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Cover Story - We Can't Do Anything Without Small Businesses
Building A Sustainable Future For The Food and Beverage Industry
By Fiona Wakelin & Koketso Mamabolo
2030 is fast approaching and with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals yet to be achieved, future-proofing is a priority across all sectors-including food and beverage. The sector faces considerable shifts due to factors such as geopolitical dynamics, climate change and technological advancements. These changes bring new skills requirements to sustain growth and address emerging challenges.
This is where the Food and Beverages Manufacturing Sector Education Training Authority (FoodBev SETA) plays a crucial role. With a refreshed brand image emphasing its manufacturing core, FoodBev Manufacturing SETA reinforces its commitment to providing skills development opportunities for both employed and unemployed individuals, remaining steadfast in its mandate.
“We facilitate the delivery of various learning programmes, including internships, learnerships, apprenticeships, bursaries, skills programmes, recognition of prior learning and more,” explains Nokuthula Selamolela, the multi-award-winning CEO of the SETA, who has led the SETA for over half a decade.
FoodBev Manufacturing SETA supports career developments in rural and township areas, educating young people on available career opportunities based on research and developing qualifications that are sector-relevant and responsive. Additionally, the SETA provides grant funding, drawing from revenue from skills development levies contributed by companies in food and beverages production, which are then allocated to address the sector’s diverse skills development needs.
A Sustainable Future
As Nokuthula explains, the sector is impacted by global trends and must adapt continuously. Among key trends, she notes the shift towards plantbased alternatives and the increased consumer demand for organic and natural food products.
“Consumers are increasingly seeking options that are free from artificial additives, preservatives and high levels of sugar and salt,” says Nokuthula. She points to South Africa’s sugar tax, the rise in health consciousness among younger generations, and how companies are embracing sustainable, eco-friendly practices. These include reducing waste, conserving water and minimising energy consumption.
“There’s a strong push towards very eco- friendly packaging and ingredient sourcing. There’s also a growing trend to supporting local products and SMMEs, especially after the pandemic highlighted the importance of local sourcing”, she notes.
Focusing on the local supply chain - which is driven by the need for new products - is particularly important given the levels of youth unemployment in the country and the need to support the local economy. Not only is the SETA promoting sustainable practices among the businesses in its sector, but it’s also focusing on developing the ‘future’ skills which are needed for agro processing, renewable energy and waste management.
“Currently we’re collaborating with Energy and Water SETA (EWSETA) to train TVET graduates who have qualified in electrical engineering and other trade related qualifications, where they’re going to learn about solar manufacturing. There’s a serious trend of using solar energy in South Africa because of loadshedding, which also helps the environment.
“‘We saw an opportunity to empower Africa’s solar future by supporting graduates in acquiring cutting-edge skills in solar panel manufacturing, maintenance, and operation through a one-year programme in China.”
FoodBev Manufacturing SETA is also working with local communities to create opportunities that alleviate unemployment, particularly in rural areas. “We have initiatives in place that support rural development, whether through apprentice training, business training on regulatory compliance, or community education on recognising counterfeit foods and food fraud.”
Governance and Stakeholder Engagement
Upholding high standards of governance is central to FoodBev SETA’s operations, Nokuthula asserts. “We ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity across all our processes, which is a core part of our values. This includes adhering strictly to regulatory requirements and committing to ethical decision-making.”
Stakeholder engagement is key to FoodBev SETA’s success, ensuring that programmes are relevant, impactful, and collaborative. This collaboration spans government bodies, educational institutions, the private sector, and communities, supporting progress toward the 2030 goals. Of these goals, three - quality education, decent work and economic growth, and responsible production and consumption - are the SETA’s primary focus areas. “Our new visual identity aligns with our mission to drive and innovate in developing quality through robust partnerships, enabling us to transform and build a competitive sector.”
Sector Engagement
The FoodBev Manufacturing SETA consists of five chambers and 13 sub-sectors, each with committees representing labour organisations, employers, and skills development groups. The committees serve as a bridge between the SETA and the sector.
“We hold quarterly meetings with these chamber committees to keep our finger on the pulse of sector needs - they help us understand required qualifications and emerging trends. When we develop our sector skills plan and conduct research, we run it by them for input. We use them as our focus group when we need to have one-on-ones discussions with the sector, interviewing them as sector experts,” explains Nokuthula.
FoodBev SETA’s research and development team conducts research that informs the Sector Skills Plan (SSP), with input from the University of the Witwatersrand’s research chair. The SSP identifies skills gaps, change drivers, and potential partnerships to develop the necessary skills base.
The SETA also conducts impact studies to assess the effectiveness of its interventions. The SETA conducted research on emerging skills in the manufacturing sector, identifying the future skills required to meet industry demands. The report emphasises the growing need for digital skills training, as automation is increasingly transforming manufacturing processes. “We conduct an in-depth skills gaps analysis that identifies areas with skilled worker shortages. This helps us then prioritise funding for programmes that address these gaps,” explains Nokuthula. “We also communicate through our chambers, ensuring the sector understands which new qualifications are necessary to remain relevant in an evolving world.”
Supporting Small Businesses
“Most companies in the sector are small businesses, and the SETA has developed programmes to support entrepreneurs in building supplier capabilities and promoting economic inclusion,” - Nokuthula. The SETA offers training and up-skilling opportunities to help these businesses meet industry requirements, with access to grant funding to enhance their skills and grow their operations.
She also notes that small business owners often lack access to structured skills development plans, therefore the SETA pairs them with business coaches and mentors from the industry. In one example, FoodBev SETA funded an international SME programme for 25 business owners, giving them global insights to enhance their operations. “FoodBev SETA also collaborates with other entities on incubation programmes, helping entrepreneurs create viable businesses. These programmes address common challenges such as creating bankable business plans, managing finances, and accessing seed funding.”
Small businesses are key to stimulating economic growth and creating jobs, and Nokuthula believes that supporting them, developing youth talent, and enhancing public-private partnerships are essential to addressing the unemployment crisis.
“We need to advocate for expanding demand-driven skills development programmes that closely align with industry needs,” she says. She also highlights the importance of specialised programmes that address the digital age, equipping young people with the practical experience necessary to understand first-hand how things work in the real world of work.
A Call For Collective Action
In the last three years, FoodBev SETA has supported over 1 000 small businesses with skills to succeed. Training covers food safety, regulations, business development, and market exposure, as seen with the group sent to the New York Summer Fancy Food Show, where one business now exports products to the U.S.
Addressing unemployment requires collective effort, and the SETA is committed to playing its part through skills development that can alleviate poverty. Nokuthula stresses the importance of collaboration, calling on industry players to participate actively. “We ask the industry to open doors for our learners, providing mentorship and helping small businesses access markets.” The education sector, too, can benefit by partnering with the industry to ensure colleges offer relevant training for the sector.
“We are here, ready to engage. Collaborate with us so that we can develop the relevant skills the sector needs,” she says, expressing optimism for South Africa’s future with a new, collaborative government paving the way for sustainable growth.
To get in touch with FoodBev Manufacturing SETA or became a stakeholder, kindly visit www.foodbev.co.za or call 011 253 7300. Additionally, you can connect with us on social media via @foodbevseta.
