By: Marie Riou
The community of Paarl recently celebrated the graduation of 27 trainees that completed an eight week hospitality course which was offered by KWV as part of its corporate social investment programme.
The training was centered on basic customer service as well as an understanding of wine, and included working at various hospitality establishments around Paarl and Wellington.
KWV aims to provide free training to 200 young and unemployed people from the Paarl and Worcester communities through their skills programme by June 2010 – in order to help meet the demand in the hospitality sector for World Cup 2010 services. For this purpose, the wine and brandy company partnered with the Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development, Finance and Tourism, Casidra, The Workforce Group, Wosa (Wines of South Africa) and the trianing institution, Lets sell Lobster.
At least 50% of the trainees on the first programme have already been placed – in many cases their first formal employment ever.
Thys Loubser, CEO of KWV Holdings Ltd, stated: “The high unemployment rate in our province prompted us to embark on a corporate social investment initiative to address the skills shortage crisis by training unemployed youth of Paarl in the hospitality and tourism sector. This sector indirectly supports KWV’s growth ambitions for its brands in the local market.”
Mr Alan Winde, MEC for Economic Development, Finance and Tourism was the guest speaker at the graduation event in KWV’s Cathedral Cellar. He reiterated the need for the private sector to assist government in creating jobs for the unemployed. The certificates were handed out by Mr Winde.
Shanet Abraham who spoke on behalf of the graduates thanked KWV for the wonderful opportunity. She commented that even thought the programme was at times hard, it was worth all the effort they had to put in.
The local establishments that supported KWV by offering practical exposure are 10 Chapters, Cascade Country Manor, Diva's Café, John Dory's at the Paarl Mall, Laborie Restaurant, De Luga's, Marc's Mediterranean Cuisine and Garden, Monte Christo Coffee Shop, Noop, Pasta Vino, the Victorian Restaurant at Rheebokskloof Wine Estate Terra Mare, Pasedena Spur, Red Mountain Spur and Traumerei.
KWV is one of the leading wine and brandy producers in South Africa. Its head office is located in Paarl, in the Western Cape region – one of the country’s top wine producing regions. The company sources wines and grapes from the best and most sought after viticultural regions in South Africa. KWV is known internationally for brands such as Roodeberg, KWV Lifestyle, Laborie, Golden Kaan, Cathedral Cellar, Café Culture and the KWV 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 Year Old brandies.