FOODICS, the leading cloud-based restaurant technology and payments platform in the MENA region, has signed a strategic partnership with UAE’s SaveFast, the best-in-class Training Academy accredited both locally and internationally focused on upskilling local communities and getting them ready for the job market.
The partnership was sealed during Saudi Feast 2022, the Kingdom’s most anticipated food event of the season. As part of the alliance, FOODICS and SaveFast, through its sister organization, Hospitality Institute GCC, are also launching in Riyadh a first-of-its-kind in-restaurant simulation training center in order to boost tech and non-tech skills within the F&B sector.
The unique learning center offers a safe controlled environment, which provides not only theoretical training, but much-needed hands-on and simulated training experiences, ranging from F&B customer service to F&B tech, food safety, food waste reduction and much more.
Mr. Abdulrahman Joud, Director of Foodics Academy, commented that “The FOODICS Academy Training Center was created to support the entire F&B ecosystem, from our own FOODICS talents to customers as well as community members to gain the necessary skills and knowledge needed to be able to excel in the F&B industry. Our sector is very dynamic and is supported by several strategic initiatives run by the Saudi government ministries, including the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, where they aim to create tremendous opportunities to upskill the job seekers. Our initiative aligns with these, as well as the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”
For restaurants, this initiative will give them access to certified job seekers and consequently helps them upscale their teams faster. For individual job seekers, this will allow them to increase their employability.
SaveFast Training Academy has been in operation for over 10 years and trained thousands of people around the world. Their courses are designed by experts in their fields and delivered by experienced trainers who have worked with different industries, which makes them an ideal partner for FOODICS.
Ms. Mania Hossaini, Group CEO of SaveFast, said that “SaveFast is delighted to sign this unique partnership with FOODICS. Our Vision is to empower our learners, improving their lives through learning. Through Hospitality Institute GCC and this Academy, we aim to develop local talent for the Saudi F&B sector, helping to realize the government’s ambitious Vision 2030 and delivering a uniquely Saudi Hospitality Revolution. We have secured job pledges for our graduates, from many of our clients and government funding, ensuring that our courses add maximum value to the industry and to those who attend.”
FOODICS Academy itself was launched in 2022 as a unified and trusted learning hub in the F&B sector, having successfully enrolled over 1,000 learners across several courses so far this year. Building on this success, FOODICS and SaveFast will effectively upskill local talents in Saudi in order to find a job and also the ability to be operational from day 1, as well as provide ongoing training to support their career aspirations.
