Great hospitality is never just about what is on the plate or in the glass. It is also about the people who bring the experience together.
The welcome. The timing. The confidence at the table. The knowledge behind a wine recommendation. The small details that turn good service into something memorable.
That is why Clearworld Suppliers, together with S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, partnered with Sommeliers Academy on an ongoing upliftment scholarship programme designed to support service excellence in South Africa’s restaurant, hotel and bar industry.
The programme was created to help hospitality professionals grow their skills in beverage and wine service, while giving them access to training that may otherwise be out of reach.
Raising the Standard, One Course at a Time
South Africa’s hospitality industry is full of talented, hard-working people. Many already have the passion, personality and practical experience needed to thrive in restaurants, hotels, bars and cafés. What they do not always have is access to formal training that can take their careers further.
The Upliftment Scholarship Programme was built to help close that gap.
Administered by Sommeliers Academy, the programme supports individuals already working in hospitality who are motivated to improve their skills, build their confidence and grow within the industry. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees and examination costs, with private mentoring and SASA membership included where required.
For candidates, that means more than a certificate. It means opportunity. It means being able to step into service with stronger knowledge, better technique and a clearer path forward.
A Partnership Built Around Service
S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna have long been part of the culinary, wine and mixology world. On the table, behind the bar or alongside a meal, both brands are closely connected to dining experiences where detail matters.
That makes their involvement in the scholarship programme a natural fit.
Alongside Clearworld, S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are supporting the people who shape the guest experience every day. From wine stewards to junior sommeliers, the programme helps hospitality professionals refine the kind of skills that make service feel effortless, informed and generous.
For Clearworld, this partnership reflects a simple belief. The industry becomes stronger when the people in it are supported.
Training with Real Industry Value
Sommeliers Academy was founded in 2016 to meet the growing demand for world-class wine service and sommelier training in South Africa’s fast-moving hospitality industry.
Today, it is recognised as a leading sommelier training provider in Africa, training hundreds of students each year through a team of experienced international sommeliers and highly qualified facilitators.
Through the Upliftment Scholarship Programme, candidates can access courses ranging from wine steward training to junior sommelier development. The training also includes practical areas such as stock management, recycling protocols and the use of local resources, helping participants build skills that support both service excellence and more sustainable hospitality practices.
Importantly, the courses follow ASI, Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, guidelines. Participants receive SASA certification, recognised through the South African Sommeliers Association and connected to international sommelier standards.
Supporting Careers, Not Just Courses
Hospitality is built on people. Behind every smooth service, every confident pairing and every great guest experience, there are teams who have learned their craft through long hours, repetition and care.
The scholarship programme recognises that existing experience and adds to it.
It is designed for people who are already active in hospitality and have a strong motivation to advance their skills, but who may not be able to fund their own upskilling. Training is currently available in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, with further nationwide options possible through Sommeliers Academy.
That accessibility matters. When training reaches the people already working in the industry, the impact is felt quickly. In restaurants. In hotels. In bars. At the table.
Investing in the Future of South African Hospitality
As a supplier to South Africa’s HORECA industry, Clearworld works closely with restaurants, hotels, bars, cafés and retailers across the country. We see the skill, pressure and creativity that go into hospitality every day.
We also know that great products are only part of the story. The best ingredients and beverages need knowledgeable people behind them. People who understand service, pairing, presentation and the role each detail plays in the full guest experience.
Through this partnership with S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Sommeliers Academy, Clearworld is proud to support training that gives hospitality professionals more room to grow.
Because when service gets stronger, the whole industry benefits.
Apply or Find Out More
The Upliftment Scholarship Programme is open to South Africans already working in hospitality who are motivated to further their skills and education.
Applications can be made through Clearworld Suppliers, with the selection process managed by Clearworld and training overseen by Sommeliers Academy.
For enquiries and applications, contact sales@clearworld.co.za.
