Twenty-two community members from the Vaal United Business Forum (VUBF) have strengthened their baking, catering and business management skills through a community engagement and business incubation programme sponsored by the North-West University (NWU) and hosted by the NDS Chef's Academy.
The Mastering Baking and Coordination training programme ran from 12 August to 9 October 2026 and culminated in a graduation ceremony on 28 October 2026. The programme benefited 20 women and two men, providing participants with practical skills and business knowledge to help them establish, improve and grow their enterprises.
The initiative forms part of the commitment of the NWU to community engagement, entrepreneurship development and skills transfer, with a focus on creating opportunities that can contribute to sustainable livelihoods and local economic development.
The comprehensive training covered several culinary and business-related disciplines, including health, hygiene and hazard analysis and critical control points, pastry preparation, meat and offal practicals, poultry, fish and shellfish preparation, starches and vegetables, salads and dressings, as well as hot and cold desserts and their accompanying sauces.
Participants also received training in first aid and firefighting, costing and financial and operational management. These components were designed to equip them with the knowledge to operate food-related businesses more effectively, maintain appropriate hygiene standards, manage expenses and make informed business decisions.
In addition to the broader culinary training, participants benefited from specialised instruction in cake icing and decoration, cupcake making, function planning and costing, customer care and venue decoration. The training was facilitated by chef Jacobus, popularly known as Chef J, and Simphiwe Hlongwane.
For women who already operate businesses in baking, catering and events, the programme provided an opportunity to refine their skills, improve the quality of their products and strengthen their business operations. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it offered a foundation from which to explore business opportunities in the hospitality and food services sector.
Martin Manmohan, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem project manager at the NWU, said the initiative demonstrated the commitment of the university to community engagement through meaningful partnerships and practical skills development.
"As part of the commitment of the NWU to community engagement, we recognise the importance of working with community structures and training partners to create meaningful opportunities for skills development and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Dr Johann Landsberg, manager of the bhive Enterprise Development Centre, said the programme, delivered in partnership with the NDS Chef's Academy and the VUBF, demonstrated how collaboration could empower communities with practical skills that have the potential to improve livelihoods and stimulate local economic development.
“By training 22 community members in baking, catering, food preparation, costing and business management, we aimed to equip both aspiring and established entrepreneurs with the tools to strengthen their businesses, identify opportunities and build sustainable enterprises,” he said.
“Community engagement should go beyond knowledge-sharing; it should create tangible opportunities for people to apply what they learn and make a meaningful difference in their communities. We hope that participants will use these skills to grow their businesses, create employment opportunities and contribute to the economic development of the Vaal region.
We appreciate the partnership with the NDS Chef's Academy and the Vaal United Business Forum and look forward to initiatives that continue to empower communities through skills development and entrepreneurship,” added Dr Landsberg.
Participants also expressed their appreciation to the NWU and NDS Chef's Academy for investing in their development and creating opportunities for community members to acquire skills that can translate into economic opportunities.
One of the beneficiaries, Boitumelo Kotela, described the programme as a rewarding experience that equipped her with practical skills and the confidence to turn her talents into business opportunities.
“I am grateful to have been part of the 2026 programme. The training gave me more knowledge and the confidence to start selling my cakes. I also discovered new opportunities, including event coordination, and realised that I can start small and grow. Thank you for the start-up gifts and for empowering us to become professional businesspeople.”
Twenty-two community members from the Vaal United Business Forum strengthened their baking, catering and business management skills through a community engagement and business incubation programme sponsored by the NWU and hosted by the NDS Chef's Academy.
