Curry chefs and restaurateurs from across the North East were invited to exclusive Culinary Workshop and Networking Dinner Newcastle-upon-Tyne earlier this week to discuss how to improve business and raise their game as the industry searches for more skilled curry chefs to fill their vacancies. The one-day event attended by the Masala Chef from Cobblers Hall, Newton Aycliffe was organised by Curry Life, the leading trade magazine for British curry houses, which has been championing British curry cuisine and curry chefs Curry – one of the nation’s favourite dishes – is under threat from shortage of skilled chefs and the reluctance of a new generation to work in the sector is threatening to undermine an industry that provides jobs for around 100,000 people, not to mention £4.5bn for the UK economy. Some analysts fear a third of the UK’s 12,000 curry houses face closure. Event organiser and editor of Curry Life Magazine, Syed Belal Ahmed, said: “Chefs tend to get stuck in the kitchen so events like this at Newcastle, the centre of Northern Power House, are important so they can meet each other and share ideas. “The curry industry is one of the success stories of British cuisine and it is important that we always strive to get better.”