François Ferreira Skills Academy opens its doors
The opening of the Francois Ferreira Skills Academy (FFSA) was celebrated with a stylish cocktail party at Oubaai Hotel Golf and Spa on Thursday 16 August.
The establishment of the FFSA is the result of an extraordinary partnership between the well-established cookery school, Africa Skills Village, the Eden District Municipality and Oubaai Hotel Golf and Spa, who provides the premises.
The collaboration is already bearing fruit. “The first students who completed the CaterCare Course in May have gone on to do the Assistant Chef’s Course at the Skills Academy, where a dedicated team of lecturers are giving hands-on training in the classrooms and kitchens,” said Principal François Ferreira.
The Eden District Municipality has funded the CaterCare Course for the past nine years, and are very committed to skills development in the Garden Route. Oubaai Hotel will take on 12 of the Assistant
Chef students to carry out their practical experience in the hotel kitchens.
Vice-Principal Denise Lindley says that the growth of the academy since its launch in 2004, required moving to larger premises in 2017. “We signed an agreement with Mount View Resort to build new, bigger, purposebuilt premises, and in June this year, the Academy moved to the new school with the Master Chef style kitchen.”
Kiddies classes were held during the winter holidays, where children aged 8 to 13 had fun learning about muffins and cupcakes, pizza making, drinks and desserts.
The classes are very popular and early booking is recommended - phone Liezle on 044 884 0765. Francois and Denise regard the establishment of the Skills Academy as fortuitous. While negotiations were underway at Mount View Resort, Elsie Harmse of Africa Skills Village spoke to François of an opportunity to work together at premises at Oubaai Hotel Golf and Spa, and it was decided to open a Skills Academy in their Anchor Store.