KNYSNA NEWS - The Francois Ferreira Academy is a Hospitality Training Provider situated in George, and is assisting the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative (GRRI) to supply Hospitality accredited training to staff members who have been affected by the fires.
While they are still awaiting funding from the GRRI to carry out training for a total of 440 people, some funding has been sourced in the mean time to train 30 employees, by SKAL, an International Tourism organisation
The objective is to firstly focus on training staff members who have lost their jobs due to the fires, then secondly to up skill existing staff members, and finally to train unemployed people and find them full time employment in the hospitality industry.
As the Garden Route depends very much on income from Tourism, the GRRI want to attract the tourists back to the area, by offering outstanding quality service to the tourists.
All courses are accredited by CATHSSETA, except the Wine Steward Course, which is accredited with the Cape Wine Academy.
Training will take place at Blackwaters Lodge, just outside Knysna, until other premises have been arranged within Knysna by the GRRI.
This preliminary call for trainees, is for 20 staff for the Table Attendant Course, and 10 for the Wine Service Course, and preference for this initial training will be given to staff from SKAL member establishments.
Thereafter, as more funding becomes available, trainees will be taken from all establishments, but still giving preference to;
- Employees who have lost their jobs due to the fires, (the names of these employees who are claiming UIF have been given to us by the Department of Labour in Knysna)
- Existing employees who need to be up skilled.
- Unemployed people from the ages of 18-35 who demonstrate that they want to gain employment in the hospitality industry. The selection criteria for these trainees is very strict, to ensure that the trainees succeed in obtaining a job and starting on a career path in the industry. We do not want to do training just for the sake of it.
As all the courses that will be presented are accredited by CATHSSETA, all the trainees have to be placed in industry for their practical experience, as part of their training, so we will welcome any establishments to come forward who are willing to take trainees.
It is pointless placing trainees in industry for their practical learning if we do not have the buy in of the employers and management.
To this end, we will hold meetings with all establishment owners and managers prior to the commencement of the training, to outline their responsibilities.
Please note that ALL trainees will be required to write a test on completion of the training, and certificates will be issued from CATHSSETA and the Francois Ferreira Academy to the successful candidates.
The success of the training is a 3 way street, and is dependent on:
- The trainee
- The quality of the training
- The buy in of the establishment management
So it is the responsibility of us all to make this training a success not only for the trainees, but for YOUR establishments, and the Garden Route as a whole.
The start date of the initial training is scheduled for 30 October, with 20th October for the interviews to take place at 09.00 at Blackwaters Lodge. 25 October will be the briefing for all establishment owners, and the trainees.
Please have the initial applications sent to marketing@francoisferreira.com by 18 October, and you will be notified whether the employees must attend the interviews.
Once more funding has been secured, a full training calendar will be sent out again, asking for applications.
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