Welcome to the V&A Academy

What is the V&A academy

As a neighbourhood, we know that there is a constant need for quality service staff within our waterfront world. We also know that it is in our power to do something about it. That’s why we’re investing in foundational skills development in young people. The goal of the V&A Academy is to create a reliable pipeline of talent into key industries such as Hospitality, Tourism and Retail, both within our precinct and beyond.

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The V&A Waterfront is an ecosystem full of opportunities for undeserved youth to kickstart their careers through readiness for entry level positions and the journey towards lasting employment.

The Academy leverages the interconnectedness of our V&A neighbourhood by meeting the skills demand with innovative, scalable solutions, producing work-ready candidates geared for customer service excellence.

Support skills, shape the future

The Academy and its goals are rooted in the V&A Waterfront’s commitment to creating shared value by championing inclusivity, sustainability and opportunity. As a neighbour, you can play a vital role in creating space for excluded young people to participate in the economy, build a trusted talent pipeline into the service industry and benefit from the high standards the V&A is known for.

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Talent Demand

Your front line drives your bottom line — investing in young people leads to exceptional service across the neighbourhood.

We connect retailers, restaurants, hotels and tourism operators with an upskilled pool of talented individuals, passionate about customer service and committed to delivering excellence.

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Our People

We invest in people to address the issue of poverty, inequality, skills shortages and youth unemployment.

Our holistic and inclusive ecosystem approach ensures depth quality interventions, while staying flexible to meet the specific demands of the stakeholders and candidates involved.

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B-BBEE Investments

Invest in your local neighbourhood and stimulate economic activity in the precinct. Our programmes help businesses tackle staff shortages, access essential skills and drive growth.

Make your BEE spend more impactful, help achieve meaningful transformation and drive real progress for your community and economy by working with the V&A Academy.

Who We Are

The V&A Academy is the Waterfront’s in-house service offering to tenants and stakeholders, created to meet the local need for talent while addressing the pressing socio-economic challenges created by high youth unemployment.

Developed and managed by the V&A Waterfront, the Skills Academy is a collaboration with key strategic partners and relevant stakeholders.

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Brett Wilks
Academy Lead

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Emily Rudolph
Academy Lead

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Thabile Molapisane
Academy Lead


Partner With Us

It takes a neighbourhood to develop skills: the V&A Academy collaborates widely with sponsoring entities, small and medium businesses, BEE measured companies, various service providers and training partners—and more importantly, young people, to develop the attitudes and abilities required to meet the demand for quality staff in the V&A Waterfront.

Do you need talent? Become a host employer.

As a restaurant, hotel, retailer or small/medium business, you need staff you can rely on. Partner with the Academy as a Host and/or Employer and support the development of practical work skills in our young people.

Let us know how many staff members you need and when you’d like them to start.

Sign Up Here

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Looking to invest in skills development (for BEE)? Make your Skills Development spend count.

If you’re a B-BBEE measured entity, put your SD budget to good use and invest in neighbourhood talent. Empower young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have been given the skills needed to deliver service excellence.

To implement your Skills Developments projects (Learnerships, Internships, Bursaries, YES Programmes) with the V&A Academy, express your interest.

Show Interest Here

Are you an unemployed young person keen to learn? Start your service career with the V&A Academy.

If you are interested in entering the service industry and committed to your personal and professional growth. Kickstart your career at the V&A Waterfront!

Apply Here

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how it works

The V&A Academy’s skills programmes focus on training the right attitudes for excellence, laying a strong foundation with effective work readiness that emphasises emotional and mental strengthening. We develop foundational social and emotional competencies, fostering positivity, confidence and professional resilience. Candidates are fully prepared for the realities and pressures of the service industry.

