The V&A Waterfront has earned international recognition for its V&A Academy, which directly addresses youth unemployment by connecting young South Africans to entry-level work.
The programme received Gold in the Local Economic Benefit category at the 2026 World Travel Market (WTM) Africa Responsible Tourism Awards.
The academy focuses on skills development for youth jobs in tourism, and you can view its structure and outcomes on the official V&A Academy page. It forms part of Cape Town’s wider tourism economy, which continues to gain global attention, including recent recognition as one of the world’s top cities for travel.
Youth unemployment solutions through structured tourism skills development
The V&A Academy directly targets youth unemployment by building entry-level tourism jobs through structured workplace training. It prepares young people for real roles inside the V&A Waterfront precinct rather than offering short-term classroom-based learning.
The programme places candidates into active employment pipelines where they gain experience in customer service, retail operations, and hospitality environments. Employers receive work-ready candidates, while participants enter formal employment faster than traditional hiring routes allow.
Skill gap bridging in South Africa’s tourism and hospitality sector
The academy reduces the skills gap in tourism and hospitality by aligning training with real employer requirements. Since launch, it has placed more than 300 young people into jobs across multiple businesses operating within the precinct.
It strengthens retention by supporting both employees and managers during the early employment phase. That approach reduces early turnover, which remains one of the most costly challenges in entry-level hiring.
Youth jobs creation through entry-level tourism employment pathways
The V&A Academy builds youth jobs in tourism through structured employment pathways, rather than ad hoc recruitment. It links multiple businesses in the precinct into a shared talent system that reduces hiring duplication and improves placement efficiency.
This model allows small and large employers to access the same pipeline of trained candidates, which strengthens workforce stability across the tourism ecosystem.
Unlocking tourism potential for youth employment and skills development
The programme now positions itself for expansion into other sectors facing similar entry-level hiring challenges, including construction and retail.
It reflects a growing shift in South Africa’s labour market where employers actively design systems to unlock tourism potential for youth employment and skills development, rather than relying solely on external labour supply.
Similar approaches appear in other initiatives, including the McDonald’s and CATHSSETA youth learnership programme, which also focuses on structured workplace entry routes for young South Africans.
Visit WTM Africa official portal for a full list of 2026 winners.
➡️ For more inspiring and impactful stories on businesses and individuals driving change in South Africa, visit the NOWinSA EmpowerSA platform.
