Our first-years enjoyed an exceptional season, balancing academics with practical hours and real-world responsibilities. From the outset, they confidently led their first major events with professionalism and enthusiasm. Consequently, they stepped into coordinator roles for Matric Farewells and a charity cocktail event, delivering results that were polished, creative, and industry-ready.

This year’s Matric Farewells became a powerful showcase of creativity and storytelling. Paarl Girls’ High School brought bold fashion drama to life with the “Prada’s Inferno” theme, led by Academy students – Alexa, Reabetswe, Jana, and Keziah. Meanwhile, La Rochelle Girls’ High embraced calm elegance through their “Ukiyo” theme, guided by Academy studnet – Grace, Melissa, Hannah, Mieke, and Caitlin. In contrast, Parel Vallei High School delivered a vibrant retro-meets-nature celebration titled “Disco Fever,” brought to life by Academy student – Whitley, Ane, Isabelle, Liesl, and Nicole. Together, each team demonstrated vision, dedication, and impressive creative flair.

The season concluded with the Samaritan’s Feet Barefoot cocktail event, beautifully executed by Academy students – Kayah, Chloe, Lorin, Jana, and Hanri. This meaningful event radiated warmth, purpose, and a golden, African-inspired ambience. With every project, our first-years transformed strong concepts into unforgettable experiences. Ultimately, their hard work, creativity, and professionalism defined the season’s success. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved.

Our first-year students are gaining a strong head start through internal job shadowing opportunities. The programme began at the end of November and will conclude in May 2026. From the start, students are immersed in real-world industry environments, shadowing professionals across a variety of event and hospitality businesses within The Aleit Group. As a result, they gain valuable exposure to industry standards and expectations, while also gaining insight into external internship opportunities available next year.

During job shadowing, the class is divided into smaller groups to ensure focused learning. This approach provides hands-on experience and quality mentorship from industry professionals. Students also complete two-week placements with our sister companies, giving them a clear understanding of day-to-day operations in the field. For example, they explore floral and furniture styling at alCREATE and alFLORAL, staff and market management with DIENS and the Lourensford Market, and venue management with Laurent Venue and Zeitz MOCAA Ocular Lounge & Event Space. Additionally, they gain experience in event and wedding coordination with Aleit Events and Infinite Concepts Group.

Ultimately, this programme builds confidence, practical skills, and a strong understanding of the industry. We look forward to seeing these students continue to grow as they move into their second year.

Throughout 2025, our second- and third-year students explored the wider events and hospitality industry through diverse and immersive external placements. As a result, they gained hands-on experience across the sector and built strong professional reputations. Their roles included event and wedding coordination, décor, and furniture styling, while many also gained experience in floral styling, venue management, and project management. Others developed valuable skills in marketing and event photography.

Notably, several second-year students completed placements in the Netherlands, while third-year students expanded their experience to Paris and Rome. These opportunities strengthened both their industry knowledge and professional confidence. Ultimately, students embraced every moment of learning and growth. We proudly followed their journeys and celebrated all they achieved.

Our first-year students enjoyed an exciting lineup of workshops this year, all aimed at supporting personal and professional growth. They began with powerful sessions on First Impressions, Leadership, Confidence, and Healthy Living. They also worked with Tamsyn Strydom to overcome limiting beliefs and explored breath-work and ice baths with Fjord Plunge. Through these experiences, students gained valuable tools for self-awareness, communication, and mindset development.

Our second-year students enjoyed a diverse workshop programme this year, each designed to broaden skills and prepare them for a fast-paced industry. They began with essential safety training in First Aid and Fire Fighting workshops with Dynamikos. These sessions built confidence in handling emergencies and identifying potential risks, while also teaching students how to maintain safe event environments.

Thereafter, professional and creative development continued through a series of specialised workshops. The Preliminary Wine Course with the Cape Wine Academy expanded students’ hospitality knowledge, covering wine origins, varietals, and pairings. At the Image Workshop, students focused on poise, professional dress, and building a confident personal presence. Meanwhile, the Visual Merchandising Workshop encouraged strategic and creative thinking, as students designed mini window displays to apply their ideas practically. The Creativity Wake-Up session then challenged them to overcome self-doubt and unlock innovative thinking.

In addition, students enhanced their creative skills through engaging, hands-on workshops. The Photography Workshop emphasized capturing meaningful moments through visual storytelling, a skill valuable for both event documentation and marketing. At the Floral Workshop with a|FLORAL, students gained insight into floral artistry and logistics. Meanwhile, the Tufting Workshop with a|CREATE encouraged playful experimentation with colour and texture, inspiring creativity in a fun, tactile way.

Together, these workshops supported the journey toward becoming adaptable, industry-ready professionals. We are incredibly proud of the growth shown by our second-year students. This year of learning was both inspiring and transformative.

Ultimately, this experience supports growth beyond professional skills alone. It develops confident, versatile creatives ready for the evolving events industry.