FP&M SETA Visits Amanda Laird Cherry Production Facility
A representative from the FP&M Seta projects team was recently hosted at the Amanda Laird Cherry (ALC) production facility in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. As a 2026 recipient of Discretionary Grant funding for learnership implementation, this marked ALC's first year participating in structured skills development — making the visit a significant milestone.
The current programme focuses on the Sewing Machine Operator Learnership, forming the foundation of ALC's skills development initiative. There are clear plans to expand this offering to include training in pattern making and grading, as well as quality assurance and production processes, further strengthening alignment with industry needs.
The visit showcased how ALC has established a training environment that immerses learners in the full apparel industry ecosystem, including fashion design, clothing production, and retail management. Learners are exposed to a wide range of career and entrepreneurial pathways across the apparel value chain, reinforcing the programme's strong industry relevance.
The engagement also included a visit to The Space store at Pavilion Mall, highlighting the critical role of access to market. With over 20 years of experience, The Space continues to provide independent designers with a platform to retail in an upscale, multi-location environment across South Africa.
ALC extends its appreciation to the FP&M SETA representative for their time and valuable engagement, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing skills development within South Africa's independent fashion industry.
