CEO and Founder of Welcome Skills
Welcome Skills has grown internationally over the past 19 years to be highly respected and trusted amongst its clientele and has achieved numerous awards.
Kulsum founded Welcome Skills in 2003 after recognising the need for skilled and quality hospitality professionals. She won a Catey for Best in Education and Training in 2017 for her achievements in vocational training in the UK. Amongst the committees she has been involved with are: Member of the Home Office Committee for Hospitality Sector Work Permits, Member of the Board of People 1st , Asian and Oriental Cuisine Panel – People 1st., Director – Yumn Brasserie, Director – Yumn @ Boxpark, Croydon, Founder and Director of Welcome Skills International Hospitality School, Dhaka & Sylhet, Bangladesh. Judge for Catey’s Award 2018.International Hospitality Awards – Global Culinary Educator Award.Diploma for Support 2017/18 – The Craft Guild of Chefs.
Faisal has completed a B.A (Hons) in International Relations and Politics. He has over a decade of experience in the Hospitality sector.
Previously Dean and Head of the London School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of West London. Professor Foskett is a member of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Craft Guild of Chefs and a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.
He sits on various committees advising on higher and further education specialising in hospitality education and training and has carried out extensive research and consultancy in the hospitality and food industry for large corporate organisations, small businesses, Private households, Hotels and Restaurants, Royal Palaces, Colleges and Universities. He has helped to raise well over a million pounds for education projects and charitable causes especially the Clink Charity which helps to educate offenders before their release to help prevent them reoffending.
He is co-author of Practical Cookery Levels 1, 2 and 3, Theory of Hospitality and Catering, Food and Beverage Management, and Hospitality Supervision These books have sold over 2 million copies and are used in 140 countries, He has won many awards over the past 40 years, including a Queens Anniversary Award for outstanding hospitality education and the British Hospitality Centenary Award also for exemplary hospitality education. In 2016 he was appointed the Chair of the International Olympiad and The International Hospitality Council in India. He is on the management committee of the Craft Guild of Chefs, The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and has served on the supervisory board of The Insitute of Hospitality.
Suzanne is an experienced Hospitality trainer and educationalist having worked in the industry for almost 40 years. With both industry experience and 23 years as a senior lecturer, course leader in International Hospitality Management and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Previously she was the Director of: The Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS), Hospitality & Leisure Manpower (HALM) and Hospitality Accreditation Training Consultancy Service (HATCS). Working extensively with The Meeting Industry Association (MIA) as their External Assessor, she provides an independent and impartial verification that the venues are safe, legal and compliant, as well as following the requirements for the all MIA AIM Higher standards. She also delivers butler training to Royal Palaces and specialist colleges and companies across the world.
Suzanne is also author of several leading Food & Beverage Service and management text books for industry including City & Guilds, as well as consulting on and creating on-line training courses at level 2 & 3 in food service, bar tending and management for other education providers.
Our Recruitment and Training Manager, holds a BA Hospitality Management from the University of West London and has over 15 years’ experience.
Waseem is the legal eagle in our team. After completing the BA Hons in Law and the Bar exams, he spent time working in criminal, housing and probate law. At Welcome Skills, Waseem is in charge of Recruitment and Employers relations.
Gary has over 37 years working in the Hospitality industry as a chef and culinary educator, working in prestigious clubs, restaurants, casinos and as a personal chef working for a Count and Countess on the Greek Island of Corfu. He has spent the last 16 years as a Culinary Lecturer, Head of Department and Director, working in London and Saudi Arabian colleges, academies and universities, teaching, managing, and developing culinary arts and hospitality courses up to bachelor’s degree level.
In 2014 Gary obtained a Master’s Degree in Culinary Arts Business Management with Distinction from the University of West London. He is a qualified teacher and affiliated to culinary and academic associations including: An Academician in the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Master Craftsman in the Craft Guild of Chefs, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Association.
He has co-authored seven culinary arts and hospitality academic texts including: Hospitality Supervision and Leadership 2015 and the e-learning versions and online resources for six of the Practical Cookery Books 2007 to 2017.
