Former Mayor visits Bluebell Wood to see the vision made real

December 2025

By Claire Huggins

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Read time: approx 4 mins

Two years ago, the then Mayor of the West Midlands, Sir Andy Street CBE was one of a group of people who had the idea of bringing a culinary school and eatery to Chelmsley Wood.

And on a recent visit, Andy was on site to see that vision finally made real.

“We talked about this as just an idea two years ago, but the really wonderful thing is that here it is – on the ground, getting people from across this area into careers in hospitality,” he said. “I’m very hopeful that amongst the students, we’ll find the next celebrity chef of the future.”

Andy was hosted by Adam Pickett, Interim Head of Department and chef lecturer, and Professor Rosa Wells, FE Principal and Dean for STEM as he took a full behind-the-scenes tour. He was taken on the same journey that the students undertake each morning: starting in the Chelmsley Starters lobby where students have time to chat, get changed and prepare themselves for the day ahead, the lobby mirrors the same messaging that greets FE students in our campus buildings, alongside notes on food sustainability and a motivational quote from one of Birmingham’s favourite sons – celebrity chef and TV personality, Glynn Purnell.

Main photo L-R: Cole Rogers (student), Dan Androne (chef lecturer), Adam Pickett and Andy Street

The tour moved on through the back-of-house areas and into the heart of the operation, the professional kitchen, generously equipped with industry-standard equipment from Hobart, where Andy was introduced to the students on both the award and certificate ‘Introduction to Hospitality’ courses, as well as team members, Dan Androne, Sarah Gibbons and Teagan Fearon.

Before he left, Andy was keen to express his feelings about what he’d seen at Chelmsley Starters and Bluebell Wood: “I am full of admiration for the team at University College Birmingham because they have done an outstanding job.

"It takes bravery to transform old units into a really lovely, welcoming space.”

In line with the academic year, both Chelmsley Starters and Bluebell Wood will be closed on Friday 19 December and re-open on Monday 5 January 2026.

The next ‘introduction to hospitality’ course for those aged 19 and over, starts on Thursday 8 January.

If you or someone you know is ready to turn their cooking passion into a profession, they can register their interest here.

"I am full of admiration for the team at University College Birmingham because they have done an outstanding job. It takes bravery to transform old units into a really lovely, welcoming space"

Sir Andy Street CBE Mayor of the West Midlands (2017 to 2024)