The Up&Up Group opens doors for future talent with 2026 LevelUp Grad Programme
The Up&Up Group has announced the launch of its 2026 LevelUp Grad Programme.
Set to run from January to December 2026, the programme will be hosted at the Group’s Johannesburg and Cape Town campuses, with placements offered across its diverse portfolio of companies. More than 20 young graduates will be selected for this intake, making it one of the Group’s most comprehensive talent initiatives to date.
“The aim of the LevelUp Grad Programme is not to just bring interns on board - we empower them to push boundaries and take their ideas to the next level. Over the past three years, our internship programme has retained 98% of interns, many of whom have gone on to do great things with us. From contributing to award-winning campaigns to being nominated for Loeries, our interns have proven that with the right platform, fresh talent can make a real impact,” explains Phindile Khuzwayo, head of talent at The Up&Up Group.
Open to final-year students and recent graduates, the 2026 LevelUp Grad Programme is tailored for individuals with qualifications in creative fields such as copywriting, graphic design, art direction, multimedia, and animation; and strategy disciplines including marketing, communications, business, psychology, research, and data analytics. Furthermore, opportunities are available in account management, public relations, and digital marketing. While some prior exposure, such as internships, job shadows, freelance projects, and student campaigns, is an advantage, it is not essential.
Zarah Burger, group head of HR at The Up&Up Group, adds: “This opportunity isn’t about shadowing or busy work; it’s about being trusted to create, innovate, and deliver work that matters. We’re looking for students with the confidence to challenge convention, the ambition to learn fast, and the readiness to take it up a notch as the creative leaders of tomorrow.”
Applications close on 30 September 2025. For more information, visit www.theupandupgroup.com/join-us or email interns@theupandupgroup.com.
More Articles
.png)
Content marketing agency 2Stories has been named Best Medium-Sized Agency of the Year at the 2025 International Content Marketing Awards (ICMAs) in London, earning international recognition in its first year entering the global awards programme.
Robin Scher, content director at Razor PR on the incentives shaping today’s platforms and how they are quietly rewriting the rules of trust
As we look forward to a new year filled with opportunity, we look back at the marketing and media industry highlights for the year that was, and our guests discuss industry expectations for 2026.
The strongest defence against AI or any other tech, has never been production or process. It’s relationships.
From credit upgrades to stable governance, early signs of lasting recovery show South Africa finally moving in the right direction.
Leaders who invest in original thinking today will gain more of tomorrow’s markets
Women's influence in marketing cannot go unnoticed as more and more women take up leadership positions in the marketing and advertising industry. In addition, women are the majority decision makers and influencers when it comes to household purchases. We explore the depth of this influence.
An increasingly challenging and competitive business environment demands a fresh B2B marketing perspective.
The campaign, created with M+C Saatchi Abel, aims to inspire South Africans to intentionally find time for moments of togetherness that matter
Life Healthcare, one of South Africa's private hospital groups, has appointed 2Stories to lead their integrated, patient-first communications strategy. The scope of work spans content-led initiatives, community building, stakeholder engagement, internal communications and proactive media relations across the Life Healthcare Group.
.jpeg)
Picture the scene: It is late in the evening on 11 March 2000. Food in abundance and a buzz in the living room boils to a crescendo as Vuyani Bungu is about to face off against the extreme “Prince” Naseem Hamed in London. It’s hushed tones as the South African enters the ring, followed by cheering and shadow boxing, urging the local hero to make the country proud.
Agencies should accept chaos as normal, and should design strategies to deal with it and make them stronger and resilient.
.png)
85% of digital marketing spend is wasted, according to world-renowned media scientist Dr Karen Nelson-Field.
This report reveals exactly what has, and hasn’t, changed in the lives of consumers since the pandemic.
.webp)
Let’s embrace the ethos of sharing and collaboration
South Africans need to dig deep, plant wisely and nurture carefully
PR is no longer just about professional PR, it is about a deeply embedded and strategic communications function that both promotes and protects brands and reputations - exactly what Razor PR set out to do when it opened its doors in 2020.
Brands would do well to fundamentally reconstruct their engagement strategies from ‘demographic targeting’ to understanding and engaging with passion communities
Levergy has achieved the distinction for the second consecutive year after winning the Adaptability Award in 2021
There’s never been a better time to invest in SA
The Up&Up Group has acquired a strategic stake in content marketing agency 2Stories.
