Sorbet Academy

About Sorbet Academy

Sorbet Academy is the accredited training division of the Sorbet Group, a well-known South African beauty and grooming franchise. It teaches practical skills in barbering, beauty therapy, hairdressing, nails, skincare and make-up. Men's grooming is covered through the Sorbet Man brand. Beauty and grooming is a practical trade. After qualifying, graduates can work in a salon or spa, specialise in nails or make-up, or build a client base of their own. Employers value hands-on experience, which is why the Academy puts so much weight on time spent with real clients.

Students train on three campuses. These are Woodmead in Gauteng, Mount Edgecombe in KwaZulu-Natal and Century City in the Western Cape. Each campus mixes theory classes with supervised work on a real salon floor, so learners practise the tasks they will face as therapists, stylists and groomers.

How Sorbet supports students

Sorbet offers bursaries because its national network of franchised salons needs a steady supply of qualified staff. The Academy therefore works as a pipeline for the brand as well as a school. The bursary covers study in four areas: barbering, beauty, hair and nails. It sits alongside other company programmes, such as Sorbet Empowering Women, which focus on skills and jobs for young people, especially women, entering the industry.

For many applicants, the main attraction is a short path to work. Graduates are positioned for jobs in the Sorbet salon network once they qualify. However, published material does not describe this as a formal bonded or compulsory work-back obligation, so ask about the exact terms when you receive an offer.

What to know before applying

The entry requirements are simple. Applicants must be South African citizens aged 18 or older with a matric certificate. They should also want a career in nails, beauty, hair or barbering and be able to study at one of the three campuses. Because the campuses are in three provinces, think about travel and accommodation costs before you apply.

In the most recent round, candidates emailed a certified copy of their ID, a certified copy of their matric certificate and a motivational letter. No formal application form was needed. The closing date for the 2026 intake was in mid-February. Dates change each year, so check the official Sorbet website for the current window. Write a clear, honest letter that explains why you want to join the industry, since it is the one place where you can show your personality. Treat the bursary as a first step. Practise your skills, keep a portfolio of your work and ask your trainers for feedback throughout the course. Strong results and a good attitude help when salons look for new staff.