A Michelin-starred chef is planning to create up to 20 jobs by moving his home delivery food business into new premises in Birmingham.
Aktar Islam, who runs Opheem in the Jewellery Quarter and Pulperia in Brindleyplace, developed ‘Aktar at Home' when the sites were closed as a result of the covid-19 restrictions.
The service currently operates from his restaurants but Mr Islam said he needed to find new space for when they reopened as lockdown restrictions were eased over the coming months.
It will now be based in a 7,300 sq ft property in Digbeth.
He said: "There's been a huge demand for Aktar at Home but more important than that is the fact it has helped me and my team to support the needy in our local community by continuing to provide hundreds of meals weekly to local charities.
"We've been operating the new service from our restaurants but once they reopen we will need our own space and this will now give us the chance to create 15 to 20 new jobs.
"We will be recruiting from the inner city, from areas that have high unemployment levels, helping some of the city's disadvantaged people into work."
The deal on the new premises in New Bartholomew Street was brokered by Jewellery Quarter property agency Siddall Jones.
Owner Edward Siddall-Jones added: "We spoke to Aktar regarding his requirements and immediately identified one of our properties that would be right for his proposed business use.
"We're really pleased to have been of assistance to Aktar. He already runs two of the city's top restaurants and, despite facing all the challenges that covid-19 has brought, it's brilliant to see him still thriving with his new business.
"As we emerge from lockdown, the property market is booming, driven by a massive lack of good industrial stock and an increase in willing tenants who are out there looking for new space."
