Popular restaurant franchise sending South Africans to the UK and Dubai

The popular Tasha’s Group in South Africa is sending workers to London and Dubai, as the company plans to expand its offerings to its employees.

Natasha Sideris opened the first tashas in 2005, and it has grown into an internationally recognised name with locations in South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and, since 2023, the UK.

The group has 39 locations, including 10 concepts, across the four countries under its umbrella and is expanding its footprint rapidly.

The group is committed to hands-on training and international expansion, and has introduced innovative ways to upskill staff.

“In the UAE and London, where technology is more accessible, we’ve launched training apps that allow staff to follow structured programs, refining their skills dynamically and engagingly,” said Sideris.

Sideris added that the company is deeply invested in personal mentorship and organic career growth. 

This includes the head office team conducting brand training sessions for all new employees, giving them an induction into all the brands.

“We share stories and stunning photos of our global footprint, and it’s always rewarding to see the excitement in our teams’ eyes when they realise the opportunities that exist for them,” she said.

The franchisees also actively participate in identifying ambitious team members who show potential, and the head office team also actively participates in finding talent.

“I believe in rewarding loyalty and dedication by offering those team members an opportunity to grow,” added Sideris.

For the South African employees who make the leap to international locations, the journey is carefully managed to ensure that they feel supported.

Over 50% of the tashas staff in Dubai are originally from South Africa, with new workers welcomed into a strong and supportive community.

“This creates a sense of familiarity and belonging, as those who have already made the transition are always eager to help newcomers settle in.”

“This includes offering advice on finding a home and navigating everyday essentials like grocery shopping.”

New employees are also provided with hotel accommodation upon arrival, which gives them time to find a place of their own.

They also receive a prepared starter package, complete with a local SIM card and other necessities, to make their first few weeks abroad as easy as possible.

When sending staff to the UK, the group also helped employees pass an English exam, which the UK government requires before applying for visas.

The company provided after-hours English lessons and extra training to ensure team members passed.

“In London, we knew our South African team members had never experienced such cold weather before, so we made sure they had warm clothing and scarves on arrival,” said Sideris.

Local training initiatives

In another push for its employees’ career growth, the company is also in discussions with schools about offering scholarship programmes in the future.

“Our goal is to build meaningful relationships with schools and universities, creating scholarship programs not just for our staff but also for students who struggle to afford their fees.”

The group is also strengthening its relationships with suppliers who provide hospitality training, ensuring that students who complete the programs have real job opportunities waiting for them.

“Many of our team members, especially in the kitchens, have never had the opportunity to study. Some start without knowing how to hold a knife or read or write.”

“We want to change that by developing junior training platforms that allow us to send our staff to hospitality schools to complete certificates and improve their knowledge.”

At the head office, the company has also introduced a new initiative allowing employees to enrol in courses aligned with their roles or career aspirations, with the group covering the cost.