local restaurant owners has been a great success with several improving their food hygiene ratings as a result. These workshops will also provide some great advice and support so we are pleased to work with the TDA on this follow up project.”

Richie Indian restaurant and takeaway in Braddons Hill Road, West Torquay also received support. Having initially only received a hygiene rating of 1, Richie Indian were offered a free mentoring visit with two hours of officer time outside of a normal inspection, where they worked through the last inspection report and were given information, clarification and support to help them improve their standards.

As a result of the additional support they received, Richie Indian was then given a food hygiene rating of 4 at their next unannounced inspection.

Mrs Subramanian who runs Richie Indian with Mr Devadhason, said: “We are new owners running a food business for the first time. At first we did our best but then when Torbay Council Environmental Health Officers helped and supported us with what we had to do it gave us more confidence like with allergy information and streamlining the food safety paperwork. Now we have a 4 rating and we are very happy. This is good for our business.”

Free workshops for local Indian and Nepalese restaurant owners

From 16 January 2020 a series of free ‘Grow your Business’ workshops are being put on by TDA with support from Torbay Council to help local businesses develop business plans, assist with financial and customer services issues and improve their marketing and social media strategy.

The free workshops are as follows:

Grow Your Business: 4-week programme

Starting Thursday 16th January, every Thursday through to Thursday 6th February 2020. Torbay Business Centre, Lymington Road, Torquay, TQ1 4BD.

The aim of the four workshops is to introduce you to working on your business plan and how you can grow your current business. It will look at business structures and compliance. The sessions will highlight the importance of business planning, costing and pricing, marketing and how to financially plan. On completion of the workshops you will have a strong foundation of which to bring your business growth plans into reality.

Please note: This course takes place each Thursday for four weeks in total. Sessions start at 10am and end at 1pm. You will need to register for and attend all sessions (for maximum benefit and to complete the programme).

Find out more or book a place see Grow your Business: 4-week programme