For the first time in the wine industry, the South African Wine Industry Professional Body (SAWIPB) was launched at the KWV Cathedral Cellar in Paarl in the Western Cape.
The SAWIPB intends to serve and practice as a voluntary self-regulated professional body that fosters an enabling environment for development and grows the maturity of identified disciplines in the industry. This will be done by contributing to its body of knowledge, its relevance, governing principles, and accessibility to new and existing practitioners.
A new leaf
South Africa Wine people and skills development manager Kachné Ross said the SAWIPB was established to develop people and support industry-related entities to ensure social sustainability.
“The professional body is mandated to grow the competency base of the industry’s workers using voluntary association, which is formalised with specific designations.
“With this initiative, we aim to maintain knowledge and skills to perform optimally, to help workers remain up to date with new technology, regulations, and industry trends, and to inform decision processes aimed at growing the industry,” he said.
Four key cornerstones
In its mandate to support the development of people in the South African wine industry, SAWIPB has four specific functions namely, to inform industry-specific people development initiatives, designate individuals, promote participation in the professional body, and build a support structure within the wine industry.
SAWIPB plans on promoting the skills and competence of people in the industry’s four sub-sectors: primary production, secondary production, tourism and marketing, and logistics and distribution.
“The SAWIPB will also be assisting in learning and development initiatives to address skills needs, monitor and address the equity targets in the industry, acknowledge worker potential, initiate and manage continuous professional development, and promote a professional code of conduct.
A huge boost for career development
“I am extremely excited about this initiative. By launching the SAWIPB, the wine industry receives a customised all-in-one structure for people and career development,” she said.
According to Ross, by being a member, people can follow a learning pathway that promotes their careers, and they can be designated as industry professionals.
“They can apply for recognition of previous learning that contributes to obtaining designations and qualifications and are part of a system that promotes ethical conduct and socially sustainable practices,” Ross said.
SAWIPB set to enable transformation
Chief executive officer Rico Basson said South Africa Wine regards SAWIPB as a vital strategic asset that not only supports the industry’s people and skills development processes but also enables the industry’s transformation.
“Our people are what drives this industry, therefore we are committed to empowering them through career development,” he said.
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