Barcode Bar Academy launch

The 12th and 13th August saw key industry and media players gather to congratulate the Barcode team on the opening of their much-anticipated school. Far more than a simple bartending training facility, the Barcode Bar Academy offers skills development to individuals and companies in all aspects of the hospitality industry, with a special focus on bartending, cocktail-training and management.

With more than five years experience at the front line of South Africa's mobile bar and beverage industry, Barcode is well-placed to convert extensive experience and consistent creativity into sound working principles. This applies to individuals looking to build their own personal skills, and businesses wishing to train and develop their staff.

Integral to the academy's progressive approach is the promise of a return on investment to all organisations that require training, development and consultation. This is ensured by comprehensive pre-training analysis of the relevant company's operation to identify any performance gaps, as well as detailed report backs to highlight sustainable returns.

All the academy's programmes are Unit Standard aligned and linked to the National Qualifications Framework, while the school is in the process of achieving its Phase B accreditation, thus ensuring that all companies who submit Workplace Skills Plans are able to claim grants back from their SETA's.

The Barcode Bar Academy was instrumental in organising the regional round of the SKYY Global Flair Challenge which took place at Suncoast's Havana Wine Bar and Grill on Friday 12th September 2008. It was a premium event, with the Durban winner to be flown to Johannesburg to compete in the national final. The national winner will be South Africa's ambassador at the SKYY Global Flair Grand Final in Monte Carlo.

Barcode's consultants will also return to Carnival City in November to assist in the judging of the King of Africa 2008 - the only international bartending competition to be held on African soil. With its R100 000 prize money, the competition offers one of the biggest purses on the international bartending competition circuit and is sure to attract some of the world's finest bartenders. As official bar supplier, Barcode is proud to be a sponsor of this world-class event and all the positive benefits it promises for the development of the South African bartending industry.