The British Curry Club, a new organisation with a £1m marketing budget, has been set up to support and promote Britain's 9,500 South Asian restaurants and their estimated 80,000 workers.
The industry is struggling with a shortage of qualified chefs since the UK tightened immigration laws in 2008 but cultural practices frowning upon women working in restaurants also affect the sector.
Shamim Chowdhury reports from London
