The Wild Coast Sun has launched an Academy focusing on providing world-class training and skills development across the hospitality, gaming and food services sectors in a first for the region.
The Wild Coast Academy opened its doors on 11 July 2022 and will run in conjunction with the International Hotel School (IHS) and Summit, which develops specialised course curriculae for various industry sectors.
According to Wild Coast Sun General Manager Peter Tshidi, the Academy will form an integral part of the resort’s Socio-Economic Development (SED) programme.
Tshidi said: “It is our hope that the Academy will provide people from the region with the requisite training opportunities to enter and excel in the broader hospitality and food and beverage management sectors.”
The Wild Coast Sun is the Sun International Group’s only beachfront resort and second oldest property after Sun City and is located about 170 kilometres south of Durban.
Up to now, local residents hoping to study towards a career in the hospitality industry had to travel and stay in Durban at huge expense.
The Wild Coast Sun Academy will be offering a 50% discount on courses initially, while Tshidi said the number of learners would increase from 15 to 30 a year to deserving beneficiaries.
“The Wild Coast Academy now offers world-class training right on the doorstep of our stakeholder communities, and we are immensely proud of this achievement and the transformative role it can play in economic development and empowerment in this region,” he added.
The following courses will be available at The Wild Coast Academy:
Hospitality Management Programmes
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Operations Management
- Diploma in Hospitality Management
- Higher Certificate in Hospitality Management
- Higher Certificate in Food and Beverage Management
Culinary programmes
- Diploma in Professional Cookery and Kitchen Management
- Professional Cookery Programmes
- Patisserie Programmes
- Professional Cookery Programme
- National Certificate in Professional Cookery
- Assistant Chef Programme
Strategic partner Summit has trained over 35,000 people across the hospitality, food services, retail, gaming, mining and franchise operations sectors, while the International Hotel School has been voted No.1 in Africa and in the Top 50 Hospitality & Hotel Management Schools in the world.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be working alongside world-class partners in Summit and the International Hotel School as part of the Wild Coast Academy and believe this will open new doors and horizons for those interested in a career in the hospitality industry,” Tshidi concluded.
The launch of the Academy follows on from the very successful SMME Business and Networking conference which was hosted at the Wild Coast Sun in March, in conjunction with a number of key government stakeholders, including the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEFA), the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Developmental Affairs and Tourism (DETEAT), and the Alfred Ndzo District Municipality and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEDA).
Tshidi said the SMME conference was part of the Wild Coast Sun’s role in supporting the development and sustainability of micro, small and medium enterprises, so as to contribute to job creation, local economic development and transformation in the area.
In line with this, the Wild Coast Sun Academy is also offering courses for SMMEs in bookkeeping and business skills to help capacitate small businesses and to help facilitate their entry into formal supply chain processes.
SMME Short Learning Programmes/Workshops
- Basics of Bookkeeping
- Procurement standard operating procedures (SOP) and structuring request for proposals (RFP)
- Food Safety
- Business plan creation
- Key pillars of scaling a business
SMME Management Development (Run online with Tutor support)
- NQF Level 4 Management Qualification
- Hospitality Management
- NQF Level 5 Management Qualification (run online with tutor support)
“We believe the courses will help grow the SMME sector through ongoing support and knowledge sharing,” Tshidi said.
Wild Coast Sun aims to facilitate the development and sustainability of micro, small and medium enterprises so as to contribute to job creation, local economic development and transformation in the area.
Image Courtesy: Supplied