Applications Open for the FoodBev SETA Discretionary Grant Funding for the 2026/27 Financial Year

Applications Open for the FoodBev SETA Discretionary Grant Funding for the 2026/27 Financial Year. The Food and Beverage Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FoodBev SETA) is pleased to announce the first discretionary grant funding window for the 2026/27 financial year. We invite eligible entities to apply for grants to address critical and priority skills needs within our sector.

Funding Window Dates

• Opening Date: 17 October 2025
• Closing Date: 14 November 2025
• Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered.

Purpose of the Grant

• This discretionary grant is designed to fund skills development interventions that directly support the strategic objectives of the FoodBev SETA’s Sector Skills Plan (SSP) and national priorities.
• The primary goal is to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled, competent, and employable individuals for the food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Funding Priorities

• Applicants must prioritize programmes listed on the Sector Priority Occupations Interventions List (SPOIL).
• Applications for skills or occupations not classified as priority or scarce will require a detailed and compelling motivation for consideration.

Who Can Apply?

The following entities operating within the food and beverage manufacturing sector are eligible to apply:

• Levy-paying and non-levy paying employers.
• Public TVET & CET Colleges.
• Public Universities and Universities of Technology.

Available Learning Programmes & Grant Values

Please refer to the table below for details on available programmes, grant values, and durations.

Critical Compliance Information for Applicants

• Learner Registration Deadline: All successful applicants must have the capacity to recruit learners and submit complete learner registration documents to the FoodBev SETA by 30 June 2026.
• Extended Legacy Programmes: For extended legacy learnerships and skills programmes, the final date for learner registration is 30 June 2026. Stakeholders must submit all registration documents by 12 June 2026 to facilitate this. You must hold extended accreditation for these specific programmes.
• Occupational Qualifications: Stakeholders applying for Occupational Qualifications who are awaiting QCTO accreditation must provide verifiable evidence that they are in the process of obtaining accreditation for the relevant qualification.

How to Apply

• Applications must be submitted online via the FoodBev SETA SIMS portal: www.foodbev.co.za.
• A dedicated mailbox is available for manual applications only where online submission is impossible. Please contact the relevant official for this information.
• Upon successful submission, you will receive an automated confirmation of receipt with a unique reference number.

Important Notice on Funding Awards & SETA Discretion

• Application Does Not Guarantee Award: Submission of an application is a request for funding and does not constitute a guarantee of an award.
• Award Criteria: All applications are subject to approval based on the availability of funds, adherence to the SSP, and full compliance with the set criteria.
• Past Performance: The FoodBev SETA will prioritize applicants with a demonstrated track record of successfully implementing grants. This includes, but is not limited to, a
  history of:
  • Registering awarded learners timeously.
  • Maintaining low rates of learner drop-outs, cancellations, and terminations.
  • Ensuring learners progress according to schedule.
  • Exiting learners from the system upon completion or discontinuation.
  • Absorbing some of the learners being trained

• SETA’s Rights: The FoodBev SETA reserves the right, at the sole discretion of the
  Accounting Authority or its delegate, to:
  • Not fully award the requested number of beneficiaries.
  • Partially fund an application.
  • Decline an application entirely.
  • Cancel the funding process.
• Finality of Decision: All funding decisions made by the FoodBev SETA are final and
  binding. The SETA’s discretion in the award of grants, as guided by its policies and the
  availability of funds, is not subject to appeal on the grounds of the applicant’s perceived
  need alone