Chef Aktar Islam made Honorary Fellow | News | University College Birmingham

September 2024

Acclaimed Birmingham chef Aktar Islam made Honorary Fellow of university

By Melanie Hall

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Aktar Islam, a driving force behind the city’s ever-growing food scene, has been made an Honorary Fellow of University College Birmingham.

The Birmingham-born chef and owner of two-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant Opheem on Summer Row, close to the University, received his fellowship at the graduation ceremonies at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday 20 September.

Aktar has been a great supporter of the University’s Birmingham College of Food over the years, taking on many students on placement and in paid roles to aid their development and build their confidence, while tapping into a new generation of talent.

Michael Harkin, Vice-Chancellor at University College Birmingham, said Aktar was an inspiration to students and the whole community.

“Aktar Islam is a true modern day success story of Birmingham," he said. "From humble origins working in his father’s restaurant, Aktar has become a national culinary icon and a wonderful ambassador for our city. During the Covid-19 lockdown of Spring 2020, Aktar launched a home-grown apprenticeship scheme focused on recruitment in areas of high unemployment or disadvantage, hiring more than 30% of kitchen staff from applicants with no industry background.

"Widening participation is a key focus for us and Aktar has supported us in this and many other aspects of our mission. Given his achievement of becoming the first two Michelin-starred chef in the city and our Birmingham College of Food’s long history of culinary excellence in education, it is most fitting that we welcome Aktar as an Honorary Professor and Fellow today.”

Opheem opened its doors in 2018 and, after receiving its first Michelin star in 2019, became the first in Birmingham to receive a second. It is one of only four Indian restaurants worldwide to hold two stars.

Growing up in Aston, Aktar began working in the restaurant owned by his father, who came to the UK from Bangladesh, at the age of 13. By age 20 he had opened his own restaurant, Karma, followed by Lasan two years later.

Multiple successes ensued, the restaurant winning Channel 4’s The F Word in 2010 and featured in lists of the UK’s Top 10 Indian Restaurants in both The Times and The Independent.

Aktar reached the final of the BBC’s Great British Menu in 2011 and was subsequently awarded the title of Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in 2012, before attending a reception with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace commending his contribution to the British hospitality industry.

He has appeared on numerous TV shows including Market Kitchen, Saturday Kitchen and The One Show, and regularly judges and mentors on BBC shows MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu.

Find out more about Birmingham College of Food.