Share this story:
I’m Luxolo
I work at the Time Out Market. Thanks to the V&A Academy training, job experience and placement support, I’ve kickstarted my career in the service industry. Now, I have the confidence and skills needed to chase my dreams. Watch this space!
From job seeker to career starter
As a vibrant, beating neighbourhood of living, work and play, the many tenants in our waterfront world are always on the lookout for reliable staff. As an organisation committed to driving economic impact for communities, we know that this is an opportunity for us to make a difference. That’s why we’ve launched the V&A Academy, which is aimed at empowering young people for careers in Hospitality, Tourism and Retail.
At the Academy, we aim to connect underserved youth with opportunities within the customer experience sector. But we do not just throw them into the deep end. We help them develop self-confidence and on-the-job soft skills, followed by months in an internship with one of our local businesses. After this, we help them find a long-term placement. It’s about helping talented young people to kickstart their careers, one graduate at a time.
Once you leave school, it’s a daunting task to find a job and become economically independent. Especially as a young person coming from an underserved community.
You don’t know where to start and companies don’t want to give a chance to people
with no experience.
After six weeks of training at the Academy, and nine months interning with a V&A tenant, Time Out Market, I was then hired permanently by the Market. Because I was able to hit
the ground running and succeed, I’ve been promoted and given more responsibility.
I started as a server. Now, I help supervise and order stock. I am excited to build a career
on this strong foundation.
A day in the life
“We’re incredibly proud of Luxolo’s journey, from unemployed, to server, to stock supervisor, thanks to a little training, and a lot of dedication, and tenacity on Luxolo’s part. We’re excited to see more and more young people supported by the V&A Academy and our incredible tenants in the neighbourhood on similar journeys towards becoming economically independent.”
Brett / V&A Academy Lead
Supporting skills
shaping
the future
Supporting
skills shaping
the future
“The V&A Academy and its goals are rooted in the Waterfront’s commitment to create opportunities for others through the way that we do business. That’s why we leverage the partnerships within our interconnected neighbourhood to create spaces for underserved youth to enter the economy. We see ourselves as labour matchmakers, finding the perfect match that empowers a young person while enables a business, large or small, within our neighbourhood ecosystem,” explains Brett Wilks of the V&A Academy.
Read the next chapter
Chapter 08
eWaste Africa
Circularity Innovation Award 2024 Winner