  • We source potential employees from underserved communities for unemployed learnerships and internships. We also cater to the requirements of people living with disabilities. Our focus is on mental resilience, assisting people living in unstable communities.
  • We establish the aptitudes of candidates for relevant positions and sectors through a series of assessments.
  • Four weeks of Foundation Building cover a wide spectrum of empowering areas like personal mastery, goal setting, interpersonal relations and creative skills.
  • This is followed by two weeks of professional competency training, focused on Service Excellence and covers professional conduct, time management, teamwork and delivering exceptional customer service.
  • Various supervisors are invited to prepare candidates for being managed and mentored over a two-day session.
  • Candidates are then placed in host businesses to gain practical experience, develop technical skills while adding value to their host sites.
  • Throughout the programme, participants and hosting businesses receive comprehensive support, including host training, regular check-ins and visits, alongside personalised intern support such as wellbeing services, coaching and counselling to ensure both personal and professional growth.
  • After nine months in the host site, the likelihood of absorption is evaluated. If the host business does not take the employee on long-term, they are assisted in finding an alternative opportunity.

The V&A Academy is committed to nurturing dedicated candidates, providing innovative solutions to practical challenges and offering ongoing support to all throughout the journey, ensuring successful and impactful implementation of the skills programmes.

Join our mission to create opportunities, change lives and shape a thriving community.

Testimonials

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Frequently asked questions

What is the V&A Academy?

The V&A Academy trains young people for careers in tourism, hospitality, and retail. We provide skills training, job placements, and ongoing support to ensure success for both candidates and employers.

Who can apply?

The Academy is open to:

  • Young South African citizens aged 18-35 looking to start a career.
  • Businesses wanting to hire trained, motivated candidates.
  • Sponsors looking to invest in skills development.

What does the training cover?

Our six-week program includes:

  • Personal Mastery (4 weeks): Confidence, resilience, goal setting, and interpersonal skills.
  • Customer Service Excellence (2 weeks): Professionalism, teamwork, time management, and workplace conduct.
Supervisors at host businesses also receive training to support young employees.

How are candidates selected?

We source candidates from the SA Youth Platform and assess them for attitude, work readiness, and commitment before placing them with employers. For employers requiring graduates-in-training for hospitality and tourism roles, we also recruit from relevant TVET colleges in the Western Cape.

What support do host employers receive?

We manage the entire recruitment and assessment process end to end. This includes sourcing, screening, and preparing candidates before presenting them for final interviews with hiring managers. Host employers also receive:

  • Up to 6 hours of coaching and mentoring for managers.
  • Pre-placement training for supervisors.
  • Regular check-ins and on-site support.
  • A direct contact for troubleshooting and guidance.

What support do young people get?

We provide:

  • Weekly wellbeing calls to check on progress.
  • Mentorship and career coaching during and after training.
  • Additional support services when needed.

What does it cost to host an Academy graduate?

There is no cost to host employers. All graduate stipends are fully funded. Employers only need to provide mentorship and workplace experience.

How does the program help with B-BBEE compliance?

The Academy helps businesses maximize their B-BBEE Skills Development points by funding learnerships, internships, and training for young people.

What happens after the 12-month employment period?

Graduates who perform well can move into full-time jobs. If an employer can’t offer a role, the Academy helps candidates find new opportunities.

How can businesses get involved?

Businesses can:

  • Hire trained candidates as host employers.
  • Sponsor training programs to invest in future talent.
  • Offer internships or mentorship opportunities.

How can young people apply?

South African citizens aged 18-35 can register on the SA Youth Platform. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and assessed before placement.

What industries does the Academy focus on?

The Academy supports tourism, hospitality, and retail—sectors that drive employment at the V&A Waterfront.

How is the Academy different from other training programs?

We offer:

  • Sector-focused training with real workplace experience.
  • Ongoing support for candidates and employers.
  • No cost for businesses as training and stipends are funded.

Can employers request specific skills or roles?

The Academy trains for front-of-house and back-of-house roles across industries. While we don’t provide technical training, we focus on work readiness, customer service, and professionalism to help young people succeed.

What if an employer isn’t satisfied with a candidate’s performance?

We provide ongoing coaching and mentoring to support both candidates and employers. If needed, we can offer additional training or find a replacement.

Can small businesses participate?

Yes. The Academy is open to businesses of all sizes. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to join and benefit from skilled, motivated staff.

Is the Academy open to businesses outside the V&A Waterfront?

The V&A Academy is designed to serve businesses based at the V&A Waterfront. However, we recognize that many Waterfront businesses rely on supply chain partners to support their operations. As long as the roles are linked to a business at the Waterfront, we are happy to support their supply chain partners in creating quality entry-level job opportunities.

Still Have Questions?