a Brewing Industry Internship in South Africa | IE3 Global
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Brewing Industry Internship in South Africa | Cape Town, South Africa

More photos from this internship can be found here.

More photos from this internship can be found here.

Gain hands-on experience in Cape Town’s micro/craft beer brewing industry as a Brewing Assistant or a Marketing intern. The beer scene in South Africa is exploding at the moment and this is a perfect opportunity to work in an exciting and up and coming industry. Up until now, the beer scene has been dominated by South African Brewery (SAB) which mass produces commercial light beers very similar to Budweiser. In the last five years, more and more microbreweries have been popping up and in the last two years it’s been a revolution. Because most of the craft breweries are relatively new, an intern would get a chance to really get involved in all aspects of the business.

Duration of Internship:

  • 10 – 12 weeks

The following organizations are examples of the organizations you may be placed at through this internship, however, there are many other options as well. The IE3 team will recommend a placement for you. A clearly-written, detailed “Individualized Placement Statement,” (part of the application process) will enable us to place you with a suitable organization.

Jack Black Brewing Company: http://www.jackblackbeer.com/

Stone Circle Brewery: https://www.facebook.com/stonecirclebrewery/

Marketing, Brand Ambassador and Sales:

As a marketing intern, you will be in charge of sourcing avenues to publicize the beer label.  You will also participate in the behind-the-scenes administrative and day-to-day processes. If you have a design background, then you will work on marketing materials and online media. You will also work as a brand ambassador to activate the beer brand through events, tastings and festivals. Though there will be a permanent sales person working at the brewery, you will also be able to shadow and see how the sales process works in this industry.

Brewing Assistant:

If you want to take what you’ve learned through coursework of fermentation science into a practical setting, this is a perfect opportunity. Not only will you get to brew beer on a production size brewery, but you’ll get to delve into quality control and testing all the chemical levels of the beer throughout the fermentation process. You will have the opportunity to develop recipes and have the public test your beer at festivals and events. This is an ideal internship for anyone wanting to work as a brewer or on the production side of a brewery.

Academic Background

  • Fermentation Science, Marketing, Business, Food Science and Technology, Chemistry

Skills/Experience

  • Applicants must display a passion for the brewing industry. Previous experience in one or more of the following areas is helpful: brewing, marketing, sales, graphic design, service-based industries. Adopting a hard-working attitude is an absolute necessity when interning with any South African brewery; these internships may involve research/desk/administrative work, which is the less glamorous but equally important side of the industry.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

  • IE3 Program Fee: $3,450
  • Host Site Fees:  $2,475
  • Housing: $21/day plus one-time fees (ex. $1,970 for 10 weeks).
  • International Travel: $2,000
  • Recommended Immunizations: $400 (dependent on immunization history)

Estimated Monthly Expenses

  • Food: $520
  • Local Transportation: $315
  • Utilities, Phone, Internet: $75

The Host Site Fee Includes:

  • Personalized placement
  • Airport pick-up/drop off
  • In-country orientation and tour of Cape Town
  • 24/7 Emergency Support
  • Weekly organized social and cultural activities

Interns will be accommodated in private student-oriented housing in the Observatory neighborhood. Interns will have a fully-furnished private room, and shared common areas: living room, bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities. Houses have 24-hour security. A housekeeper comes at least 2 times a week.

Interns pay a $100 cleaning fee and a $250 refundable housing deposit, directly to the housing company. The $250 deposit will be refunded, assuming there is no damage done to the house.

House Wifi: Students pay $20.00 per month for wireless internet connection on 2 devices. Internet reliability and speed are not as good as in the U.S.

Other Costs: Other utilities costs are split amongst the housemates.

Important note: Because this is an individualized placement, applicants must describe in their cover letters the specific type of work and organization that interests them. While we can’t guarantee to meet all of an applicant’s wishes, the more information we have, the better a fit we are able to find.

Interns will be living in Observatory, and will be supported by local host organization Volunteer Adventure Corps. Observatory, or “Obz” as locals call it, is one of the most exciting student neighborhoods in all of Cape Town. It features an eclectic sundry of nightspots and restaurants, and an atmosphere that is surprisingly cosmopolitan given its intimate size. Much of this unique vibe is attributed to the presence of many international visitors. It is not uncommon to overhear conversations in several different languages while walking along the street. Yet, Obz is also intrinsically South African. Living in Obz and experiencing its cultural and political vibes will help interns better understand, on a greater scale, the complexities of the “new” South Africa.

Observatory is popular among the international student/ volunteer community because it is located halfway between the city center and the False Bay coastline. Visitors have an endless selection of outdoor activities to choose from, such as hiking, surfing, scuba diving, golfing, outdoor concerts and wine tasting. Cape Town is surrounded by oceans and is home to many beautiful beaches! The city centre, known to Capetonians as the “bowl”, is the ideal place to go on cultural excursions.

Terms

Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer

Application Deadline

Fall: April 15
Winter: September 15
Spring: November 15
Summer:

  • Priority Deadline - January 15
  • Standard Deadline - February 15