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.”