Pizza Crew founder and World Pizza Champion, Ciaran Kelly, has fulfilled a long-held ambition to pass on his knowledge and skills to the next generation of pizza chefs.

The Belfast entrepreneur partnered with Belfast Met and the Northern Ireland Food To Go Association to deliver an intensive three-week Pizza Chef Academy – the first course delivered as part of the new Food-To-Go Academy.

Ciaran, who has decades of experience in both pizza making and running successful takeaway operations, said he is “immensely proud” to help shape the future of the industry.

Ciaran Kelly said: “I’m a huge proponent of encouraging people to consider a career as a pizza chef. It’s a craft, a science and a business and when you understand all three, the opportunities are endless. Passing on what I’ve learned over the years is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and this course is designed to give students real, practical skills they can take straight into a professional kitchen.

“I was inspired in part by my friend and mentor, pizza legend John Arena, who has always believed strongly in sharing knowledge and uplifting the next generation. As members of the World Pizza Champions, that culture of learning, mentoring and giving back is something John encourages.”

The Northern Ireland Food To Go Association said the new Academy aims to address ongoing recruitment challenges within the sector, while offering participants a genuine pathway into employment.

Ciaran continued: “Over the three-week course we covered everything from knife skills to the science of dough and toppings, and I worked hands-on with the students every day. They’ve had live work experience at established local pizzerias, including Pizza Crew, and finished with a finalist showcase meal. It’s the kind of training I wish had existed when I was starting out.”

The three-week Pizza Chef Academy was fully funded by the Department for the Economy NI through Skill Up, helped to equip participants with essential skills needed to work in a modern pizzeria or food-to-go environment.

Ciaran concluded: “We’re always keen to meet enthusiastic people who want to build a career in pizza making. If it’s something you’re passionate about, drop me an email at [email protected] and I’ll be in touch. Experience is helpful, but it’s not essential as passion and drive matter most. We have a fantastic team who are always happy to share their knowledge with new trainees.”