IT provides not only delicious food but also training and work experience for adults with learning disabilities.

Now Krumbs Café, in Tanner Row, has been nominated for The Press Shop Of The Year award.

The café is a joint venture by the national learning disability and mental health charity United Response, in association with City of York Council.

Students there can gain a national vocational qualification (NVQ) in hospitality and catering, while developing skills including food preparation, handling money and serving customers.

The shop was nominated by customer Jackie Briggs, and also by service manager Angela Bennett, who describes it as “one of York’s hidden gems”.

She said: “It provides excellent service to its loyal lunchtime crowd, with freshly produced meals and home-made cakes to eat in the café or to takeaway.

“As importantly, it offers invaluable training and opportunities to adults with learning disabilities, who are looking for careers in catering and hospitality. The students all help to create the menu and design the specials, and work incredibly hard to make Krumbs a success.”

The Shop Of The Year award, intended to reward and recognise exceptional quality of service, is part of the York Means Business campaign, which aims to promote and support businesses across York, North and East Yorkshire during the recession.

The winner will enjoy a night for two at York’s luxurious hotel, the Dean Court near the Minster, before a champagne breakfast and then a trip in a stretch limo with White Stretch Limousines of Riccall to York Racecourse, to attend The Press Family Raceday.