CITY GURU COOKS UP A TREAT FOR JAMIE.

Byline: CATHERINE JONES Social Affairs Reporter

A LIVERPOOL entrepreneur has become the latest ingredient in Jamie Oliver's recipe to train talented new chefs.

Liam Black will head up the Cheeky Chops charity, which provides funding for the training programme at Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in London.

Mr Black,43,chief executive of the Liverpool-based FRC Group, will also oversee the new Fifteen Amsterdam project which is set to open in November.

Celebrity chef Oliver says Mr Black will make Cheeky Chops'management into a ``dream team'' when he arrives in August.

He added: ``He's at the top of his field and with him on board I'm looking forward to developing the charity and the Fifteen concept around the world.''

The pair met last year when they were guest speakers at a conference, and hit it off straight away.

Mr Black said: ``A mutual friend arranged for us to have a coffee and a chat about the ups and downs of running a business created to make room for unemployed people.

``We found we had a lot in common. ``It would have to be something very special to lure me away from the north west -and this is it.

``Fifteen is a great concept with the potential to offer chances to young people all over the world.''

Cheeky Chops was set up by Jamie Oliver in 2002 to fund the chefs' training programme. Around 25 new students are enrolled each year and all the profits from the restaurant go to the charity.

Mr Black says there has been interest for something similar to be started in around 30 countries, and Amsterdam is the first foreign venture.

But it will mean leaving the pioneering Furniture Resource Centre, which grew from a small charity providing low-cost furniture to the socially disadvantaged, to the country's largest supplier to social landlords.

Its companies include Bulky Bob's and Revive, which creates livelihoods for long-term unemployedpeople.

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DREAM TEAM: Liam Black is to head up the Cheeky Chops charity for Jamie Oliver